Champion Arnfield on top of the world

Fight trainer Michael Jennings reports that Jack Arnfield has been excelling against '˜world class' sparring partners in the build-up to boxing's '˜Battle Of Blackpool' against Brian Rose at Manchester Arena on Saturday week.
Arnfield - ready for big fightArnfield - ready for big fight
Arnfield - ready for big fight

Everything is reported to be going to plan for Arnfield prior to his much awaited defence of the World Boxing Council international middleweight contest between long term friends and one-time training partners.Jennings said: “Everything has been going great and Jack has had world-class sparring, though I am not prepared to make public who that is against, but they are really good fighters.“Jack can’t wait for the fight and is really looking forward to it now.“Everything is spot on and his weight is right.“If you look at Jack on video, you could easily underestimate him, but when you test him in the ring he always steps up and answers every challenge you put to him.”This is the last week of serious sparring for the Stalmine title holder, who had a 12 round session, 10 on Wednesday and finally eight on Friday.Meantime, another of the Jennings’ team, St Annes boxer Matty Askin is back in training after an injury setback that forced him to miss his scheduled British cruiserweight title challenge against Craig Kennedy at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff last Saturday.Askin is still not using his injured right hand, but there is nothing broken and he is on course to get it on with Kennedy, possibly at the end of May.Jennings said: “There was no break, thank goodness, but Matty was suffering from bruised bone marrow in his hand, which is a new one on me.“He is in the gym but not using his right and it is looking like the back end of May when he will meet Kennedy.”*Lytham boxer, who defends his British lightweight title in Glasgow on April 15, says that his bout with English title holder Robbie Barrett will be anything bur routine.It will be a voluntary defence and a win would mean Cardle keeping the Lonsdale Belt outright.Cardle said: “I think this is my biggest test.“I don’t know too much about Robbie, but that’s exciting as I’m going into the unknown.“I’ve always wanted the British belt to keep for ever, so I can tick that off on April 15 before moving on to bigger things.”The challenger is typically upbeat.He said “I’m coming off the back of good wins and I’m very confident.“I’ve only recently boxed so I’m ready to go and win that British belt.”