They say that boxing is about levels and stiff-punching 140-pounder Darren Surtees plans to prove that when he locks horns with the unbeaten Craig MacIntyre at the LS-Live in Wakefield on August 11.
Durham’s Surtees (12-1, 8 KOs) showed he can mix it with top fighters when he floored and tested former European champion Mohamed Mimoune in the MTK Global Golden Contract quarter-final last November whereas Glaswegian MacIntyre (11-0-1, 4 KOs) will have been inactive almost 14 months come fight night.
“Craig is a good lad and a technical boxer that has a bit of spite in his punches, but I believe his level of competition hasn’t been good,” said Surtees.
“After five fights I boxed for the Northern Area title, so I think I’ve been in with better opponents and I think I have the heart and skills to beat him.
“It’s his first fight in 14 months but I don’t believe in ring rust if you love doing what you do, so I think he will be at his best in the fight.
“I’m looking forward to this bout and I should have boxed a few lads like this level before the Golden Contract. I boxed Mimoune and took a risk. I learnt a lot in that fight and things happen for a reason, but I’ll never ever shy away from a fight.”
MacIntyre vs Surtees is part of a huge MTK Fight Night on August 11, which is headlined by Jono Carroll’s catchweight encounter with Maxi Hughes.
Main image: MTK Global.