Pettitt targets commonwealth belt and then the super-bantamweight big guns next

At the age of 25, and with six title fights on his ledger, Erith super-bantam Lewis Pettitt insists he’s finally ready to be unleashed against the division’s big guns.

‘I want big domestic fights. I want to end this season as British and European champion. I understand that British Champion Jazza Dickens is defending against Martin Ward in mid November so hopefully the winner will defend against me early in the New Year.’ Said Pettitt.

Already ranked number four in the world by the WBA, this month the likeable 5ft 4½in crowd favourite from Kent gets an opportunity to add the vacant Commonwealth title to a trophy cabinet that already contains the Southern Area, WBA Inter-Continental and WBO European belts.

He confronts 23 year old Lincoln battler Bobby Jenkinson, the Midland Area featherweight boss, in a supporting contest on the fabulous ‘Man vs Machine’ show at the SSE Arena, Wembley on September 26th.

‘I’ve done a fair bit of sparring with (current WBA champ) Scott Quigg and Quigg’s trainer assures me I fare better than most so I’m not far off. Other than him, the smallest I spar is super-featherweight Mitchell Smith.

‘If a Quigg fight was offered to me I’d jump at it. Compared with Frampton and Rigondeaux, he’s possibly the easiest of the three world champions. If Scott moves up to featherweight as is rumoured and number two is injured, it could be number three (unbeaten Las Vegas southpaw Jessie Magdaleno) and me boxing for the vacant title sooner than you think.

‘But ideally I’d prefer a couple of really hard domestic level fights first to fully prepare me.’

Jenkinson represents his first home-based opponent for over two years and having thwarted a Slovakian, a Brazilian, an Argentinean, a Georgian and a Croat in the interim, it’s a challenge that Pettitt covets.

‘This match is ideal,’ he insists.

‘My fans love the domestics cos the opponent will also have fans and there’s usually loads of singing and banter. There’s a much better buzz. Ultimately, the belt will give me a chance to fight decent Australians, Canadians and South Africans. Fights with Vusi Malinga or Tshifhiwa Munyai would be wicked.’

Though ‘Bobby Dazzler’ resides closer to home than his recent rivals, it’s been no easier to engage in reconnaissance.

‘So far we’ve not been able to find any video footage of Bobby,’ revealed Lewis.

‘There’s nothing on You Tube. I’m not really concerned but Al always likes a little look.

‘From what contacts have told us he’s definitely not to be underestimated. He’s beaten a few undefeated boys fighting out of the away corner. I’ve heard he’s a decent pressure fighter who throws a lot of shots and never stops coming forward.

‘But I’ll beat him cos I’m more experienced and because I’m ready to step up and finally get my name into the mix.”

Priced at £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150* tickets are available from www.frankwarren.com, The SSE Arena on 0844 815 0815 and www.axs.com and Eventim on 0844 249 1000 and www.eventim.co.uk

Buglioni v Chudinov headlines ’Man vs. Machine’ with London hotshot Frank Buglioni challenging WBA World Super-Middleweight Champion Fedor Chudinov for his crown.

An action packed card also features top undefeated WBO European Super-Middleweight Champion Jamie Cox making the first defence of his title; Cromer battler Ryan Walsh faces Hull’s Samir Mouneimne with the Vacant British Featherweight Title on the line; all-action Erith talent Lewis Pettitt challenges for the Vacant Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight Championship against Bobby Jenkinson; Penge hero Bradley Skeete defends his WBO European Welterweight crown against Heywood’s Mark Thompson; Ahmet Patterson and Danny Butler clash in an Eliminator for the British Light-Middleweight Championship; plus on the undercard Dublin lightweight Jamie Kavanagh; Canning Town lightweight Romeo Romaeo; Dagenham lightweight Ediz Hussein.

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise the show live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android

*Tickets are subject to booking fee.