The British Cruiserweight champion, Birtley’s Jon-Lewis Dickinson (14-2; 3KO’s) has already overcome several obstacles during his professional boxing career. Immediately after winning the 2010 Cruiserweight Prizefighter tournament he suffered consecutive losses to Tyrone Wright (TKO3) and Richard Turba (RTD3). The latter of these losses would see Dickinson collected a fractured jaw injury, and with it came a turnaround in his career.
Since those losses he has seen his younger brother, Light Heavyweight contender Travis, claim the 2011 Prizefighter and go on to bigger things himself. First there was the Northern Area title, claimed in 2011 against Sunderland’s David Dolan (PTS10), before a rise to the top of the British fight game. Then this was followed up, after a stoppage win over Chris Burton, with an English title success over Matty Askin (UD10) in what was an eliminator for the much-coveted British title.
Ably guided by a team of Ronnie Rowe, Gary Barr and Martin Nugent, Dickinson faced Shane McPhilbin on Merseyside in October 2012. It was to be the start of something special. Prior to defeating McPhilbin, Dickinson said “I’ll be looking for a dominant performance, to win comfortably and impress.
“When I was against Dolan (for the Northern Area title) he kept coming at me and McPhilbin has a similar size. I can’t take anything for granted and I need to believe in myself. I have the strength and the rhythm and I’ve put the hard work in for this.”
Dickinson went on to claim the British title courtesy of a UD12 outcome and stage one had been successfully navigated.
Not averse to going the distance, having the mental strength in order to traverse the full ten to twelve rounds, Dickinson has seen recent bouts needing that requirement. The first title defence, in a rematch with Dolan, came at the Rainton Meadows Arena in February and, in a bout reminiscent of the previous encounter, went the full twelve rounds. Dickinson stating that “It was brilliant and the kind of fight that I really wanted to be in.
“I like a good battle which it was so I enjoyed it more. Even though I hurt my right hand midway through the bout, meaning it was a little more difficult for me, I felt as though I controlled it from the start.”
Dickinson went into his second defence, against Mike Stafford (11-2; 2KO’s) and also at the Rainton Meadows Arena, carrying an injury and still came out as the British champion. It is here that the dream is starting to become reality. Claiming yet another unanimous decision (UD12), a fifth in six outings, Dickinson said afterwards that “I’m over the moon with it.
“I wasn’t going to pull out because of the injury even though I had only done two rounds of soft pads work during the week. A lot of fighters would have pulled out with lesser injuries so I’m proud of myself, it shows a lot of mental strength on my behalf and as to how far I am willing to go to get to where I want to be.
“I honestly didn’t do what I was capable of doing against Stafford and was nowhere near a hundred percent due to my picking up a deep tissue bruise in my pectoral muscles. I’m just too stubborn for myself and knew I just had to go out there and do it.”
Jon-Lewis Dickinson will make the third and final defence of the British Cruiserweight title against Neil Dawson (11-1; 4KO’s). Traversing that successfully and he will own the belt outright and then it’s onto Europe and beyond. The bout is scheduled to take place before the end of July 2013.
“I’m at the point now where I want that British title for keeps,” finished Dickinson.
“If things go how they should then it will be Europe and the World in the next twelve months or so as there’s no reason as to why I cannot get to where I want to be, there really isn’t.”
Dickinson is sponsored by Lonsdale, Gateshead Academy for Sport, Southwark Metals and Martin Nugent Strength and Performance. Further information can be found on the official ‘Team Dickinson’ Facebook page.
