Kane Baker will tackle further title tests like “he’s got nothing to prove” after he’s got busy again with a run-out.
The reigning Midlands lightweight champion will put thoughts of more belts to one side, for the evening, and look to pick up another victory.
He features when paid pugilism is back at Walsall Town Hall on Saturday May 11, on the BCB Promotions offering titled ‘Showtime.’
Brummie Baker, from Bartley Green, engages in a four-round contest after a planned outing for the following week fell through.
The 28-year-old was hoping to face Boy Jones Jr, on the under-card of Billy Joe Saunders’ clash with Shefat Usafi for the interim WBO world super middleweight crown.
That was scrapped after an appropriate prize could not be landed for Baker versus Jones, although it could be resurrected down the line.
English title holder Myron Mills is another target for Baker, a game fighter who has taken on all comers since coming into pro boxing from the unlicensed circuit.
He’s amassed 10 wins, all on points, from 15 pro contests and his five defeats have all come on the road against top prospects.
Conor Benn, Gary Cully, Sanjeev Sahota, Sam Maxwell and Darren Surtees were unbeaten and have retained that status since.
Baker went down by TKO to Benn and Surtees, but tackled them live on television. His clash with Surtees took place overseas in Jeddah.
That was all before Baker’s crowning glory, when he outpointed Ishmael Ellis to claim the vacant area crown.
His ninth victory, all over the distance, saw his hand raised in an evening of firsts, completing the 10-round duration at a new weight, having debuted in 2016 as a welter.
He returned to action since, vanquishing Luke Middleton in March, and now looks to pick up his 11th win in the pro ranks.
The unbeaten Shaun Cooper, from Walsall, has been made mandatory challenger for his Midlands honours, a battle that could take place after the summer.
Baker said: “I’ve sparred with Cooper, in the past, so I’ve got an idea of what he’s about and he’s good at what he does.
“From my point of view, I’ve been in there with big punchers and done well against them. I’m one of only two to go the distance with Maxwell, for instance.
“Cooper doesn’t have that level of experience and I proved against Ellis that I can upset the odds, so I shouldn’t be under-estimated.
“I’m happy to defend against him, if something better doesn’t come up, but I’d prefer that to be in the autumn. It could well happen.
“I’m still interested in Jones, we come from a similar sort of background and I think it would be a good one for us both.
“He’s with Frank Warren, so it would be on BT Sport and I’m not even bothered if it’s for a title. I’ll take non-title fights, as long as it’s a good opponent on a big show.
“Mills still has the English title and I’d love a crack at that, it would be a Midlands derby between and one the fans would enjoy.
“I’d been in the gym training, so we’ve decided to get one in first and then I can knuckle down towards something big again.
“I’ve got a job to do and that’s getting another win under my belt, I want to get the win and the rounds in. I’ll want to look good doing it.
“I feel like I’m a proper pro now, not a white collar fighter. I’m a better performer than I’ve ever been and I’m still improving all of the time.
“I still feel like a man with nothing to lose, I’ve achieved far more than I ever thought I would in boxing and everything from here is a bonus.”
Ricky Summers, with new trainer Spencer McCracken in his corner for the first time, features elsewhere on the Town Hall card as he looks to get back to winning ways.
Summers, from Tipton but now a resident of Wombourne in Wolverhampton, has challenged for the British light heavyweight title and wants another opportunity.
Kelcie Ball, from Dordon in Warwickshire, is also in action for his first outing as a member of the BCB stable.
‘Cannon’ Ball got nine wins under his belt, with one stoppage, before unsuccessfully challenging for the Midlands super welterweight crown.
Liam Davies, from Donnington in Telford, is another hopeful making his way as a pro after success in the unpaid ranks.
The super bantamweight, 23, has already secured two points results in his favour, having only turned over late last year.
The son of former Midlands champion Tristan Davies racked up 100 amateur contests for his father’s Donnington Boxing Club and boxed for England.
Two debutants, Amy Timlin and Ruben Campbell, complete the line-up. Timlin travels from Southam in Warwickshire to turn over.
Teenager Timlin, who is just 19, switched sports from kickboxing, where she won a host of titles, and will become a part of the featherweight division.
Second generation fighter Campbell, from Dudley, will join the same super lightweight ranks where dad Ray ‘Raza’ Campbell featured himself in the early 1990s.
Wolverhampton’s Conah Walker now also features.
Tickets, priced at £35 standard or £65 VIP ringside with a buffet and waitress service, are on sale now from the Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900. It’s £40 for entry on the door.
