Dean Lewis said Dean Dodge’s fight for the Southern Area super-featherweight title against Danny Carr is helping him to realise his own ambition and is looking forward to what will be an “amazing experience” on Friday (February 19).

A chance meeting between the pair saw the two come together and support each other after Dodge was originally denied his professional boxing license on medical grounds.

But with Lewis’ help the decision was overturned and allowed Dodge to become a professional, a move which has seen Dodge remain undefeated in 10 bouts ahead of his bout with current title holder Carr.

“This is massive for us. Since we started working together when he first turned professional, we’ve had 10 fights together now, which is crazy, it seems like a lifetime ago this journey started,” said Lewis.

“The whole journey has been about this - fighting for the Southern Area title and going to box for the English and British eventually and boxing on the big televised shows. That’s what these lads get into boxing for.

“It’s a dream come true really and it’s exactly what Dodge is in the game for and this was the goal from the start, to box for the Southern Area title and getting this opportunity on a televised platform, which is going to be shown all over the world including America and the UK.

“It’s a good opportunity to show his skills and talent and hopefully moving forward keeping the ball rolling and getting more TV work.

“Every boxer is in boxing to be a champion, to actually win a recognised title is massive thing for any boxer and a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears has gone into this for a long time now over the course of the last three, four years to get to this moment.”

Weston Mercury: Dean Lewis has coached Dean Dodge in all his 10 professional fights so far, where Dodge is unbeaten and has picked up seven wins in a row.Dean Lewis has coached Dean Dodge in all his 10 professional fights so far, where Dodge is unbeaten and has picked up seven wins in a row. (Image: Archant)

The fight will be held at the Home of Bolton Wanderers FC, the University of Bolton Stadium.

A total of eight fights will be held on the night and the bout will be 27-year-old Dodge’s first ever 10-rounder.

But Weston Warriors coach Lewis says they can’t wait to get out there and help Dodge bring home the title.

“I’m looking forward to it, a new venue, a new show. MTK run their shows really well and it’s a great platform for Dodge to get on and he’s worked hard to get on this platform and he deserves this opportunity,” he added.

“He’s the fittest he’s ever been, he’s in the shape of his life. He really, really has put it all in this camp. He’s cut no corners, he’s got a brilliant nutritionist called Pete Bell, who’s been outstanding for this camp and he’s done a really good job of helping Dodge prepare properly.

“We’ve had some really good training. We've recently been training at the MTK Performance Centre in London with Ben Davison, who is now Josh Taylor’s coach and former coach of Tyson Fury, and everything has gone absolutely amazing, we’ve had no hiccups.

“It’s going to absolutely amazing to see him lift that title and for Dodge, his ambitions are to become a champion and for myself, my ambition getting into boxing was to train champions.

"I want to help boxers fulfil their dreams and train them to be in championship fights and not just be in them but to win them and I look to move on again to win more championship titles. It’s going to be an amazing experience, it really is.”

*Watch the fight either on IFL TV on YouTube or ESPN on TV from 7.30pm.