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Home » Ellis Machin building towards British heavyweight title dream on March 2

Ellis Machin building towards British heavyweight title dream on March 2

There’s a big daft lad from Huthwaite who might just end up as British heavyweight champion.

Chances are you haven’t heard of Huthwaite – it’s a town in Nottinghamshire – or of Ellis Machin.

On the Midlands amateur circuit he was known as a big tough lad who liked a pie, a pint and a punch up.

He looked altogether more serious on his pro debut in Leicester last September – and needed to be.

Manager Carl Greaves was secretly panicking after what had originally been a straightforward fight against a journeyman became altogether more tricky.

Jone Volau had a KO win over an 11-0 prospect in Germany on his record – but Machin smashed him senseless with a thunderous combination in the second round.

“I told Carl I don’t want easy fights,” said Machin, who made it two wins out of two with a points victory over Phil Williams.

“I had 35 amateurs and boxed all the top lads, so I just want to get stuck in.

“I find it hard to get revved up to fight journeymen. I get motivated when I know they want to take my head off.”

The good news for 27 year-old Machin is his next opponent is a real-life ‘Rocky’ who will definitely want to take his head off.

Josh Sandland’s first two fights were against opponents with a combined record of 12-0-1 and he chinned them both.

He was fuming after another ambitious match, against Tom Little, was stopped and now the hard-as-nails Yorkshireman is back to face Machin on Carl Greaves’s show at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham on Saturday, March 2.

“I want four good fights this year and by the end of the year I’m hoping to be Midlands champion and creeping into the top 10,” said Machin.

“I’m hoping Carl (Greaves) can put a word in for me with Frank Warren and try to get me on one of his shows.

“I want to get my name and face out there. I think I’m exciting to watch.”

Greaves turned another big daft lad from Nottinghamshire into a British champion and there are similarities between Machin and former cruiserweight boss Shane McPhilbin.

McPhilbin didn’t always live the life – he drank and smoked – but with his chin and heart, he got his hands on the Lonsdale belt.

Machin is also the type who will fight all day long and likes to socialise !

“I like to think I’m easy to get on with and I do like going out,” he said.

“I did that when I was an amateur, but I can’t do it now. I can’t mess about anymore. These heavyweights mean business.”

So does Machin.

“As an amateur, I was flat footed and just stomped forward swinging shots,” he said. “My coach (Richie Wheldon) has got me believing I can box.

“I even go southpaw sometimes !

“I’m getting the best out there with people like Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte and it’s bringing me on.”