Given the muted state of boxing and the horrible things going on in life, perhaps it’s a bit difficult to get excited about a new professional signing.
But in the case of Mark Dickinson you would be more than entitled to be very excited.
Boxing’s big player, MTK Global, this week announced their “delight” at signing the very gifted Team GB star, who is part of the all-conquering Birtley ABC under head coach, Graeme Rutherford.
While it is a damaging blow to the amateur sport to lose such a talent, it’s good news for the pro game to welcome a young man who has dazzled inside the square ring.
“I am very excited about joining MTK Global and I can’t wait to start my career as a professional,” said the 21-year-old.
“They have plenty of world champions and seeing how well they have done means there is no reason I can’t as well.
“I’m an eight-time national champion in the amateurs including a Senior ABA title.
“I won a gold medal in the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas, and won gold in the European Youth Championships in Turkey.”
Dickinson, you can see, is a winner as well as an entertainer.
He exploded onto the senior scene with victory over Ramtin Musah to win the national title in spring 2019 and struck gold at the famous Gee Bee tournament in Finland where after defeating Kazakhstan’s AIBA Youth World Champion Nurbek Oralbay in the semi, he was brilliant in beating Russian’s Vadim Tukov in the final.
Dickinson looked on course for a crack at the Olympics and represented GB at both the European Games and World Championships in 2019.
But he missed out on selection for the Olympic qualifiers with GB picking Sammy Lee and then promoting reserve Lewis Richardson when injury ruled out Wales’s 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Mark, the nephew of former British cruiserweight king, Jon Lewis Dickinson and ex-Prizefighter champ Travis, is relishing a crack at the pro game.
“I got onto Team GB and won gold medals at the Memorial V. Liventsev tournament out in Belarus, and the GeeBee tournament in Finland, along with representing them in the 2019 European Games and the 2019 World Championships,” he said.
“I feel like my style is more suited to the pros so it should work in my favour.
“I take everything one step at a time and just can’t wait to make my debut and get the show on road.”
Dickinson will need to appear before the British Boxing Board of Control, but his transfer should prove a formality.
MTK Global vice-president, Jamie Conlan, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Mark to the team.
“We believe he can be one of the stand out prospects in 2021.
“His all-action style will make sure the North East have another fighter to get behind in years to come.”
Words: Roy Kelly
