This week's Boxer of the Week is Scott “Dynamite” Dann, the warrior from Plymouth who stopped Coventry's previously unbeaten Steve Bendall in the sixth round of their British Middleweight title bout.
Born in Plymouth in July of 1974, Scott turned pro after a decent amateur career in November 1997, an impressive start to his career saw him notch up 12 wins on the spin and only two went the distance. Obviously demonstrating good power allied with solid technique from his amateur days, the 12th of these wins won Scott his first title, the IBO Intercontinental belt against Elvis Adonisi.
However it proved unlucky thirteen as Scott suffered his first loss to Jon Penn, but no disgrace there as Penn had mixed it in much higher class at this stage, Howard Eastman, Neil Linford and former Joe Calzaghe victim Mario Veit being names on Penn's record. (This aside from Penn being a naturally larger man).
Undeterred, Scott rebuilt with two wins over Mark Phillips before notching his best career win up to that time, over the experienced Jamaican puncher Delroy Leslie, not only that but in the first round too. A great jab followed by an uppercut dropped his man before the referee stepped in ten seconds after Leslie had regained his feet.
An unsuccessful challenge against experienced world class operator Howard Eastman did nothing to dampen Scott's enthusiasm (in fact quite the opposite - see interview below). Comfortable victories over Albanian Kreshnick Qato, awkward but dangerous Hussain Osman, and even more experienced and dangerous Ojay Abrahams led to Scott's resurgence and winning of the British title last weekend.
In addition to the usual article on being BBN's Boxer of the Week we are glad to bring you words straight from the horse's mouth as it were, as both Scott and his manager Chris Saniger, kindly took time out to speak to us.
We first spoke to Chris :
BBN: Congrats on your recent title victory any idea on your potential next opponent? Chris S: Not as yet, but we will be defending the title before Christmas in Plymouth.
BBN: Any future ambitions to step up for the European title? Chris S: Possibly, but first off we would like to defend the British title and win the Lonsdale belt outright.
We then had Scott on the line but before that, Chris finished with a lovely moment of sportsmanship, as he was full of praise for recent foe Steve Bendall.
Chis S: May I just say credit to Stevie Bendall out there, he took some real good whacks in there and fought with a lot of heart.
BBN: Congratulations on your recent win, did the fight go as you expected?
Scott: Cheers, yes pretty much, I think Steve expected me to rush in but I'm actually a better counter-puncher and boxer than given credit for as my amateur days show, I thought the tactics went right and I boxed him well. Got to say credit to Steve I thought he looked a bit gaunt at the weigh in but in reality he was really well conditioned and put up a really good fight.
BBN: Anyone particularly in the near future you would like to fight? Scott: Anyone in the top ten, I don't mind who it is, as Chris says, I plan to get in the ring again by the end of November, I believe.
BBN: Can you see yourself having European ambitions once more and did your defeat to Howard teach you a lot? Scott: Yes, but first I want the Lonsdale belt for my own, and yes definitely I have come back a much better fighter and you learn from such fights. In a similar way, I believe Steve will come back a stronger better fighter for his match with me. It was a good learning experience for me (the bout with Howard). I would love a rematch but that doesn't look likely at present.
It is nice to see a fighter from the region bring the fight game back to the forefront in West Country. Long may it continue.
