SCOTT GAMMER vs MICKEY STEEDS

Just four months after becoming champion, Scott Gammer defends his British heavyweight title against the less experienced Mickey Steeds in a rematch.

This is actually a step down for Gammer, who was to have fought Danny Williams in by far his toughest fight only for Williams, a Muslim, to withdraw, essentially because he did not wish to box in the month of Ramadan — although who knows if Danny really wants to fight any more, no matter what the month.

Gammer, who is unbeaten in 17 fights, outpointed Steeds in a six-rounder in February 2005. It was Steeds’s only loss in nine bouts, and he is said to have improved.

The setting of Port Talbot gives Welshman Gammer home advantage, and he beat Steeds clearly when they met before in a six-rounder.

Londoner Steeds has come back well, though, with four wins in a row, including points victories over veterans Julius Francis and Garry Delaney. In his last bout, he outpointed a local favourite, Colin Kenna, in his opponent’s home town of Southampton. This was a solid win over a boxer who had lost only twice in 19 bouts.

Although Steeds has not had many bouts I understand he was something of a formidable fighter on what the British call unlicensed shows, which I think are similar to the American Toughman tournaments.

Gammer, though, gave his best performance in his last fight when he stopped Mark Krence in the ninth round to win the vacant British title. The promoter, Barry Hearn, of Matchroom Boxing, feels that this is a great opportunity for Gammer to show what he can do — unlike the title-winning bout with Krence, this one is being televised in Britain (Sky Sports).

If Gammer’s people were willing to put him in with Williams they must have faith in the beefy 29-year-old.

Steeds, 23, is known to be a robust individual who comes to fight but I think that Gammer has probably distanced himself a bit from the Londoner — winning the British title will probably take him to a new level in terms of self-belief — and he appears to be the better puncher.

I expect Gammer to wear down Steeds for a late-rounds stoppage.