Colin wants to cash in

The light middleweight takes to the ring at Preston's Guild Hall on Friday night, third on a seven strong bill for his seventh professional fight.

His record so far stands at fought six, two losses - but several managers have eyed him as a hot prospect for the future.

One of his losses was early in his professional career but his other, in his last fight, was to Scotland's captain Ryan Kerr, a highly-rated boxer.

"Ryan is a very good boxer and everyone was expecting Colin to get knocked out early on," said Colin's manager Bert Myers, who was in charge of former British champion Carl Crook from Chorley.

"But Colin took him to the end and he only lost on points.

"At the end Ryan's manager said to me 'What a prospect you have got there.' And I think I have."

The big test will be at Preston tomorrow night where the 24-year-old takes on Wrexham's Martyn Bailey.

"It should be a good fight. Martyn is an explosive puncher but Colin is a very good fighter, he is tough, so it will be entertaining," continued Myers.

"Colin is one of the best I have managed and could go all the way to the top, that's if he wants to.

"He has only had a few fights, even at amateur level as he was in the parachute regiment in the army, but he could win the British title.

"He has gone from strength to strength and he has the dedication and the power to go further."

The British title could be some two years into the future while Colin is just concentrating on tomorrow night's bout.

"I feel fit and ready to go," said McCash. "Martyn is experienced. He is a hooker and he comes forward whereas I am a boxer and I work off my jab.

"He has had 15 professional fights and many of those I am fighting have had 70 amateur fights, I had just eight at amateur level.

"I am a relative newcomer but I am learning every fight. I have only been fighting 14 months so it is new to me.

"With Kerr I fought him in Sunderland, had a long trip but still gave him a good fight.

"I am learning fast. I have won my four fights on points and have never been knocked out. Saying that, I have never knocked anyone out but I will aiming to do that at Preston."

McCash will be taking a few of his Accrington pals along for the short trip.

"It is probably the closest I have fought to home but I won't be thinking about them once I get into the ring.

"I will be nervous but I will make the nerves work for me to beat him."

Also on the bill is Darwen's Gary Thompson who will be fighting in only his second professional bout.

His first, against Michael Thompson from Newcastle on the undercard to Audley Harrison's second pro fight at Newcastle, was stopped.

"I knew the referee and he stopped it as he didn't want any boxer hurt and it was only Gary's first fight," said Myers, who helps to train Gary along with Gary's father Trevor, a former amateur boxer.

"But Gary has a lot of heart.

"He is a cruiserweight but I would like to see him at super middleweight when he is older.

"He is a tremendous fighter."

Gary, 20, is looking forward to being on territory closer to home.

"I was nervous for my first fight. I didn't take anyone up with me but hopefully I will have loads of fans at Preston."

Thompson, who has been boxing since he was 10, is facing Adam Cale from Worcester.

"He is an experienced fighter, a journeyman but he has never won any titles," added Thompson.

Topping the bill is the heavyweight contest between Paul Buttery from Preston and Sean McClaren from Blackpool.

Preston's Tony Byrne is second on the bill, fighting William Webster from Birmingham which is tipped as an 'explosive' match.

Tony alone has sold 500 tickets for the card with the Guild Hall holding 2000 - and they hope it will be a sell-out although there are some tickets still available.

The Box office number is 01772 203456.