MICKEY Ellison will fight for the English super-middleweight title after his big win on national TV.
The Darwen fighter won a close fight 95-94 against Charlie Schofield despite having a point deducted after his gumshield kept falling out.
Ellison took his record to 10 wins in his 12 professional bouts on Saturday with the points victory at the University of Bolton Stadium live on 5Spike.
"I’ve just been told the title is vacant, so we’ll see what happens," Ellison said when asked what he will do next.
"In eight weeks, I’ll be ready to go again. I’m straight back in work on Monday, roofing.
"My little boy came tonight, and I promised him I wouldn’t lose in front of him again.
"I knew he was here, and I needed to keep grinding and show the heart. I think that’s what got me through in the end."
Many around ringside thought Ellison's points deduction could have swung the fight Schofield's way, but the Alex Matvienko-trained fighter dug deep and won the rounds he needed to.
"I knew it was close myself and it went down to the last round, which I think I got,” the father of two told VIPtv.
“With the gumshield thing, I had to dig deep.
"It just spurred me on more to keep going and get in front of him and grind him down – that’s what I did.
“It was tight, I showed grit and heart and stayed in front of him the whole way through. I think I forced the fight.
"At times I was just leaning with him being so long, I thought I could get over or get inside him, but he was just a bit too long to do what I wanted to do.
"I got the win and I ground it out, that’s all that matters to me. I’m over the moon with that."
Schofield, who tasted defeat for the first time in his 16th fight, just failed to make weight for the fight, coming in a whisker over the super-middleweight limit.
It wasn’t something that fazed Ellison who thrived under the bright lights in front of a large TV audience.
"He didn’t quite make weight, he was three ounces over, but it wasn’t for a title so you can get away with that,” the 29-year-old said.
"He definitely showed up tonight as well, he caught me with some good shots, he liked holding, but I actually enjoyed it in there.
"I was smiling and I just wanted to get back to him a bit more, I thought I was a bit too eager at times with rushing and overstretching."
Ellison landed some big shots and also took some from the taller Schofield with Saturday night's winner believing some excellent preparation has given him a new-found confidence.
"I’ve had some great sparring over the last 18 months, and I think it has spurred me on," Ellison added.
"I’m not saying I wasn’t nervous coming into this fight, but because of the preparation I’ve had, I was confident, and I was looking forward to it throughout."
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