STEVE Spartacus aims to edge closer to his British title ambition in the next fortnight.Fresh from his knockout success earlier this week, the Bramford-based light-heavyweight has been pencilled in for another contest on June 10.

By Mel Henderson

STEVE Spartacus aims to edge closer to his British title ambition in the next fortnight.

Fresh from his knockout success earlier this week, the Bramford-based light-heavyweight has been pencilled in for another contest on June 10.

He could be facing a Russian opponent at the Ponds Forge Leisure Centre in Sheffield, but the final details have yet to be completed.

"It's a BBC card, but you won't see me on the box," he laughed.

"But my deal with them means another four fights before the end of the year and I'll appear on television then."

Spartacus only needed two of the scheduled six rounds to dispose of Mark Phillips at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old has now clocked up 12 wins in as many fights since turning professional – an impressive record that has put him in the frame for a British title shot.

Spartacus said: "You could say it went all right – according to plan, if you like.

"People can say he wasn't the strongest of opponents, and it might look that way when you see his record.

"But you have to look beyond the stats a lot of the time to see what a fighter's made of. Facts and figures only reveal so much."

Although Bristol-based former Welsh amateur champ Phillips had suffered ten successive defeats leading up to Tuesday's contest, he had never been stopped in 15 pro contests.

"I achieved what I set out to achieve," added Spartacus. "I not only wanted to win, I also wanted to be the first guy to stop him.

"The thing about Phillips is that he has always been known as a durable fighter, the type who would hang in there. So I put it down as a decent win, better than some people might give me credit for.

"There's something else about Phillips you should know – he took Scott Dann the full distance last year, once over four rounds and also over six."

"Dann's the guy who fought Howard Eastman for the British crown in April, so he's no mug either."