BOXING: David Starie, Suffolk's British and Commonwealth super-middleweight boxing champion, declared today: "World champions are fighting shy of me."The 28-year-old former Hurstlea-Kerridge Club of Needham Market amateur continues: The WBC world champion Eric Lucas and the IBF title holder Sven Otke have been offered me many times.

By Dave Allard

BOXING

DAVID Starie, Suffolk's British and Commonwealth super-middleweight boxing champion, declared today: "World champions are fighting shy of me."

The 28-year-old former Hurstlea-Kerridge Club of Needham Market amateur continues: The WBC world champion Eric Lucas and the IBF title holder Sven Otke have been offered me many times. But they don't fancy it."

Getting a British title defence is hard too. He says: "Former world champions Glenn Catley and Robin Reid have turned it down. They know that I've won eight of my last nine fights inside the distance, the last three inside the first round."

But there is a date looming for Starie at the York Hall in Bethnal Green.

He takes on Tanzanian Joseph Mawa in defence of the Commonwealth crown.

Mawa, who has a fight record of 12 bouts and two losses, should be easy meat for Starie.

But the double champion says: "I'm training as hard as ever and he'll get my utmost respect."

This will be Starie's eighth defence of the Commonwealth belt.

His full career record as a professional reads. Fought 32, won 30, including 23 knock-outs.

Two years ago the Elmswell based fighter challenged Joe Calzaghe for the WBO World crown. The Welshman won on points.

Starie went on: "I don't think Calzaghe would fancy a re-match with me now. I really don't."

His manager Gordon Holmes says: "David is well right for another world title fight of some sort. We are exploring various options, one in particular I hope will be fruitful.

"David has such a reputation now that the top men want to avoid him of possible. But we'll keep working at it."