SUNDERLAND'S David Dolan has been recruited by Lennox Lewis to help him prepare for his next world heavyweight title fight.

Dolan, who won gold at last year's Commonwealth Games, is sparring at a training camp in the United States ahead of Lewis's fight with Kirk Johnson on June 21.

Dolan said: "To train with Lennox Lewis's people and to spar with him will tell me a lot about where I am and how much I've got to do.

"Lewis is the best in the business, as are the people he works with. It was an honour to be invited and I'm sure it can only benefit me."

Dolan wants his trip across the Atlantic to act as a catalyst for his medals bid in July's World Amateur Championships and next year's Olympics.

He has dropped down to the heavyweight division, having triumphed in the super-heavyweight category in Manchester nine months ago.

Dolan said: "Everything I'm doing at the moment is geared towards qualifying for the Olympic Games and trying to get a medal there.

"I've had a few more offers to turn pro, but I've made it clear I want to go to the Olympics and I think people have got the message.

"I went on a training visit to the States earlier this year, which meant I missed the ABA finals.

"That was a difficult decision because I enjoy the ABAs and I was proud to be champion. But training in America is the sort of thing I need to be doing now.

"I've proved myself at ABA level, and with the Olympics being my main target I have to get more international competition."