NIGEL WRIGHT is hoping to use the English light-welterweight crown as a stepping stone to a tilt at the British title.

Wright takes on Dean Harrison for the English championship at Houghton-le- Spring’s Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday night.

The Crook boxer, who is part of Gus Robinson’s highly- rated stable of fighters based at Hartlepool, missed out on a British and Commonwealth belt when he flopped against Ajose Olusegun last July.

But having rebuilt his reputation with an accomplished defeat of former world champion Alex Arthur on the undercard of Amir Khan’s world title fight at Newcastle Arena in December, he could be one stellar performance away from a challenge for Lennie Daws’ Lonsdale Belt.

“This fight is a chance for me to showcase my talents and hopefully get a few people back on side,” said Wright.

“I’ve learned from the Olusegun contest. I’m a better fighter now, I’ve got more experience.

“I want to stop people saying, ‘He’s finished, he’s washed up and he can’t do it at the top level’. I want to stop all that sort of thing.

“I want to start to show people that I do belong in the top bracket. Fingers crossed, if I beat Dean then I’ll get Lenny Daws for the British title.”

Having controversially lost on points in the semi-finals of 2008’s Prizefighter series, Wright’s career was in tatters when he failed to impress against Olusegun.

Few gave him much of a hope against Arthur but his display was arguably the best of his career.

A repeat on Friday would surely be too much for Wolverhampton- born Harrison to handle.

“I was always 100 per cent confident I’d win the Arthur fight,” said southpaw Wright.

“I just boxed, I had a game plan and I stuck to it.”

■ Wright is part of a bill that also includes Darlington’s British champion Stuart Hall and Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries. For tickets call 07890 907770.