QUICK-PUNCHING Billy Wilson is hellbent on bringing the British heavyweight boxing title back to York.

He took another step towards his target with a points victory over Cambridge's Simon Goodwin at the Queen's Hotel, Leeds.

Wilson, 23, from Nunnery Lane, is now scheduled to fight Lincolnshire's Chris Wallace in Cleethorpes a week tonight.

"Once I've beaten Wallace I want a shot at the area title," said the super-confident Wilson, who has predicted he will become British champion sooner rather than later.

"I definitely know I can go on and win the title," he said.

Wilson, who is delighted to be back in action after several of his matches were called off earlier this year, will go into next Thursday's bout with an impressive victory over Goodwin under his belt.

"He was a good fighter. Really tough and strong, but I was just too quick for him. He had never been stopped before," said former All Saints School pupil Wilson.

Leeds referee Mickey Vann scored the six-round bout 69-66 in Wilson's favour - the York boxer's third successive victory.

Wilson went into the Goodwin fight around 15 stone - about five pounds less than his opponent - but his speed of thought and hand proved decisive factors.

The 6ft 4in York fighter trains at the Round One gym in Meanwood Road under the watchful eye of Terry O'Neill, former mentor to York's undefeated European, Commonwealth and British super-middleweight champion Henry Wharton.

Assisting O'Neill is former Irish welterweight Derek 'The Rebel' Roache, who lives in Leeds.

Wilson, who had 26 stoppages in 38 amateur victories, has made a positive start to his fledgling professional career, beating Brighton scrapper Brodie Promain in November 2003, Paul King in February this year and now Goodwin.

Watching Wilson in action at the Queen's Hotel bill were WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe, who was guest speaker at the promotion, and former world title contender Earnie Shavers, who is now training in Liverpool.

American Shavers twice fought for the world heavyweight title. He was beaten by Muhammed Ali in 1977 and two years later was defeated by Larry Holmes.

Wilson's cousin is York light-heavyweight Pinky Burton.

Updated: 10:36 Thursday, December 09, 2004