CENTRAL area cruiserweight champion Denzil Browne has hurled down a red raw glove to York's Jorvik Warrior Jamie Warters.

Browne told Warters he would 'beat him up' if the York fighter dared to try to take his precious crown, which he sees as a route to the British and Commonwealth titles followed by a potential world title shot.

In an exclusive interview with the Evening Press Browne said he would love to take on Warters at York's Barbican Centre, a venue that York's former king of the right Henry Wharton has targeted for his first promotion as a trainer this summer.

A former 'Hard N Fast' stable-mate of Wharton, Browne said: "I'll fight him anywhere - over in his York home where I have a lot of supporters myself after my time with Henry, or in Leeds, or anywhere he wants.

"Tell him it's on if he wants to get it on. I'll be ready."

If the two warriors do trade punches in the ring - Browne further stoked the war of words by claiming he fought under the original 'Warrior' banner - the victor would then be aiming at the British cruiserweight crown.

Currently that title is vacant, subject to the appeal of champion Bruce Scott against a British Boxing Board of Control decision to strip him of the championship which he failed to defend last month.

Browne, who has been inactive in the fight game for almost two years after beating Wakefield's Lee Swaby in Huddersfield, has just signed to the management of Sheffield's Dennis Hobson - ironically Warters' former manager -- and has mapped out his route to a big pay-day.

After Warters he wants to take on Huddersfield's current Commonwealth champion Mark Hobson, whom many believe will also soon plunder the British title.

"I'm looking at Hobson. And if I can get past him then my manager Dennis Hobson has mentioned a possible world title fight. I'm 34 now, so time is not on my side, but I'm raring to go," declared Browne.

"First though, it's Warters and you can tell him he's not getting my belt. No way. I'll get my ring rust out the way by beating Jamie and then I'll go for Hobson."

Warters' manager Steve Pollard confirmed to the Evening Press that Browne's Central Area crown was the number one priority for Warters en route to a British success. And he was adamant that his man would end Browne's attempted comeback.

Said Pollard: "I would expect Jamie to beat him. Denzil Browne was a good fighter, but he has had his day now. He is getting a bit long in the tooth.

"I think it would be a really attractive fight There would be a lot of interest in it and who knows it could be staged at York's Barbican Centre."

Updated: 10:00 Saturday, May 24, 2003