Boxer Neil Linford has moved to Brighton and Hove to soak up some knowledge from world champ Chris Eubank's former trainer Ronnie Davies.

The 24-year-old, who has a distinguished amateur career and professional record of just four defeats in 17 outings, has joined Davies's stable of fighters at the Cheetahs gym and is hoping the vastly experienced trainer can guide him to a title shot by the end of the year.

Linford, one of the most popular fighters to come out of Leicester since Tony Sibson in the 1980s, has already had an unsuccessful stab at the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight title and the IBO Intercontinental title, albeit against more experienced opponents.

That sixth-round stoppage by reigning British and Commonwealth champion David Starie last September proved a watershed in his relatively short career.

Linford said: "The Starie fight showed me there was more I needed to learn.

"That was for the British title, which was a dream come true, and I think I gave a good account of myself but Starie technically had a bit more than me.

"I had been with my trainer Jez Brogan since I was ten-years-old and he turned pro with me.

"We decided that Jez had taken me as far as he could and that I had to learn more. That's when my manager Kevin Sanders set up some training with Ronnie.

"He has been at the top level with Eubank and he can show me some new moves, different approaches and how to pace a fight.

"I have only been with Ronnie for five weeks full time but I have already learnt a lot. It's been great.

"I am learning the all-round skills of boxing. Working with Ronnie has given me the confidence to use those skills in the ring. They were always there but I had never really used them."

Davies has already stamped his mark on Linford, stepping him up to light-heavyweight after a professional career fought mainly at middle and super-middleweight.

Davies explained: "Neil was fighting two fights every time he got in the ring. One to make the weight and the other to beat the opponent."

After three weeks of training with Davies, Linford kicked off with a win over experienced campaigner Ali Forbes at the new weight.

The progress he has made under Davies persuaded him the switch to Hove had to be made.

Linford said: "There's a great bunch of lads in the gym and a nice atmosphere to train in.

"In Leicester I was totally on my own because I was the only active pro.

"When I trained in the gym in Leicester, it was one-to-one training. It's great to work with Ronnie and everyone else. It makes a nice change."

He added: "I am trying to get a job down here to suit the hours of training.

"I want a title shot by the end of the year but this time I will get it right.

"Having said that, the people I have boxed against for the titles, Brian Magee for the IBO Intercontinental and Starie, were both quality opponents and there was no disgrace in losing to them. I am only 24 after all.

"Nobody expected me to win that fight with Starie because of the experience difference and the age difference. I was up against it.

"I was rated No.11 at the time and he was number three, so I never really lost anything."

Linford has had a colourful career since realising a long-held ambition of turning pro as a 20-year-old.

He won his first pro fight but there were more punches thrown out of the ring than in it.

Linford said: "I won on my debut but it went a bit wrong on the night as there was a riot in Peterborough.

"It was between Peterborough and Leicester football fans. That was a bit of a nightmare."

Linford, who has always been a draw on the bill whenever he fights, now hopes to develop his own fan base in his new home city.

And if he can achieve half of what Davies's most famous fighter did, there will be no shortage of Sussex fans lending him their support.