LEE Cutler admits he will have to hunt down his first title shot in the next year – and believes sparring with world and commonwealth champions will keep him on the right track.

The Bournemouth middleweight this month maintained his unbeaten record with two convincing victories.

On Saturday, he dispatched Geraint Goodridge in the second round at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy after a points win against Rod Douglas Junior on June 1 in Southampton.

The Goodridge clash was his first scheduled for six rounds, however, Cutler never looked likely to need the full distance.

The 23-year-old plans to return to the ring in September and complete a couple of bouts before the end of the year.

His attention will then turn to possible title challenges. But he fears many champions will do their best to avoid him.

Cutler told the Daily Echo: “We are hopefully going to go looking for a title in the early part of next year and, maybe, get an eight-round fight in later this year, which would put me in good stead for a title fight.

“If I keep impressing like I am, the people with the titles are not going to want to box me.

“I am going to have to get myself in a position where they have to box me. They are not going to do a voluntary defence against someone who is as skilful and can punch as hard as me.

“I will have to go through a few eliminators to get into a position where they are unable say no to me.”

Cutler went on the road in preparation for his fourth and fifth professional bouts, completing sparring sessions with Josh Taylor ahead of the Scot’s world-title victory against Ivan Baranchyk and commonwealth champion Felix Cash.

The ex-Parkstone ABC man said he relished the opportunity to test his skills against the talented punchers.

“You can’t match the experience,” said Cutler. “We are getting good feedback from the lads and we are being invited back up.

“Anywhere we go we impress and my coach gets good words from the other trainers.

“We have to keep looking for tougher sparring because it is quite hard around this area.

“Not being big headed, but there are not many lads on my level.

“You have to travel quite far. The only other person is Chris (Billam-Smith) but he trains in London and he is a cruiserweight.”

Reflecting on his performance against Goodridge on Steve Bendall’s ‘Full House’ show, Cutler said: “It was really good. I went in calm and collected. I boxed well and started relaxed.

“I landed a few good shots and got him away in the second round, which we were not expecting to do because he is a tough lad who had only been stopped by a super middleweight once before.

“When I fight for titles it will be at super welterweight, so to stop someone a lot heavier was great.”