09.03.07 – Scott Lawton insists champion Jon Thaxton’s home crowd will not intimidate him in his British lightweight title challenge on the Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com ‘Showdowns @ The Showground’ event in Norwich on Friday 16th March. The Stoke challenger expects to have a loyal army of over 100 fans down from the Potteries for his first chance at winning the domestic crown. Lawton, 30, earned his opportunity by Steffy Bull in the eighth round to lift the English title last year. Scott has plenty of respect for Thaxton, but is not giving his opponent’s superior experience too much thought..
“Fighting in Norwich doesn’t worry me, I’m used to fighting on away shows. I went to Doncaster and beat Stefy Bull for the English title on his own turf,” said Lawton.
“There will be no pressure on me this time. People should try boxing on their own shows when they are involved in promoting them, that’s real pressure.
“I expect to have a decent amount of fans there with me and although there won’t be too many of them they will make a lot of noise.
“Jon has got a great record, especially since he’s made his comeback, and he’s been in with some very good opponents including Ricky Hatton and Eamonn Magee.
“But on the night records count for nothing. There will only be the two of us in the ring and by the end of the 12 rounds the only record that will count will be the record we have against each other.
“I expect him to come forward from the first bell and try to cut me off as much as possible – but I’m not easy to pin down.”
Lawton won the Midlands Area Title by out-pointing Carl Allen in June 2004, three years after turning professional. His only defeats have come on points to Dave Stewart and Alan Temple in 2003 and 2005 respectively.
He sees the Thaxton fight as the most important of his career, so has pulled out all of the stops. “I’ve been training harder than ever before,” he finished.