London boxing fans once again get the opportunity to see talented super flyweight Ashley Sexton in the ring on Tuesday, June 30 at York Hall. The sizzling prospect will square up against Northern hard man Mike “Robbo” Robinson in a six rounder that could prove to be a difficult test for “Flash Ash”. 21 year old Cheshunt man Sexton, 6-0 (3), has his eye on the titles of Britain’s leading little man Chris Edwards, but one slip against his upcoming York Hall opponent will ruin that lofty ambition..
Liverpool scrapper Robinson, 4-1-1 (0), is coming off two absolute wars with current English titlist Ross Burkinshaw and feels his trial by fire in those contests has more than equipped him to flatten Sexton’s promising trajectory.
Sparks will fly when these two determined rivals meet on just one of the highly entertaining support bouts to the main event of British super bantam Jason Booth’s title defense against seasoned vet Rocky Dean.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Back From The Brink”, the Super Bantamweight Championship of Britain between reigning titlist Jason Booth and challenger Rocky Dean with full undercard at York Hall in London, England on Tuesday, June 30, 2009.
Tickets are on sale at £30and £80 and are available from the Box Office 0871 226 1508. To obtain a discount on all ticket prices buy from www.frankmaloney.com.
Sky Sports will broadcast live on SS2 starting at 9:30PM.
Ambition still burns for Thaxton
He might now be referred to as the former British and European Champion but Jon Thaxton would clearly prefer the term, future British and European Champion. It’s been a roller coaster two years for the Norwich lightweight but despite 17 years in the pro ranks Thaxton promises that there are plenty more thrills and spills to come.
His first objective is to get back to winning ways in London next month following the controversial loss of his European title last time out. Thaxton will feature on the undercard of the Danny McIntosh – Nathan Cleverly British Light Heavyweight title fight at the York Hall, Bethnal Green on July 18. The Hennessy Sports event is live on ITV4 and Thaxton is determined to prove that he is far from a spent force.
The 34-year-old is firmly focused on regaining his beloved British and European titles and in the case of the British title winning a Lonsdale belt for keeps. The title is currently vacant following John Murray’s failure to make the weight ahead of his impressive win over Scott Lawton earlier this month.
Thaxton however is in prime position to regain his old crown in the autumn having already been awarded the position of mandatory challenger. With the title now vacant Thaxton is waiting to hear who the BBB of C will nominate as his co-challenger.
“It’s up to the Board who they match with me for the vacant title but I’ve no problem getting it on with anyone in the country,” said Thaxton. “I personally hope it will be John Murray. That’s the fight I want. He’s the unbeaten, young up and coming guy and I know me and him in the same boxing ring will be one hell of a fight. It’s one of those fights that will have people split down the middle but I believe I have the style, the experience and the power to defeat him.
“Ever since I turned pro as an 18 year old it’s been an ambition of mine to win a Lonsdale belt outright and I’m just one win from that. It took me thirteen years and three attempts to win it for the first time but I never gave up hope and now I want to win it for keeps. That would be a tremendous achievement and it’s something I would treasure. I want that belt on my mantelpiece and its one thing that’s really driving me on now.”
Thaxton also has plans to regain the European title which he lost on a contentious points decision to Frenchman Anthony Mezaache in February. “I thought I won that fight and a lot of people agreed with me but unfortunately the 3 judges saw it the other way and they are the people that matter.
“I should have had him out of there in the first round when I had him down but he spat out his gum shield and bought himself some time that way. I’m a sporting guy but that for me wasn’t playing by the rules.”
Thaxton admits that the defeat had him contemplating retirement, if only for 24 hours. “It was a bitter pill to swallow then and it still is now but you have to move on. I got up the day after the fight and thought maybe that’s it for me but by the time the next morning had come around I knew I wanted that title back.”
The first step on the road back will come at the York Hall on July 18th and Thaxton says he can’t wait for that first bell. “I’m counting down the days right now and I’m very happy with the way I’m performing in the gym. Even at 34 and after 17 years in the professional game I still feel that I’m learning and getting better. I really believe I have not just one, but a few more big fights left in me.
“I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the way I lost my European title. It cost me a World title fight so I’ve a point to prove now and that makes me a very dangerous fighter. My determination, discipline and dedication has got me to British and European titles and I’m very proud of that and my ambition now is go get both of those titles back again and then take it from there.”
A clash of unbeaten fighters tops the bill at the York Hall on July 18th with Danny McIntosh and Nathan Cleverly squaring off for the British Light Heavyweight title. The undercard features Thaxton alongside unbeaten Heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury and Ireland’s European Union Lightweight Champion Andy Murray.
Hot prospects Steve O’Meara, Dwayne Lewis, Bradley Evans, Del Rogers and Bobby Ward also feature on an action packed night of championship boxing. Tickets priced from £35 are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.
Tony Jefferies – Public Workout in preparation for his next fight on 10th July 09
In preparation for his next fight in two weeks time in Sunderland, Olympic boxer Tony Jefferies is preparing for his third professional fight this weekend and raising vital funds to build a new hospice for children in the region.
A boxing rink will be erected in the central mall of the Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland on Saturday 27th June.
Tony Jefferies will be taking himself through the paces and demonstrating a full 2 hour, pre-fight work-out between 12 noon and 2pm with Bobby Rimmer, former coach of Ricky Hatton who is now coach to Tony Jefferies in Manchester.
There is a full day of activities in the mall. Boxers from the Lambton Street Boxing Club directed by Tony Austin will be demonstrating between 9am and 12 noon and senior boxers from the Olympian Boxing Gym, Ryhope, will be there between 2 and 5pm.
Tony, who is a celebrity friend of Grace House North East Children’s Hospice Appeal, and the Bridges Shopping Centre in Sunderland’s, have chosen to put this special event on this weekend to raise money for the appeal. During the day junior boxers will be collecting in the Bridges and Tony will be signing autographs for fans after the work-out and collecting donations for the charity.
Tickets for Tony’s next fight, which will be staged at the Seaburn Centre, Seaburn, Sunderland on Friday July 10th 2009 will also be on sale. Tickets are priced at £80 for rink side and £40 for others.