Boxing News Boxing News
Tony Oakey steps into his hometown ring on Friday, June 13, 2008 on a card billed as “Fright Night”, to defend his British light heavyweight title against Commonwealth champion, the hard punching Dean Francis.
Both of these fighters know that only one of them can go forward and loss will surely end any ambitions the 32 year old Oakey, 25-2-1 (7), has on challenging for the European title and you could say the same for Dean Francis, 29-3 (23). Not only are there two titles on the line, but there is so much pride at stake as well.
Oakey’s last championship performance in Portsmouth ended with him losing his WBU title to the unfashionable Matthew Barney in 2003 and that was followed by Oakey being sidelined for a year.
“I know I went off the rails and nearly messed up my career but I got it back together again and it’s great to be the champion,” said Oakey. “There is no way I want to lose in front of my home crowd a second time.
“My ambition is to fight for the European title here at the Mountbatten Centre and I’m nearly there. After this fight it will be up to my promoter Frank Maloney to deliver. He hasn’t let me down yet and I’m not going to let Frank or the people of Portsmouth down.”
Dean Francis was once one of the most feared punchers in British boxing until forced off-track by a shoulder injury. But the Basingstoke man has now got it back on the rails and remains focused on the British belt of Oakey.
“I’m only thinking of one thing and that’s a win for Dean Francis,” said the resolute 34 year old.
The undercard has some interesting fights with Salisbury’s super featherweight Henry Castle, 17-4 (9), who will be cheered on by large vocal support, against London’s Lee Cook, 9-0-1 (3). Both these guys are pushing to challenge Kevin Mitchell, the current British and Commonwealth champion.
Another fascinating fight features Sam Webb, 10-1 (3), in his second outing since rejoining the Maloney stable, against local boy Paul Dyer, 18-8 (1), who knows this is his final throw of the dice as well.
It’s a show with a lot of twists and turns and while there will be some happy people leaving the Mountbatten Centre on June 13, there will be as many sad fighters who know their careers have come to an end and any dreams they had of championship fights will have been shattered on the south coast.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Fright Night”, the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight title fight between Tony Oakey and Dean Francis with full undercard on Friday, June 13, 2008 at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth, England.
Tickets are priced at £80 and £40 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise live on SS2 at 9:30PM.
For any further information or press credential requests to any Frank Maloney promotion, please send inquiries to maloneypress@yahoo.com
The British heavyweight title fight between Danny Williams, 39-6 (31), and John McDermott, 25-3 (16), will now take place on July 18, 2008 at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham, England. Tickets will go on sale this coming Friday.
