Boxing Perspective: Audley Harrison - “A Force” Or “A Farce”?

By Nick Chamberlain October 6th, 2009 All Boxing Articles

© Lawrence Lustig

The latest edition of Prizefighter, Heavyweights III, was highly entertaining with well-known fighters in the equation of Audley Harrison, Danny Williams and Scott Gammer. The tournament had decent domestic talent in the mix despite Michael Sprott's withdrawal.

Harrison and Williams were touted to meet each other in the final. Williams, the current British Champion, and Harrison, who was heading for great things once upon a time, had met twice before with a points victory for Williams and a stoppage victory for Harrison on the books. Both were looking for redemption.

Harrison has always been the most frustrating fighter, in the respect that we all know he has the skills of a counter punching skilled southpaw, but he just decided to never use them. He would prefer to put a couple of rounds in the bank and then coast nice and safely to victory by holding and spoiling, which aggravates the fans, and after he was knocked out by Sprott in 2007, it seems he was scared of it happening again so never fully engaged.

Worse was the fact that he never seemed to understand why the British fight fan never got behind him, when it was quite obvious, and he continued to speak of this ever elusive world title that he craved so much. More...

Boxing Perspective: Redemption For Rogan?

By Paul Downey June 24th, 2009 All Boxing Previews

Popular Heavyweight Martin Rogan is set for another crack at Sam Sexton and the Commonwealth Heavyweight title, after the British Board of Boxing Control put the bout out for purse bids.

The 38-year old Irish taxi driver was seen by many to have been dealt an injustice in the pair's first fight.

In the sixth round, the challenger's legs had gone after a barrage of punches by Rogan and the fight was temporarily halted, as Sexton's mouth piece came out.

This was seen as a missed opportunity by the Irishman to finish the bout, which was stopped in the eighth after Rogan's left eye had almost swelled shut.

The contest is certain to bring a big crowd wherever it is held, with Rogan seen affectionately as a real-life Rocky Balboa, with his brutal style which saw him win the first Prizefighter series in April, 2008.

Since then he has scored notable scalps in the form of Audley Harrison and Matt Skelton.

The bout will also serve as a eliminator for Danny Williams' British Heavyweight and Commonwealth Championship.

Boxing Result: Jon Thaxton Loses European Title In Norwich

By Jane Warburton March 1st, 2009 All Boxing Results

Last night at the Norfolk Showground in Norwich, England, Hennessy Sports promoted a fight night which was headlined by Jonathan Thaxton's defence of the European Lightweight title against Anthony Mezaache of France.

The fight starts but with 40 seconds of the first round remaining, Thaxton landed a right hook which seemed to land in slow-motion to the side of the Frenchman's head behind the ear and he falls slowly to the canvas.

He gets up for the count but his legs are like jelly! As Thaxton approaches, Mezaache then spits out the gumshield, walking unsteadily to his corner to retrieve it.

The referee deducts a point from the Frenchman and fighting continues, with Mezaache obviously well recovered from the knockdown. It’s a good round three from Mezaache but he’s untidy in round four and his mouth is gaping. Thaxton has a little nick under the left eye.

Thaxton seems to be missing a lot and is getting caught. A big right uppercut from Mezaache in the fifth causes Thaxton's knees to dip, but he didn’t touch the canvas. More...

Hennessy Boxing: British Champ Murray Scouts European Kingpin Thaxton Tonight In Norwich

By Boxing Press February 28th, 2009 All Press Releases

British Lightweight champion John Murray will be at the Norfolk Showground in Norwich tonight to keep a close eye on European champ, Jon Thaxton, as he makes the first defence of his title against Anthony Mezzache.

Murray will be providing expert analysis for ITV4, who are broadcasting the Hennessy Sports show live from 7:45pm, and he will have a keen interest in the main event as local hero Thaxton looks to see off the challenge of French champ Mezzache. More...

Hennessy Boxing: Fury, Sexton Come Face To Face In Norwich

By Boxing Press February 27th, 2009 All Press Releases

Tyson Fury and Sam Sexton finally came face to face in Norwich yesterday but a heavyweight showdown between the two still doesn’t seem to be any closer to reality.

Fury was in Sexton’s hometown for a press conference ahead of his fight with Daniel Peret at the Norfolk Showground on Saturday night. More...

Hennessy Boxing: French Champ Has Surprise For Thaxton

By Boxing Press February 24th, 2009 All Press Releases

French raider Anthony Mezaache will cross the channel this weekend intent on plundering Jon Thaxton’s European Lightweight title.

The two men clash live on ITV4 on a Hennessy Sports show at the Norfolk Showground in Norwich on Saturday night as Thaxton looks to make the first defence of his title. More...

Hennessy Boxing: Tyson Fury Rubbishes Peret, Maloney, Olubamiwo, Sexton

By Boxing Press February 24th, 2009 All Press Releases

Heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury is predicting another explosive performance in Norwich this Saturday night when he features live on the ITV4 undercard of Jon Thaxton’s first European Lightweight title defence.

The unbeaten Fury will be going for his third straight win as a pro on the Hennessy Sports event when he takes on Daniel Peret in a scheduled six rounder. The Norwegian based Russian is a veteran of 35 fights but Fury isn’t impressed. More...

Hennessy Sports: Boxing Solicitor Out To Tame “Wild Thing”

By Boxing Press February 20th, 2009 All Press Releases

Boxing solicitor Zahid Kahut is warning Earl Ling to beware of the long arm of the law when they clash at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich on February 28 on the undercard of Jon Thaxton’s first defence of his European title.

The Hennessy Sports show will see Thaxton feature live on ITV4 as he aims to take a step closer to a world title shot by seeing off the challenge of French champion Anthony Mezaache. Kahut and Ling will be aiming to progress their own careers in a cruiserweight dust up on the undercard. More...

Hennessy Boxing: “Cinderella Man” Thaxton Has World At His Feet

By Boxing Press February 13th, 2009 All Press Releases

Promoter Mick Hennessy believes Jon Thaxton can crown his “Cinderella Man” career with an audacious world title bid. After almost 16 years as a pro, Thaxton upset the odds to win the European Lightweight title at the Norfolk Showground’s in his native Norwich last October and Hennessy believes he can go one step further.

Thaxton returns to the scene of his stunning one punch KO win over Juan Carlos Diaz Melero on February 28 when he makes the first defence of his title against French Champion, Anthony Mezaache. More...

Hennessy Boxing: No Pain, No Gain For Purdy

By Boxing Press February 6th, 2009 All Press Releases

Colchester’s Lee “Lights Out” Purdy spent Christmas licking his wounds following the first defeat of his career in December. Having remained unbeaten in his first ten starts, Purdy lost a thrilling Southern Area Light Welterweight title scrap with seasoned campaigner Peter McDonagh live on ITV4.

The fact that the high octane ten rounder was a domestic thriller did nothing to ease his disappointment. More...

Hennessy Boxing: Earl “Wild Thing” Ling Returns To The Ring

By Boxing Press February 5th, 2009 All Press Releases

Earl “Wild Thing” Ling has an appointment with a solicitor on February 28 and it’s guaranteed to come to blows.

The Norwich cruiserweight will take to the ring in his hometown at the Norfolk Showground as he looks to end the unbeaten run of Dewsbury based solicitor Zahid Kahut.

It will be Ling’s first bout in over three years in a long career that stretches back to 1992 when he was a regular on Herbie Hide undercards in Norwich. More...

Hennessy Boxing: Thaxton Gets French Champ Anthony Mezaache February 28

By Boxing Press January 29th, 2009 All Press Releases

If Jon Thaxton’s life story came before a Hollywood producer, they’d probably give it the tagline of “the feel good story of the year”. However, following a spectacular one punch KO to win the European Lightweight title last time out, the Norwich man says the credits won’t be rolling on his career any time soon. More...

Hennessy Boxing: English Champ McIntosh Calls Out Barney

By Boxing Press January 28th, 2009 All Press Releases

There must be something in the water in Norwich with English Light Heavyweight champ, Danny McIntosh joining a long line of big punchers from the area including former WBO heavyweight champ, Herbie Hide and reigning European Lightweight champ Jon Thaxton. There’s only one problem – McIntosh wishes he didn’t punch so hard!

The undefeated 28-year-old is looking to defend his title, subject to Board approval, against Matthew Barney at the Norfolk Showground in his hometown on February 28, live on ITV4 and he’s hoping to get some rounds under his belt against seasoned campaigner Barney. More...

Hennessy Boxing: Heavyweight Prospect Fury Wants Sexton’s Scalp

By Boxing Press January 26th, 2009 All Press Releases

Unbeaten heavyweight phenomenon Tyson Fury has already set his sights on the man he hopes will be his next opponent.

The 6 feet 8 ½ inch 20 year old is scheduled for his third pro fight in Norwich on February 28 when he appears on the undercard of local hero, Jon Thaxton’s first defence of his European Lightweight title. More...

British Boxing: Marsh Retains Title Against Dean At York Hall

By Ricky Jones November 22nd, 2008 All Boxing Results

British Super Bantamweight Champion Matthew Marsh was in action again last night and met a familiar foe at London's historic York Hall.

The 26 year old West Ham man met Thetford battler Rocky Dean for the third time over the last two years and once again walked away the winner.

But, as was the case in their previous clashes, it wasn't easy as Dean pushed the British Champion all the way, giving it his all for the twelve rounds before losing a close majority decision on the cards: 114-114, 116-113 and 16-112.

Marsh moves to 11-1 (1), winning his third bout on the trot since suffering a stoppage loss for the WBU Featherweight title to Derry Matthews last year.

Dean drops to 14-10-2 (4) but will likely get another domestic title shot in the near future based on his good performances against Marsh.

On the undercard, Norwich's Sam Sexton, 11-1 (4), captured his fourth consecutive victory with a sixth round TKO of Southampton based Irishman Colin Kenna, 16-9-2 (7), to secure the vacant Southern Area Heavyweight title.

Also in the winner's circle at York Hall were light middles Eddie Corcoran and Grant Skehill, super feather Vinny Mitchell and super middle veteran Tony Randell, who KO'd prospect Tariq Quaddas in the third of a scheduled four rounder.

Boxing Preview: Prizefighter Series Part Two

By James Oakley September 12th, 2008 All Boxing Previews

Tonight, September 12, 2008, Barry Hearn's Prizefighter tournament will take off again. In the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England, eight heavyweight hopefuls will battle if out to win 25,000 pounds and become the new heavyweight prizefighter champion, succeeding the first champ, Martin Rogan, who won the initial tournament in April.

Prizefighter's catch line is 'eight heavyweights, seven fights, one winner. Modeled on Cricket's 20:20 series, the first installment of Prizefighter was a hit on Sky Sports television and certainly is expected to be once more.

The winner will have to go through three fights of three rounds each, winning all. The favorite appears to be undefeated Chris Burton. Burton, from Darlington, stands ix feet five inches tall and is 11-0-0 with six knockouts to his name.

He will start against David Ingleby, 5-21-1. Despite being a heavy favorite, if the fights are anything like Prizefighter one, being the best boxer in the tournament may not mean as much as it seems to on paper.

A dark horse in the championships is the veteran Pele Reid. His record of 19-5-0 with 17 knockouts shows he will certainly test the favorite Burton if they are drawn to fight.

Reid has fought names such as Micheal Sprott and most recently, John McDermott. He starts off against Norfolk's Sam Sexton. Sexton has one loss to his name and has previously beaten fellow Prizefighter contestant Luke Simpkin by knockout, so is no pushover.

Simpkin will start against another man with only one loss to his name, Dave Ferguson, who lost to last year's winner Martin Rogan in the semi finals. Ferguson will believe he can go all the way this year after winning his last fight over four rounds. More...