Oakey Challenges Haymer for English Belt

ByBoxing Press

By Curtis McCormick

After two false starts Portsmouth, England’s Tony Oakey looks to be finally getting back in the ring where he can launch an all out assault on the English Light Heavyweight title currently held by London’s Peter “The Daddy” Haymer. The two clash on the undercard of “Lightweight Bragging Rights”, headlined by the much awaited double title bout between British champion Graham Earl and Commonwealth beltholder Kevin Bennett to take place this Sunday at York Hall in London’s East End. The show is being put on by Maloney Promotions in association with HIFX and BBE and will be televised by Setanta Sports in the UK and Ireland starting at 7:45pm and also worldwide on the web.

Oakey and Haymer were all set to go late last month at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth but the hometown hero contracted a case of food poisoning and the whole bill had to be scrapped at the last minute. In April, a contest between Oakey, 19-1 (5), and journeyman Paul Bonson at the same venue was cancelled when the South Coast ticket seller suffered a training injury. This time however the former WBU and Commonwealth titlist has stayed away from Chinese take-away and is sparing the heavy bag from his best shots, saving them for Haymer instead.

That would be a good idea as “The Daddy” is riding a three year, nine fight win streak and will certainly have fistfuls of confidence going into this weekend’s match-up. Haymer, 14-2-1 (3), who stunned the favored Steve Spartacus in London last November to take the English belt, will be trying also to sting Oakey’s manager Frank Maloney, who previously managed the London man but chose not to resign him to contract.

Will Tony Oakey regain the form that saw him achieve amateur glory and the Commonwealth and WBU titles along the road to eighteen straight professional wins? Or will Haymer strip bare the short, stocky Portsmouth battler and send his career into a tailspin such as the one Oakey suffered following his defeat to Matthew Barney a year and a half ago?

That question can obviously only be answered in the ring, but both men have looked very sharp in sparring and if that form holds true, coupled with the dueling motivations each man brings to the ring, they just may overshadow the Earl – Bennett domestic superfight that tops the bill of “Lightweight Bragging Rights.”

Also on the card, undefeated Gary Woolcombe faces the rugged Welshman Taz Jones for the British Masters Light Middle belt and Nathan Ward and James Paisley argue for the British Masters Welter crown. Added attractions are bouts featuring Amir Khan’s nemesis, the Manchester lightweight Craig Watson and red-hot cruiserweight prospect Junior MacDonald.

The entire three-hour “Lightweight Bragging Rights” fight card is event is sponsored by HIFX and BBE, and will be broadcast on Setanta Sports for just £8.99, while anyone across the world with a 1 megabyte broadband connection can watch the exact same live program as a webcast. Click onto Maloney Promotion’s website, www.frankmaloney.com, to learn more.