British Boxing: Jon Thaxton – “Amir Khan Needs To Show More Respect And Bottle”
British Lightweight Champion Jon Thaxton says Amir Khan should show a bit more respect and bottle.
Thaxton makes the second defence of his British Title against Scotsman Dave Stewart at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, on Friday, 5th October on a Hennessy Sports show in association with title partners GoldenPalace.net. Sky Sports will televise.
The Norwich boxer aims to impress against his fellow Hennessy Sports boxer and send out a warning to British rival Khan, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist.
The day after Thaxton’s fight with Stewart, Khan faces Stoke’s Scott Lawton in the first defence of his Commonwealth Title. Thaxton stopped Lawton in seven rounds in his last fight, and can’t wait to get at Khan and silence his comments made earlier this week.
“I want the fight against Amir to happen but I don’t know whether he really wants it to happen,” said Jon.
“All what he said this week is bravado. My promoter Mick Hennessy and sponsors GoldenPalace.net tried to get the fight happen after our last fights – but they didn’t want to know. So to come out now and start saying he wants it and will beat me easy is a disgrace.
“It was on a plate for him. He didn’t have an opponent for his fight this weekend and we offered that I would fight on his promoter’s show for the Commonwealth Title for nothing. We took politics out of it, but all of a sudden he has gone quiet. Now he has got a schedule, he has gone brave again and started mouthing off.
“I’m the best in Britain and I have got the belt to prove that. He should show a little bit more respect. He said I’m a five round fighter, which is a joke. We’ll soon find out if that’s the case, if he is allowed to actually fight me. It will only take me five rounds to take him out anyway.”
London-based Stewart hopes his height will help against the champion.
“I think my height will be an advantage and it will be harder for him punching up at me,” he said. “I have got the boxing skills but I intend to win what ever way is needed on the night.”
Middleweight Darren Barker, the 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, returns to action after a break and is part of quality undercard that also features the professional debut of Daniel Herdman, of Stevenage, at light-middleweight.
Hennessy Sports Proudly Present
THAXTON VS STEWART @ YORK HALL
Friday 5th October 2007.
Doors 6pm, Boxing Starts 6.30pm.
Ticket Prices:
• Ringside £60 – Reserved
• Unreserved £30
For Tickets call the Box Office on: 0870 060 1795 or book via the web: www.ticketmaster.co.uk
John Thaxton (Norwich) vs Dave Stewart (Wanstead)
12 x 3 – British Lightweight Title
George Hillyard (Canning Town) vs Lee Nobel (Barnsley)
8 x 3 – Light Middleweight
Darren Barker (Barnet) vs Rob Burton (Barnsley)
6 x 3 Middleweight
Daniel Herdman (Stevenage) vs
6 x 3 Light Middle Weight
Victor Smith (Waltham Abby) vs Kellepp (Barrow In Furness)
4 x 3 Cruiser Weight
Peter McDonagh (Epping) vs Jonny Greaves (London)
4 x 3 Lightweight
Paul David (Sheffield) vs Andrew Lowe (Hackney)
8 x 3 light heavyweight
Leonard Lothian (Northampton) vs Tommy Glover (Colchester)
4 x 3 Light Welterweight
www.hennessysports.com