Boxing Rematch: Tony Oakey vs. Peter Haymer

ByBoxing Press

This Friday, February 1, sees comeback kid Tony Oakey put his career on the line once more when he steps up against English light heavyweight champion Peter Haymer, who came away the winner in a hotly disputed decision over the British Champ when the pair fought in June, 2005.

Oakey is known for his guts, determination and work-rate, but at 32 years of age, is father time catching up with the Portsmouth brawler?

We will find out at York Hall this Friday.

Tony Oakey is never in a dull fight and he knows that if he can convincingly beat 29 year old Haymer, he will open the door to some massive paydays and his fans will continue to do the Oakey Kokey.

The same goes for London’s Peter Haymer, who steps up on Friday after suffering the narrowest of defeats from a last minute switch to the tricky Paul Davis. The knowledgeable York Hall audience will know that this pair’s clash on Friday has the makings of a classic.

“I know if in the rematch on Friday I can’t avenge the earlier defeat, I can say farewell to a career that has seen me win titles at every level except European,” said Oakey who has already spoken to his promoter Frank Maloney about challenging for a European title next. “I know Haymer believes that he is better prepared than he was last time and knows that if he can get past me those big paydays will be his.”

This card also sees Tony Salem, the unbeaten London based Nigerian and Commonwealth champ-in-waiting step up against Courtney Fry, the Commonwealth Gold Medallist who already has his eyes on the British title.

“The British and European champions had better be warned that I am picking up my British passport straight after Friday’s fight and am coming out after them,” said 24 year old Salem. “I believe I am the best light-heavyweight this country has seen for many years.”

The evening’s action packed card also sees history in the making with the first women fighter appearing on a major boxing promotion when Laura Saperstein, London’s only female Jewish professional fighter, steps up against Olena Varchenko.

This is certainly a first for promoter Frank Maloney, a man who as previously shown little interest in promoting female fighters. What has made Frank change his mind?

In honour of former top class Jewish fighters such as Ted ‘Kid’ Lewis and Jack ‘Kid’ Berg, Saperstein, who was unbeaten in 10 amateur fights before turning pro, will fight as Laura ‘Kid’ Saperstein. “After all, it is better than being known as ‘the Bitch from Hell’ and it is paying respect to some great Jewish fighters,” said Saperstein.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents ‘The Return’ at Bethnal Green’s York Hall on Friday February 1 and will be shown live on Sky TV. Tickets are priced at £75 and £40 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.

A full undercard features top heavyweight John McDermott, flashy super feather Kaash “The Bash” Bhatia, welterweights Mark Thompson and Yassine El Maachi, lightweights Lee Cook and Danny Harding along with super feather Henry Castle, welterweights Scott Woolford and Jamie Radford as well as light welter Ross Hewitt.