Frank Maloney Boxing: Booth Could Rule Three Divisions This Year

Frank Maloney believes Jason ‘2 Smooth’ Booth is ready to start winning British titles by going backwards!

The Nottingham throwback leaps up to the super-bantamweight division at the Indoor Sports Centre in Leigh, England on Friday to challenge Mark Moran for the vacant British super bantam championship.

Booth, 31, won his first British title almost ten years ago when he held the flyweight crown and has fought in 13 major championship fights.

Booth, 31-5, currently holds the Commonwealth bantamweight title and Maloney hopes he will step to back down to that division and super-flyweight later this year.

Maloney said: “I don’t see why Jason shouldn’t challenge British bantamweight champion Gary Davies in the summer and then tackle super flyweight title holder Lee Haskins before the end of 2009.

“I’m not a boxing statistician but I doubt that any British fighter has won three Lonsdale belts at three different weights in the same year.

“It would be a massive achievement if he could do that and something that is unlikely to ever be done again.”

Ironically, Booth has been due to challenge Haskins on Friday’s show before the Bristol boxer damaged a wrist.

Booth’s career had been hampered by personal problems and Maloney added: “There are so many fighters that find excuses when they get offered a hard job and don’t want to know.

“They should take a leaf out of Jason’s book. When I have a fight for him, it is when, who and then how much.

“I really would love to get him a world title fight of some kind before he finally calls it a day. He is so easy to deal with and just wants to fight.”

Liverpool southpaw Moran, 11-0-1, was on the verge of quitting boxing 12 months ago, but under Steve Wood and Frank Maloney, has battled his way to the top.

Moran, 26, said: “This time last year I was thinking of giving up boxing for good. Now I plan on being the new British champion.”

Other fighters in action on the show being televised live on Sky Sports include St. Helens Prizefighter winner and leading British middleweight title contender Martin Murray, 13-0, and former British bantamweight champion Martin Power, 19-4.

Tickets for Friday’s show are available priced, £35 and £70 ringside from 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com