British Boxing: Meager – Stewart To Face off, Daws Open To Mr. Wright

Three Hennessy Sports fighters have landed British Title shots. Lenny Daws has been formally rewarded for his outstanding win over Colin Lynes in January with a showdown against Nigel Wright at light welterweight, whilst Lee Meager and Dave Stewart will meet for the lightweight version of the Championship. The British Boxing Board of Control announced yesterday that purse offers for the contests are due to be opened on 8th March. Private terms can, however, be agreed beforehand, as will be the case for Meager-Stewart given that they are under the same promotional banner.

Hennessy Sports intend to promote what many will see as a traditional 50/50 fight in April in London. For 12 rounds, friends will become rivals.

“I know Dave really well,” explained Meager, from Salford but now based in London. “In addition to training together we are good mates, but we have both always said that whilst we would prefer not to fight each other, if a major title opportunity came up for the both of us we would have to take it. You don’t get many chances in this sport.

“It’s going to be difficult, but for 36 minutes I am going to have put our relationship to one side. I am going to have to go about this in a business like fashion and not focus on that side of things.”

The 28-year-old Meager understandably feels that he cannot take his eye off the ball, particularly given his clear regard for his opponent:

“I actually think that this is going to be harder than if I had got to fight Graham Earl, (who recently vacated the British lightweight title). I rate Stewart highly and he is going to be in the shape of his life. He has some good wins, including one over Bobby Vanzie, and is undefeated in 17. I am confident he won’t be in 18.”

That’s about as far as the trash talking will be going for this one, even though both know they are in for a hard night.

“We will shake hands before the fight and we will shake hands after the fight,” said Wanstead based Scot Stewart. “I would have preferred not to have met Lee, but we agreed a while back that if there was a major, bona fide title on the line like the British, we would have to fight.

“It’s not going to be easy. I’m expecting a tough night. I have sparred Lee many times and know that he is very talented, but I am prepared for that.”

Both will first feature on the Hennessy Sports “East Two’ promotion on 17th February at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, the likely venue for their subsequent showdown. Tickets are available on 0870 444 555 6.

Former ABA champion Lenny Daws will be hoping that his British Title opportunity, against former amateur adversary Wright, also comes at the home of British Boxing given the turnout he generated for his win there over Lynes. If needs must, though, the 27-year-old is prepared to travel to Wright’s hometown of Hartlepool, where he stopped Oscar Hall last October in impressive fashion.

“It goes without saying that I would like the fight to happen in London,” Daws, 13-0, admitted. “It would be a great occasion; the “Morden Massive’ would love to see me fight for a British Title in my own backyard. But if it came down to it and I had to go up there I would.

“I would still be very confident. You have three judges now and I will be in the shape of my life for the fight. I learnt a lot from the Lynes fight and have established myself as a Championship operator. I had too much for Wright in the amateurs and am confident the same will happen again.”