Boxing Preview: Scott Lawton and Stefy Bull

By Keith Chadwick

Whilst the nation prepares to cheer on England in this weekends opening World Cup fixture against Paraguay, Stoke lightweight Scott Lawton, himself a huge football fan, has his eyes set on another prize. He travels to South Yorkshire on Friday night to take on local favourite Stefy Bull for the vacant English title. The clash, at Doncaster Dome, had originally been scheduled to be a final eliminator, the winner going on to meet the victor of a

Click for larger image © Karl Stubbs Impact Boxing

clash between Norwich’s Jon Thaxton and Bexleyheath’s Leo O’Reilly, but earlier this week news filtered through that the bout had now been upgraded to full title status, with Thaxton deciding to chase the British title and O’Reilly firmly out of the picture having been soundly beaten by Lawton’s stable-mate Gary Reid recently. A change in status that has left both camps buoyant.

To make the title his own, current Midland Area champion Scott will have to overcome former undefeated Central area champ and current WBF Inter-continental lightweight bauble holder Bull, a talented 29 year-old southpaw who boasts a decent 23-3-1 pro record.

Bull, whose real name is Andrew Bullcroft, has a winning run that stretches back thirteen fights, his last set-back coming way back in July 1999, but his record is undoubtedly helped by an apparent reluctance to venture away from his the familiar Doncaster Dome. Only nine of his paid bouts have been fought away from the South Yorkshire town and three of those have ended in defeat. Friday’s title bout will be his tenth consecutive fight at the Dome.

Lawton though, who takes a 17-2-1 record into the bout, has regularly fought in unfamiliar surroundings and often in South Yorkshire so he is unlikely to be fazed by the volume of support that will be urging on his opponent. Lawton will not be short of support from his loyal Potteries fans with over 100 of them having so far purchased tickets for the event.

Unsurprisingly for two fighters ranked so closely there are familiar names on the records of both men. Both have out-pointed Walsall’s tough Carl Allen (Scott over six rounds and then Bull more recently over 10 to claim the afore-mentioned WBF title), Birmingham veteran Peter Buckley, and fellow Brummie David Hinds (stopped in two rounds by Scott on his pro debut and later out-pointed by Stefy) and most recently both boxers have shared a ring with Coventry battler Baz Carey, Lawton emerging victorious, 99-94, over ten rounds to retain his Midland Area title at Kings Hall last time out whilst Bull, a pro since 1995, saw him off over the same distance to retain his Inter-continental belt just three months ago.

Carey says that he expects Friday’s clash to be a close one. He felt that Bull had been the harder hitter and had been awkward from the point of view of him being a southpaw but thought that Scott’s movement had been better and added that he had been given less room to operate by the Stoke man who had been in his face constantly.

There are many who like Carey are expecting a closely fought encounter on Friday night, but Scott, who has been in with a slightly higher calibre of opponent on a few occasions, will be confident that he has the tools to silence the locals and bring the English title back to the Impact gym.

Stoke’s flyweight, Chris Edwards, has been forced to withdraw from his contest with Jamie McDonnell that was scheduled for the event’s undercard due to a hand injury sustained in final sparring. Impact’s Head Coach, Lindon Newbon said: “We are all disappointed for Chris, it was a bit of a freak injury; he’s bruised a knuckle on his left hand and whilst its not a serious injury we took the decision to withdraw him as a precautionary measure. The atmosphere in the gym has reached new heights this week with the news that Scott’s contest has now become the title bout and everyone is confident of his victory. I can honestly say that Scott Lawton is in great shape and that I have never seen him looking sharper.”

Tickets are still available for the show and can be obtained from Doncaster Dome, Tel: 0800801572 or John Rushton, Tel: 01302 310 919

Press Enquiries Contact Karl Stubbs Tel: 07709 449279