Jonathan Thaxton: The best is yet to come

Jonathan Thaxton makes the first defence of his British Lightweight Title on the March 16 Hennessy Sports show insisting that the best chapter of his comeback story is still yet to come.

Thaxton faces Stoke’s Scott Lawton (20-2-1) in front of his home fans at the Norfolk Showground after his unanimous points win over fellow Hennessy Sports boxer Lee Meager in Dagenham in December.

The 32-year-old shrugged off a nasty cut eye to lift the domestic crown and complete an unlikely return to the top of the British scene after a shoulder injury suffered in a car accident forced him to announce his retirement in 2002.

Thaxton spent two years out of the ring before getting on the comeback trail, which has seen him win seven successive fights since his temporary retirement.

Now Thaxton hopes victory over Lawton in the “Showdowns at the Showground’ event – which also features Esham Pickering’s bid to win back the British super-bantamweight title against Marc Callaghan – will lead to bigger things.

Thaxton praised both Luton’s Graham Earl and Australian Michael Katsidis for their recent epic encounter for the WBO Interim Lightweight Title, and is eager to face Katsidis in the future.

“I want to be the best I can and want to be pushed on now,’ said Thaxton (31-7). “I would love a shot at the best in the division, just to know my mark and level. Now I’m hooked up with promoter Mick Hennessy I’m sure he can deliver something for me like he has done for my sparring partner Junior Witter.

“I would love to fight Katsidis. Graham Earl fought out of his skin to knock him down but if you are going to stand with a puncher you are going to get hit, and he did. He didn’t move and made Katsidis look better than he was, but full respect to him for a brilliant fight.

“But first I have to deal with my British belt and it’s OK winning but it’s harder keeping hold of it because everyone is gunning for me. He will come to have the fight of his life – and he will need to.

“It was a dream come true to win the British title which I thought had passed me by after the accident.”

Thaxton admits wining the British crown was an emotional night for him after he thought his career was over.

He said: “I was driving close to my home with my little girl in the back when a lorry hit me and I’ve had shoulder pain since, but I get it looked after by physio.

“I was out for two years but it was the best thing that could have happened to me because it made me reflect on my mistakes. Now I have come back, I am fitter, stronger and you can’t beat experience, and I’ve got plenty of that.

“It was a fantastic night when I beat Lee. We had worked very hard for it and waited a hell of a long time for that opportunity. We had to be very patient.

“I was very pleased since with Christmas just around the corner after the fight, it would have been a rubbish Christmas for my two girls and wife if I had lost!”

Hennessy Sports Proudly Present
The Showdowns @ The Showground
Friday 16th March 2007
The Norfolk Showground

Tickets priced £25, £35, £50 and £100 available on 01603 868 606.

12×3 British Lightweight Championship
Jon Thaxton vs. Scott Lawton
(Norwich) (Stoke)

12×3 British Super Bantamweight Championship
Esham Pickering vs. Marc Callaghan
(Newark) (Barking)

6×3 Light Heavyweight
Spartacus vs. Ayittey Powers
(Ipswich) (Ghana)

6×3 Heavyweight
Sam Sexton vs. TBA
(Norwich) ()

6×3 Light Heavyweight
Danny McIntosh vs. TBA
(Norwich) ()

4×3 Light Heavyweight
Paul Davis vs. Omid Burzo
(Norwich) (Tehran via Sheffield)

4×3 Light Welterweight
Leonard Lothian vs. TBA
(Northampton) ()

4×3 Lightweight
Lee Purdey vs. TBA
(Colchester) ()