http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content..._feature.shtml


By Richard Hancock
Jon Thaxton takes on Lee Meager for the British Lightweight title on Friday, 8 December, 2006 at Dagenham's Goresbrook Leisure Centre. Meager's verbal preparation for the fight has started early, much to the delight of the Norwich fighter.




The fighting talk from Lee Meager has begun a month in advance of his first defence of the British Lightweight title against Norwich fighter Jon Thaxton.

"I'm going to put Thaxton into retirement," he said.

"He's got no respect for me with some of the stuff he's been talking, but they have picked on the wrong fella - he's going to be outclassed," he added.

It's an outburst that's baffled 32-year-old Thaxton, he's not really sure what he said that was so disrespectful.

"I've said that I deserve a British title shot, maybe he took that a bit personally," he said.

"I know he wanted a voluntary defence, his team didn't want the fight with me to happen, but the British Boxing Board of Control came to my rescue and made it happen," he added.

Despite Meager's claims, Thaxton insists that he has the utmost respect for anyone willing to face him in the ring.

"Maybe he's got crossed wires, of course I've got respect for him. I respect any guy that steps between those ropes, it's a tough and sometimes very lonely place," he said.

Meager's comments are going to the Norwich boxer's preparations for the fight much easier.

"It's the worst thing he's ever said and it's the best thing for me, it just inspires me that little bit more, just as training's getting hard," said Thaxton.

Graham Everett, Thaxton's trainer, agrees with his charge in that Meager's digging himself a hole that it may be hard to find a way out of.

""No one loves a challenge more than Jon, particularly after a threat," he said.

"I actually think it is more down to the fact that Lee is trying to convince himself, or at least that is what it sounds like to me, he added.

Lee Meager v Jon Thaxton takes place at the Goresbrook Leisure Center on Friday, 8 December, 2006.