Thaxton welcomes Meager's fighting talk

[ICB]

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.

[ross]

I spared Meager as an amature in 1998 while he was fighting out of Jersey.

Hes an arrogant little pr*ck

I was fighting at 72 kilos, I dont think his weight has changed so whatever that works out as, a bunch of our Guernsey boxers went to Jersey to spar with their 2 top fighters in preparation for the comonwealth games, I think, I was supposed to spar this big African bloke but he injured himself and felt understandably intimidated by my presence

So I and a few others sparred with Meager, he was taking big time liberties, going hard and acting like the big man, he did it with me, we only did a round but he was really trying to hurt us and I was getting fed up after being told to spar light because I could hit well and I was quite a bit heavier.

Any way the little c*nt kept on so I threw something abit heavier and he stumbled across the ring to his trainer Brian screaming at me to get out of the ring

It was a compleet waste of time no one learnt anything and Meager got sparked in the first round of his first fight in whatever tournament he was training for

I remember his style consisting of ducking low and coming in with left hooks, not hard to figure out

[skel1983]

I spared Meager as an amature in 1998 while he was fighting out of Jersey.

Hes an arrogant little pr*ck

I was fighting at 72 kilos, I dont think his weight has changed so whatever that works out as, a bunch of our Guernsey boxers went to Jersey to spar with their 2 top fighters in preparation for the comonwealth games, I think, I was supposed to spar this big African bloke but he injured himself and felt understandably intimidated by my presence

So I and a few others sparred with Meager, he was taking big time liberties, going hard and acting like the big man, he did it with me, we only did a round but he was really trying to hurt us and I was getting fed up after being told to spar light because I could hit well and I was quite a bit heavier.

Any way the little c*nt kept on so I threw something abit heavier and he stumbled across the ring to his trainer Brian screaming at me to get out of the ring

It was a compleet waste of time no one learnt anything and Meager got sparked in the first round of his first fight in whatever tournament he was training for

I remember his style consisting of ducking low and coming in with left hooks, not hard to figure out

Not hard to figure out?? Thats why he is only been beaton once is the current British Champion and his only defeat was the biggest robbery of the year a couple of years back, i know lee Meager and am great mates with one of his cousions and i am going to the Thaxton fight. Lee Meager is one of the most respectful guys i have met in boxing very nice bloke never seen him as im the big man very humble and quite a conservative guy.

[ross]

Well the Pro buisness might have changed him but that is exactly how I and others remember him, all the Guernsey crowd fell about laughing when he got sparked in that fight because he p*ssed eevryone off

[CityOfGod]

Lee Meager is a little bad ass.

I predict a 50/50 fight for a couple of rounds before Meager pulls ahead and wins on points.

Ive spoken to Lee and he's a sound guy as far as i could make out.