I thought it was going to be in Norwich, but no- its scheduled for the York Hall.
I suppose they couldn't find a decent enough venue n Norwich- shame that its just shifted to a London venue. The best atmosphere is always at fights with a "hometown" fighter.
Thaxton-Romanov at York Hall, not Norwich
Big-hitting Jon Thaxton challenges big-hitting Yuri Romanov for the European lightweight title at York Hall on April 4.
Also at stake is Romanov's No. 2 ranking with the WBA.
Thaxton, from Thetford in Norfolk, already holds the British lightweight title and gets a golden opportunity to put one over on hot domestic rival Amir Khan, who fights little-known Dane Martin Kristjansen a night later in Bolton (Khan has been linked to Thaxton and Romanov). These are days to savour for 33-year-old southpaw Thaxton, who is lucky to be fighting after smashing his right shoulder in a car crash in 2002. He took a few years out and then proved he can cope with the shoulder, which aches constantly, by winning the British title from Salford's Lee Meager on a comprehensive decision in Dagenham in December 2006. He caught up with Stoke's Scott Lawton and Ayr stylist Dave Stewart in subsequent defences in Norwich.
He's won his last 12, nine by stoppage.
To the menacing Romanov, who has already licked Steve Murray, Steve Conway and Bobby Vanzie on these shores. The stocky, aggressive Belarussian dropped Vanzie five times on the way to an eight-round stoppage in Preston in January 2003. "He just kept coming," said an unusually gracious Vanzie afterwards. Murray fared no better and was stopped in 10 one-sided rounds at York Hall in September 2002 (and Murray could really whack), but Conway - a 'big' southpaw like Thaxton - gave Romanov a decent scrap over eight rounds in Dagenham in November 2003 and busted him up before conceding the points (78-76). Moreover, Romanov failed to budge Luton warrior Graham Earl in the early rounds of a thrilling 12-rounder in Dagenham in January 2006 and was outpunched down the stretch and outscored by two rounds.
He can be beaten.
But the man from Minsk was rusty going into that one (inactive 15 months, courtesy of his "Who needs him?" reputation) and came back to flatten fancied Spaniard Juan Carlos Diaz Melero (31-0 at the time) in three rounds for the European title in Spain in November 2006. Melero was 'out' for several minutes. The new champion retained with another chilling third-round knockout of Bulgarian Tontcho Tontchev and a unanimous decision over Italian veteran Stefano Zoff last time out in October. A real threat, a real champion. And he's still only 25.
Romanov marches forward behind a tight guard, looking to unload hooks from both hands. He's organised and punishing, although he sometimes neglects the jab and can be rather methodical. Thaxton, strong and canny, a long-time light-welterweight, knows how to 'jump' on an opponent and discourage him, as he showed against Meager (although he looked a bit scrappy against Stewart last time out). It is worth pointing out, Melero had Romanov down before he got overconfident.
But the champion's track record is obviously excellent here. In a world class match-up, such a thing gives him the edge.
Also at stake is Romanov's No. 2 ranking with the WBA.
Thaxton, from Thetford in Norfolk, already holds the British lightweight title and gets a golden opportunity to put one over on hot domestic rival Amir Khan, who fights little-known Dane Martin Kristjansen a night later in Bolton (Khan has been linked to Thaxton and Romanov). These are days to savour for 33-year-old southpaw Thaxton, who is lucky to be fighting after smashing his right shoulder in a car crash in 2002. He took a few years out and then proved he can cope with the shoulder, which aches constantly, by winning the British title from Salford's Lee Meager on a comprehensive decision in Dagenham in December 2006. He caught up with Stoke's Scott Lawton and Ayr stylist Dave Stewart in subsequent defences in Norwich.
He's won his last 12, nine by stoppage.
To the menacing Romanov, who has already licked Steve Murray, Steve Conway and Bobby Vanzie on these shores. The stocky, aggressive Belarussian dropped Vanzie five times on the way to an eight-round stoppage in Preston in January 2003. "He just kept coming," said an unusually gracious Vanzie afterwards. Murray fared no better and was stopped in 10 one-sided rounds at York Hall in September 2002 (and Murray could really whack), but Conway - a 'big' southpaw like Thaxton - gave Romanov a decent scrap over eight rounds in Dagenham in November 2003 and busted him up before conceding the points (78-76). Moreover, Romanov failed to budge Luton warrior Graham Earl in the early rounds of a thrilling 12-rounder in Dagenham in January 2006 and was outpunched down the stretch and outscored by two rounds.
He can be beaten.
But the man from Minsk was rusty going into that one (inactive 15 months, courtesy of his "Who needs him?" reputation) and came back to flatten fancied Spaniard Juan Carlos Diaz Melero (31-0 at the time) in three rounds for the European title in Spain in November 2006. Melero was 'out' for several minutes. The new champion retained with another chilling third-round knockout of Bulgarian Tontcho Tontchev and a unanimous decision over Italian veteran Stefano Zoff last time out in October. A real threat, a real champion. And he's still only 25.
Romanov marches forward behind a tight guard, looking to unload hooks from both hands. He's organised and punishing, although he sometimes neglects the jab and can be rather methodical. Thaxton, strong and canny, a long-time light-welterweight, knows how to 'jump' on an opponent and discourage him, as he showed against Meager (although he looked a bit scrappy against Stewart last time out). It is worth pointing out, Melero had Romanov down before he got overconfident.
But the champion's track record is obviously excellent here. In a world class match-up, such a thing gives him the edge.