Oakey vs Francis - Friday night - anyone going?

[Abbo]

Should be a belter at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth.

I'm going to watch my dog win at Pompey Dogs, then it's off to this cracking card for a few beers.

[stujones]

A little surprised to see Oakey is the favourite.

[Poncey]

I'll be covering the fight. Podmore says he's coming too.

Trying to get Dirk to come.

Are the doors open from 7.00pm?

[mike john]

got my tickets

[Podmore_Birmingham]

Yeah, i'm coming down to watch Jason Booth. The bill looks solid throughout and the main event is really, really intriguing.

[rhino222]

wish i could be there, the mountbatten always provides a great atmosphere and its a bit of a local ish derby as francis is from basingstoke, im not sure how the bookies have oakey as favourite but to be honest ive never seen a bookie in a skoda !!

[Poncey]

wish i could be there, the mountbatten always provides a great atmosphere and its a bit of a local ish derby as francis is from basingstoke, im not sure how the bookies have oakey as favourite but to be honest ive never seen a bookie in a skoda !!

I think Dean was born in Soton as well to add further spice. I may be mistaken. If I get stabbed I will not be happy. "Not the face, not the face!"

[DavidPayne]

Proper domestic tasty scrap this, if Oakey is fav, what do they have Francis at?

He's well worth a punt given his class, even with one arm and if brings the right over Oakey is in for a long night.

Like both fighters, but will pull for Francis because of his misfortune.

[Max Molyneux]

Think Oakey will outwork him. Francis was a bit negative In his last fight.

[Autobarn]

Can't wait for this one. Francis is class. With not being able to use the right freely, Francis will struggle more vs a tricky guy who moves a lot - Magee and Barney. Oakey gives him plenty of counter punching opporutnity. Francis will break him down with hard jabs and double left hooks to body and head.

As bad as Deano looked vs Gbenga, he looked dynamite vs Ovill McKenzie and was both sharp and clinical vs Powers.

Between the Powers and the Gbenga fights, Dean had punched a bloke and had a possible assault charge hanging over him. Had the bloke not dropped charges, could he have got sent back to prison? That must all have been affecting him, surely, and could have detracted from his performance.

[archiebald3]

dean was born in basingstoke ,he is not a scummer

[bennie]

Tony Oakey goes for a Lonsdale Belt outright in defence his British light-heavyweight title against Hampshire rival Dean Francis of Basingstoke this Friday in Portsmouth (June 13).
The stocky, battle-hardened Pompey battler, fighting in his own hometown, won the title by wearing down and stopping Ipswich's Steve Spartacus in 12 thrilling rounds last year and has since seen off Belfast southpaw Brian Magee in Ireland (only just, it was a draw) and Londoner Peter Haymer in London (nine rounds). He's a solid champion with immense experience, stamina and durability, although he lacks the extra bit of snap and class in his work possessed by Francis.
The challenger looked for all the world like a future world champion in his super-middleweight heyday in the 1990s but then suffered a dislocated right shoulder against American Undra White in Basingstoke in 1998, and the shoulder has plagued him ever since. Essentially, Francis is a one-armed fighter who pokes out the right to find the range for a vicious left hook, and his jab is good. He holds the Commonwealth light-heavyweight title, which he won with a stunning first-round knockout of Jamaican Ovill McKenzie last year, courtesy of that left hook, and outjabbed gangling Nigerian Michael Gbenga in a defence last time out in December. His title is also at stake this week.
The muscled Francis has the edge in speed, snap and skill but you need two good arms against a strong, aggressive, hardworking fellow like Oakey. The tough champion, two years younger at 32, roared on by partisan support, should be able to work his way to the points and the magnificent Lonsdale Belt.

[Chambers2]

Proper domestic tasty scrap this, if Oakey is fav, what do they have Francis at?

He's well worth a punt given his class, even with one arm and if brings the right over Oakey is in for a long night.

Like both fighters, but will pull for Francis because of his misfortune.

From Stan James

Oakey, Tony 4/6
Draw 18/1
Francis, Dean 11/10
Round By RoundOakey v Francis-British Light Heavyweight Title 13 Jun 21:35Live on
Selection Price
Oakey, Tony Round 1 80/1
Oakey, Tony Round 2 66/1
Oakey, Tony Round 3 50/1
Oakey, Tony Round 4 40/1
Oakey, Tony Round 5 40/1
Oakey, Tony Round 6 33/1
Oakey, Tony Round 7 33/1
Oakey, Tony Round 8 33/1
Oakey, Tony Round 9 33/1
Oakey, Tony Round 10 33/1
Oakey, Tony Round 11 33/1
Oakey, Tony Round 12 40/1
Oakey, Tony On Points 5/4
Draw 18/1
Francis, Dean On Points 13/8
Francis, Dean Round 1 50/1
Francis, Dean Round 2 40/1
Francis, Dean Round 3 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 4 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 5 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 6 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 7 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 8 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 9 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 10 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 11 33/1
Francis, Dean Round 12 40/1

[Old bones Ian]

I wasn't impressed with Francis last time out, and think that Oakeys workrate will bring him through on points.
Oakey has hit good form in the last couple of years, he's not pretty to watch sometime but he's effective. Seems to be punching with a bit more power now as well.

Nice to see some quality boxers down south, Mark Thompson should punch to hard for Gilbert Eastman. Should be routine wins for Jason Booth and Gary Buckland.
Chas Symonds is coming back on the bill, after 3 years out. He will win on points and lets see what he can do at light-welter.
The Henry Castle fans will be there usual noisy self, i had the joy of being hugged by one of them at a Castle win, He gets a decent opponent in Lee Cook, who is unbeaten and won't be coming to lay down easy, I think Henry should know a little to much and come away with a points win.
Sam Webb gets a tough one in Paul Dyer, this might get interesting if Dyer finds his rythum early and he's a good boxer , but his lack of punch may be the factor , Webb could be to young and powerful for him , I'd have to pick the younger man on points.
The Isle of Wights only pro boxer Jay Morris has a even match against Jason Rushton, if Jay has seen Rushtons recent fights, then he should target the body as Rushton seems to have a weekness there.
As i come from the Isle of Wight i'll go for Jay to stop Rushton in the 4th.

And after all that i'm not even going , as i will be drunk in a field with 50,000 other idiots at the Isle of Wight festival.

[WildWaylon]

I think Francis may just do it but its a hard one to call. Looks interesting because both men are good enough to win.

[Poncey]

You goin', Bill?

[MBP]

chs symonds is fighting paul morby 5-1 now pauls only loss came via a really really dodgy stoppage and i think he is a real prospect but he aint really fought anybody decent and the proof is in the pudding so we will see what his all about on friday but providing hes got a decent chin(hasnt really been tested yet) i think he will/should give symonds a real good test in hes first fight back and its definately a fight to watch out for if ya going
now watch after me bummin him up he will put in a right stinker

Are we talking about Chas Symonds that lasted boxed against Ross Minter a few years ago?

Looking forward to the Main event think Tony will out work him...

I see Booth has got Dai Davies which is much better then his record suggest. Been fighting better fella then Booth althought he has been stopped in his last couple i see this 1 going all the way, cant see Booth looking good against him, will do great to stop him....