10.07.08
By Andrew Wake
2007 was a blistering year for Steel City stylist John Fewkes as he breezed past a former European champion and Olympic silver medallist as well as a future Commonwealth titlist but unfortunately a series of uncontrollable events have prevented the 22 year old from building on last year’s success.
At the start of the year big things were expected for the likable Yorkshire lightweight and a marquee English title match up with highly touted Mancunian John Murray was announced, but with just three days to go the fight, which was due to be aired on terrestrial network ITV as well as Showtime in the United States, was scrapped after Fewkes came down with a bout of gastroenteritis.
“A guy from Showtime called me that week to say they’d be showing the fight and get my thoughts and everything and that really got me up for it,” Fewkes said. “I really wanted everyone to see it in the States.
“I should have boxed [Murray] on the Saturday and the doctor pulled me out on the Wednesday. I was laid up in bed for a week and even when I felt better I didn’t want to go into the gym because I was so gutted at missing out but things happen and I need to just get on with it. I think everything happens for a reason and I think it’ll make me a stronger fighter and a better person.”
Without Fewkes in the opposing corner on May 10th John Murray fought anyway and has since been heavily criticised for the display he put on against awkward Syrian Youssef Al Hamidi, but Fewkes prefers to look at his rival’s performance another way.
“It must have been a hard week for him because he was building up to fight me in a big fight and then for me to pull out two or three days before the fight must have messed his head up a bit.
“They still didn’t have an opponent for him until the day of the fight and then it was one he didn’t really know a lot about but Al Hamidi beat one of my stable mates Dwayne Hill when he was an unbeaten fighter and he beat Anthony Crolla as well so although Murray has been criticised, I think you’ve gotta give him credit for grinding a win out against a very awkward and strong fighter.”
Since that night in early May, Murray has moved onto a fight against Lee Meager for the vacant British title while Fewkes now prepares to face Walsall’s Martin Gethin for the English lightweight crown that Murray left behind.
“It’s going to purse bids but I think my promoter Frank Maloney should win and he’s looking to put it on at some time in September.
“I don’t really know much about Gethin,” Fewkes admitted. “I think his record is 13 – 0 – 1. I’ll probably try and get some videos of him but the main thing for me to worry about is getting myself fit, getting my weight down and concentrating on getting my English title.”
And already the forward thinking Fewkes as planned out where he wants to go once he’s got his hands on the belt.
“Winning this title would really set me up to boxing for the British title and just boxing for a British title, never mind winning it, would mean everything to me.
“I’m ranked 6th in the country now and if I everything goes right against Gethin, then I can’t be far a British title shot.”
However the flame haired youngster has also got a contingency plan in case the crack at the coveted Lonsdale belt doesn’t immediately present itself.
“If a British title fight doesn’t come off straight away then I wouldn’t be overly disappointed because I wouldn’t mind defending the English title against someone like Graham Earl.
“It would be a hard fight, and one that a lot of fighters wouldn’t take but, I don’t want to get the British title level and not have beaten other people in the top ten that I feel I should be beating.
“I think that domestically lightweight is the best division there is and it’s good to be part of that because I really wanna show how good I know I can be. If everything goes well and I keep training I really do believe I can become a fighter that this country can be proud of.”
He added: “I just love boxing. This is my dream and I’m loving being talked about with British titles and people ringing me up from America. It still blows my mind sometimes because I was a little fat kid who went to a gym one day to lose a bit of weight and to be doing what I’m doing now is unreal.”