Jon Thaxton

[Autobarn]

Because I'm a big John Murray enthusiast, I haven't always given Thaxton his dues of recent. If this is the end of his career, following TKO defeat to a commanding and classy Murray last weekend, I think we should all salute Thaxton for being one of Britain's most compelling warriors.

He's had a very hard career, and has had hard luck - he got stopped by a head clash by Rowlands, and couldn't get a rematch, never mind one for a proper title. Meanwhile Ricky Hatton, who was dominating him, nonetheless suffered a terrible cut from a Thaxton punch, and was allowed to fight on when there were solid grounds for a stoppage.

Even when he destroyed Scrap Iron Ryan, the British & Commonwealth light welter champ, it was a non title affair. When Thaxton made his comeback with a bad shoulder following a bad car crash, Boxing News wrote that while Thaxton could win made up titles like the WBF, the genuine belts might be out of reach.

He proved all that wrong with a brilliant win over Lee Meager, battering Meager with power shots from all angles, and then showing how much he wanted it by relentlessly pressuring Scott Lawton and Dave Stewart, both of whom he stopped (Stewart, in a mini-classic).

Yuri Romanov really sliced him up and had his number - yet another setback - and so it was great to see Jono win the EBU title in his 2nd try, with a concussive 1 punch KO of Melero. The Mezaache fight seemed to sum up Thaxton's up and down career - robbed of a 1st round KO, due to mouthpiece antics, then dragged into a 12 round war and losing narrowly on points.

After the Murray defeat - and what Thaxton felt was a questionable stoppage - you have to wonder what he will do next: have one more go at the British strap, when Murray has moved up? If not, if it's the end of his career, then let's give him huge props. Thaxton's career has been one of the most honest and exciting in recent British boxing history, and this is one fighter who can definitely say he did it the right way and fulfilled his potential.

[thepocketrocket]

BN didnt just say might, I'm sure the quote was on the lines of 'was never capabable'! Then Jono went and smashed Lee Meager to bit, Meager was never the same!

To me Jono will always be a legend! And I have no doubt that he could win fights and maybe get a belt somewhere! But i would rather he packed it in.Enjoy retirement with his wife and look back on a great career!!

Jono, you did yourself proud!

[My Name Is Earl]

Worried for Jono in the pre-fight interview. Close to tears imo.

Been a belter though and VFM for any boxing fan. Coming within a midges of toppling Ricky a career highlight.

Should be a bit of itv work left alongside The Count and McGuigan before that bites the dust.

[Autobarn]

definitely, ricky was too much for him - too big and fast. however a thaxton punch caused the bleeding, and cuts is a valid way of winning, and many feel hatton could have been stopped; and thaxton himself has probably been stropped for less. like i say, he has had some bad luck, so IMO this makes the triumphs all the more exciting.

hope to see him do more pundit work and although boxing books are hardly big business, jono's is one of the few stories i'd sit down to read - think he'd be a great subject for a boxing book.

i wonder why thaxton was a light welter for so long. who were the top lightweights, when thaxton was a light welter? can't have been easy for him to come down to lightweight, but it paid off for this fierce, inspirational fighter.

anyway, he's won proper belts, and faced some very good fighters, some of whom he beat, some of whom beat him.

[Chambers2]

As I said on another thread Jono's been a true British Boxing Warrior who always turned up in tip-top shape and gave his all, resulting in him having a very successful career. I hope he's made the money out of his career that he deserves, good luck for the future Jono

[Finn]

Think the fight was waved off a bit to early.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

A quality career and came across as a gent and I hope he's made some wedge out of it. Always liked his fights, win or lose but I think his time as competitive at British level is passing him, his legs seem to have gone, and he'd be reduced to trial horse now, which I think is below him. I think in his prime he could have beat Murray

[Adamj1987]

jono is a fave of mine and has always been a consumate pro, but i think the writing on the wall has happened and its time to say goodbye hes had a much longer carreer than most come forward fighters due and he has been wbf, british and EBU champ and thats something to be proud of

[Autobarn]

A quality career and came across as a gent and I hope he's made some wedge out of it. Always liked his fights, win or lose but I think his time as competitive at British level is passing him, his legs seem to have gone, and he'd be reduced to trial horse now, which I think is below him. I think in his prime he could have beat Murray

i think in the last 4 fights murray has shown that he's well above british level. whereas thaxton has had some very tough british level fights. it's all about levels and while i think murray will leave domestic level behind in his next fights, i still think jon thaxton did brilliantly to win at british and even euro level. what a proud competitor. i see things in murray that i saw in romanov on the night romanov beat thaxton - subtlety, economy of movement, accurate punching, neat variation of shots.

not sure murray was ever on thaxton's radar, until thaxton had nop place else to go. jono wanted the khan fight, he wanted (and got) the EBU fights, whereas murray was often frustrated. it was murray who always wanted it, who probably has studied and thought about thaxton many, many times, which i feel translated into a very accomplished piece of boxing.

my fave thaxton moments

1) the masterclass over meager. finally won the british title. brutal display, battering meager with shots from funny angles. sometimes that ingle style can be spot on - like that night - and sometimes it can be really off - as in some other thaxton bouts. that was a peak performance, and he was never that on top of things afterward (apart from the melero fight).

2) losing via stoppage due to head clash v rowlands. post fight interview: thaxton demanding rematch, and why not. warren saying we can do a rematch for the WB-something bauble. thaxton, almost in tears, "no! no!" insisting it be for the british title again. a great interview and it really shows what jon thaxton is all about.

ppl have a go at hennessy, for various reasons, but it was on hennessy cards that he showed his full potential.

[Adamj1987]

Think the fight was waved off a bit to early.

i agree even the GF thought that but it was clear he was going to lose

[alexpaterson]

Thaxton is a brilliant British level warrior he always gave a good fight I thought the stoppage was good Thaxton's legs went a few times all that was keeping him up were his guts and heart

[Spud]

He should be proud of his achievements and proud that he was one hell of a gutsy courageous bloke who always did his dam best.

[Autobarn]

I wish there were some more responses to this thread. This might be it for Thaxton. The thing I like best about him is his intensity. Scary looking bloke in the ring, with that stocky muscular build I'm glad he found a stage where he won the titles that he wanted so badly, and carved out his niche in British boxing. He fought just about everyone - though IMO was never in any hurry to fight john murray - and always gave his all: one of the most honest pros of recent times.

He is far more interesting than many of the underachieving boxers who pretended to be world class or called out the worst world champions, or who cashed out getting battered in some WBO title fight or other, or the glass chinned prima donnas who had a book written about them while in their early 20s.

Thaxton is a guy who wasn't safely managed, who didn't expect the easiest fights, a true warrior and a true competitor. Many fighters seem spoiled to me, expecting too much reward for too little risk. And then you get guys like Thaxton, who test themselves to their limits. Jono's a genuine hardman with many memorable moments. There are better fighters, there are fighters that will go further especially with careful management. But their stories are not as good, their fights not as compelling. If this is the end, then a big thanks to Jon Thaxton.

[chesh]

Well said, Auto. Great post. Jono deserves nothing but respect. A very dedicated pro, always in shape and very powerfully built for a lightweight. He could have a lot less defeats, if he'd had a more protected career, but I like the way he did things.

[DavidPayne]

Autobarn,

Nice post. I think we would have all liked to have seen Khan v Murray at Lightweight when they were each other's mandatory challenger for Commonwealth and British belts.

That would have been a thriller, I think the edge had gone from Jon when that fight slipped away. I know he gave Tom Glover a bit of weight but Thaxton of a year or two ago would have been too much for him.

I met him briefly once at an Animal Park up near Yarmouth, lovely, genial bloke, pleased to be recognised I think and came across just as he did on telly.

Dont have regrets Jon. You fought them all, from Hatton to Murray, with only Khan missing.

[dbf]

Big fan of Jon, and really ejoyed watching him fight and hearing his post fight interviews as he always came across well and honest. Plus he has a proper norfolk accent and being an East Anglian myself it was great to hear!

He also brought Emmanual Augustus to Norwich, no mean feat! That's roughly the equvilant of Matt Skelton getting James Toney to fight him in Bedford.

Jon always looks the part, has good power and to be operating at European level as a lightweight up until recently when he was taking Ricky Hatton the full 12 at 140 8 years ago says alot about his dedication.

British and European champion, I'd said he has an awlful lot to be proud of.

[THEBUTCH]

As long as the motivation is still there, Thaxton shouldn't be hanging them up just yet.

Surely Murray will vacate soon and Thaxton can still probably beat several of the British title contenders who will be pushed forwards.

A lonsdale belt should be in Thaxton's trophy cabinet, he's been an excellent pro and a lonsdale belt for keeps is a terrific retirement present.

[Happy Slapper]

Thaxton is a true warrior and is deservedly loved by Norfolk folk and boxing fans up and down the country.

A great ambassador for the sport.

Well done Jono.

[teddy007]

I loved it when he sparked that t*sser Paul Scrap Iron Ryan, twice I believe. Brilliant.

[Autobarn]

that was a brutal KO. why weren't the british and commonwealth titles on the line? i didn't follow boxing around that time.

[magnus]

I think Thaxton was considered to be an area-level fighter at that stage, hence he was just seen as a routine outing for Ryan, who aiming for a WBO shot. Hell of a knock-out.

[whiskey]

Great fighter in his pomp and a great bloke.

Good call to turn it in now Jono.

Like others said, you should get involved in some TV pundit work as it would a shame not to have him around the sport anymore.

[alexpaterson]

Great fighter in his pomp and a great bloke.

Good call to turn it in now Jono.

Like others said, you should get involved in some TV pundit work as it would a shame not to have him around the sport anymore.

I think he should he is good on ITV talks sense and says what he thinks

[stujones]

Thanks for the memories, a hard mo fo. People often forget that before Emmanual Augustus he was hyped as a champion in waiting - not just British champion, but world champion. My god he must be so pissed off now his fight with Scrap Iron Ryan was a non title fight.

I know the BBBoC isn't a charity, but if anyone deserves an honourary lonsdale belt it is Jon. Bet he wouldn't accept it though.

Admire him so greatly for coming back after his horrific injury. Such desire and intensity - just a bit luckless.