Jon Thaxton defends his British Lightweight Title in front of his home crowd in Norwich on Friday in the latest stage of his comeback after thinking a car accident had ended his career as a boxer.
The Norwich boxer initially retired after a car smash with a lorry in 2002 left him with a shoulder injury considered serious enough then to end a career that had seen him give the likes of Ricky Hatton and Eamonn Magee good fights at British and Commonwealth Title level up at light-welterweight.
But after a lengthy recovery, Thaxton returned and hopes to extend a seven-fight winning run since his comeback when he faces Stoke’s Scott Lawton (20-2-1) at the prestigious Norfolk Showground on the Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com ‘Showdowns @ The Showgrounds’ event.
Thaxton, who earned an unanimous points win over fellow Hennessy Sports boxer Lee Meager to be crowned champion in Dagenham in December, admits he owes the decision to end his ring exile to his wife and claims he has become a better boxer since the accident.
“It was a dream come true to win the British title, which I admit brought on a few tears because I thought it had passed me by after the accident,” he said.
“I was driving close to my home with my little girl in the back when a lorry hit me and I’ve had shoulder pain since, but I get it looked after by physio.
“I was out for two years but it was the best thing that could have happened to me because it made me reflect on my mistakes. Now I have come back, I am fitter, stronger and you can’t beat experience, which I’ve got plenty of.
“I used to over train and that was the main problem. My trainer used to tell me to have a day off. I used to say ‘OK,’ but then behind his back I would go out and train.
“The injury gave me time to reflect and made me realise I have to listen to my body more now.
“I became an arm-chair critic when I wasn’t boxing. My wife said to me: why don’t you put up or shut up, so I decided to come back and give it one last go. I didn’t want to be left thinking ‘what if’ in a few years time, and be left feeling bitter about things. At least I’m not complaining so much now when I watch boxing on TV!
“Life is full of ifs so I thought I may as well do it now while I was still young enough to do it... I’m just glad I listened to my wife! It has paid off already.
“I feel a better fighter and stronger than ever and you can’t buy that sort of experience, which makes me a dangerous fighter in Britain right now because I have been a professional boxer since I was 18.”
The 32-year-old hopes victory over Lawton on Friday’s event being covered live by Sky - which also feature Esham Pickering’s bid to win back the British super-bantamweight title against Marc Callaghan – will be a step towards bigger titles.
But Thaxton, who had earlier failed bids for the domestic crown against Hatton and Jason Rowland at light-welterweight in 2000 and 1999, has no intention of losing his grip on the title so soon after winning it.
“Scott’s taller and a boxer,” he said. “He will come to have the fight of his life, and he will need to because I will be ready for him. It’s a great opportunity for him, but I have been waiting too long for this to give it up so soon.”
Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com Proudly Present
The Showdowns @ The Showground
Friday 16th March 2007
The Norfolk Showground
Tickets priced £25, £35, £50 and £100 available on 01603 868 606.
12x3 British Lightweight Championship
Jon Thaxton vs. Scott Lawton
(Norwich) (Stoke)
12x3 British Super Bantamweight Championship
Esham Pickering vs. Marc Callaghan
(Newark) (Barking)
6x3 Heavyweight
Sam Sexton vs. Paul King
(Norwich) (Sheffield)
6x3 Light Heavyweight
Danny McIntosh vs.Rob Burton
(Norwich) (Barnsley)
4x3 Light Heavyweight
Paul Davis vs. Omid Burzo
(Norwich) (Tehran via Sheffield)
4x3 Light Welterweight
Leonard Lothian vs. Matthew Martin Lewis
(Northampton) (Colchester)
4x3 Lightweight
Lee Purdey vs. Christian Laight
(Colchester) (Nottingham)