Press Release
On Friday May 5th, flyweight Tommy Frank defends his Lonsdale belt at the Rotherham Magna Centre against former European and Commonwealth champion, Jay Harris. FightZone will carry the card.
The Pride of Sheffield, Tommy, claimed the British crown in 2019 with a dominant points victory over Brummie Matt Windle in an all-action 12-rounder. Since then, the 29-year-old has also successfully defended the belt against Craig Derbyshire, edging out his fellow Yorkshireman on a split-decision draw in April last year.
With just two losses from 18 outings, ‘Super’ Tommy has been clamoring for a big fight … and he gets one against Harris. The Swansea man comes into the bout with greater experience and having been in with better opposition. The pinnacle of the Welsh fighter’s career – to date – was a tilt at world honors in 2020 when he put up a brave but losing show against hard-hitting Mexican Julio Cesar Martinez in America for the WBC flyweight title.
Harris has suffered a couple of stoppage defeats since that American adventure – albeit in good company and with one contest down at light flyweight – but has momentum behind him after a morale-boosting KO win in June last year. At 32, this looks like a last-chance-saloon scenario for Jay but with 10 KOs from 19 wins, and just three losses, he heads into this Battle of Britain as slight favorite … something that Frank believes will spur him on.
“I probably am the underdog and I don’t have a problem with that – it will bring the best out of me. Fighting this caliber of opposition will raise my game and it excites me that it’s going to be a hard fight. He’s been in with better quality opposition, and is a former European Champion, so it’s natural for him to be the favorite," Frank said.
“The winner of this one will be in the mix for some big, exciting fights. He wants my British Title but I want to keep it and hopefully move onto the European scene, and beyond. I have a lot of respect for Jay. He’s very capable, strong and has a similar style to me. We can both box on the back foot but prefer going forward and that’s going to make for a brilliant fight. Our styles will gel really well and the fans, and Fightzone viewers, are in for a real treat.”
