BoxRec

A couple of champions have vacated their titles, cue two very interesting vacant title fights at lightweight.

Yuri Romanov vacated his EBU lightweight title after stopping Thaxton. Now Thaxton and talented Spaniard Juan Carlos Diaz Melero will square off for the vacant title. Should be easy to win purse bids and get the fight in the UK, because in Spain there isn't much money for boxing (no TV, etc).

Thaxton, wanting to make his mark on Europe, gave up his British title. Even though he could have stuck at British level, made one more title defence and got himself a Lonsdale belt for keeps. Aggressive lightweights John Murray and Lee Meager will square off for the vacant British title. This will be a great fight. We havn't seen the best of both lads recently, but on July 11 their styles could gel into one of the British fights of the year.

Sweet.

Giving up his British title was a daft move, Jon's not good enough for the European title. As least at domestic level he has a punchers chance. He never won a round against Romanov and couldn't even punch properly anymore.

He can still fight aggressive fighters who come to him. Don't forget, he beat Meager for the British and Meager is a quality domestic fighter. He also beat Stewart, the good if frail Scotsman, in a cracking fight.

Unfortunately, Melero is a very fast mover. It will be hard in there for Thaxton.

Thaxton wouldn't really fight both British and European title fights. Not when Hennessy has more lightweights like Murray and Meager that want to get into the action.

If Jono loses the EBU fight, he'll still be able to fight the Murray-Meager winner. I know that Murray wants to defend vs Thaxton. Meager will want revenge on him, and will feel that he wasn't right for the first bout.

Main thing that Thaxton loses is the chance for the Lonsdale belt, but he has this "conquering", self improving way about him that will have made him focus on the European title.