French raider Anthony Mezaache will cross the channel this weekend intent on plundering Jon Thaxton’s European Lightweight title. The two men clash live on ITV4 on a Hennessy Sports show at the Norfolk Showground in Norwich on Saturday night as Thaxton looks to make the first defence of his title.
Local hero Thaxton won the title at the same venue last October with a stunning one punch knockout of Juan Carlos Diaz Melero but Mezaache is adamant that lighting will not strike the same venue twice.
“I’ve watched a lot of Thaxton’s fight and he is a good boxer and I have a lot of respect for him but he is not unbeatable,” said the reigning French champion. “Thaxton can certainly punch but that doesn’t bother me, I’ve never been stopped so I don’t believe his power will be a problem. This is a fight I have wanted for a very long time and I am coming to take the title from Thaxton.
“The pressure is all on him fighting in his hometown. Nobody is expecting me to spoil the party but I have a surprise in store for them. I’ve been training for this fight since late last year and it’s the biggest chance of my career so if anyone thinks I am coming just to make up the numbers they are mistaken.”
Mezzache is currently on a 7 fight unbeaten run but he has unhappy memories of his last trip to the U.K in 2005 when he suffered a points defeat at the hands of former British lightweight champ, Dave Stewart.
“I’m hoping that Thaxton saw the Stewart fight and thinks that I will be a soft touch,” revealed the 30-year-old. “I was very inexperienced back then and took that fight at just a few days notice. That defeat woke me up and made me get serious about my career. I’m a completely different fighter now and I will prove that on Saturday.”
Despite talk of a possible world title tilt in the pipeline Thaxton insists he’s not overlooking the challenger. “I’ve worked too hard in my career to throw this away. I pride myself on being a true professional and while it’s great to hear all the talk about world title fights the only thing I’m thinking about right now is beating Mezzache and strapping that European title belt around my waist again on Saturday night.”
Thaxton’s European Lightweight title defence against Mezzache headlines a night of top quality boxing at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich this Saturday (February 28th). An exciting undercard features heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury while Norwich’s Danny McIntosh defends his English Light Heavyweight Title against Matthew Barney.
Also appearing are Matthew Thirlwall, Steve O’Meara, Lee Purdy, Earl Ling and making his pro debut, ABA Senior Featherweight Champion 2008 and awarded the best boxer of the night Royston’s Bradley Evans. Tickets are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.
Quigley postpones MMA career to fulfil boxing potential
Liverpool super-middleweight Tony Quigley will box for his first professional title on March 28 at the Echo Arena, but admits he came close to ditching his punching career for a stint in mixed martial arts.
Set to face English champion Paul David at HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’, Quigley’s title shot brings an end to a period of frustration and disappointment, which threatened to lead the Scouser elsewhere in pursuit of kicks.
“This is the kind of fight and event I’ve been dreaming about since I turned pro,” admits the ambitious 24-year-old. “I’ve been pushing for meaningful fights for the last few years and now I’ve got one. I’m not one for waiting around and building my career slowly.”
In compiling a 12-1 (5 KO) pro record, Quigley has battled durable opponents, as well as the hunger to fight better ones. Such has been Quigley’s frustration in the past 12 months, he even considered seeking challenges in the cage.
“I started going down the road of mixed martial arts and the UFC simply because I fell out of love with boxing and became frustrated by it,” says Quigley, who successfully made it through the trials for The Ultimate Fighter television series.
“I’m a boxer through and through, but I wasn’t happy with the progress I was making in the sport.
“I trained a lot with British UFC fighters and helped them with their stand-up game and their boxing skills. They would then teach me about the ground game. I was serious about doing it and was getting offered contracts to move into MMA full-time.”
It wasn’t long before Quigley had a big decision to make.
“I got to a crossroads one day and could either turn left into mixed martial arts or right into boxing and I stayed with boxing. That’s what I’m naturally good at. I want to conquer the boxing world first before I move into MMA. I’ve gone back to correct my boxing career and start taking things seriously now.”
For the time being at least, Quigley is a promising pugilist with titles in mind. His quest for belts begins on March 28 in his home city against English titleholder David.
“He’s (David) a big super-middleweight who is unorthodox and can punch,” assesses Quigley. “I’ll have to be at my absolute best to beat him. He’s never been stopped before and I’d love to be the first person to do it – especially with it being in Liverpool. That would make a major statement. I’m more than capable of doing it.”
With the emphasis on a stoppage victory, Quigley is looking for a breakthrough performance on March 28. David has been warned.
“I really think he’s underestimating me,” adds Tony. “He’s a very cocky fella and thinks he’s number one already. He’ll go in there and see me as a routine defence – someone he’s going to just walk through. He wants the winner of Brian Magee and Tony Dodson and even said that at the press conference. It’s no big secret.
“The thing is, if he fights anyone above a certain level, David ends up getting beat. Beneath that level, though, he’s dangerous. I just need to show how good I am on March 28.”
In terms of occasion, Quigley couldn’t ask for a better backdrop to his eagerly anticipated title shot.
“I desperately wanted to be on this show at the Echo Arena,” explains Quigley. “An eight rounder would have done me, so the English title is a bonus. I’ve been to a Hayemaker show in the past, too, and they don’t half put the bills together well. It’s a good bill from top to bottom, with a load of hard-to-call fights. It’s almost more of a UFC card than a boxing one.
“To be honest, this is the first British boxing card I’ve seen with more even bouts than uneven ones.”
*** Tony Quigley’s English title contest with Paul David forms part of the undercard to HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on March 28. Headlining the show will be local lad Tony Dodson’s attempt to win back his old British title from Brian Magee, as well as Ryan Rhodes’ British title defence against Anthony Small.
*** To purchase tickets to HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ visit www.accliverpool.com or call 0844 8000 400.
BURGOS READY FOR LIZARRAGA – GREAT FIGHTS TO TAKE PLACE IN ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA!
Undefeated featherweight Juan Carlos Burgos reported himself ready as he closes his training camp at the Azteca Gym in Tijuana, Mexico, and makes the trek to Ontario, CA, for this Friday’s “NEW BLOOD III” IBA Championship against Omar Lizarraga.
The Burgos – Lizarraga main event leads the way of what seems to be an outstanding night of fights as Thompson Boxing Promotions features five all-action bouts. In the semi main event, newly signed Mauricio Herrera will face KO artist Brian Gordon in an eight round jr. welterweight fight. On the same weight division, two-time Olympian Patrick Lopez from Venezuela will face tough Colombian Jailer Berrio in an-all south American eight round clash and newly signed featherweight Abraham Lopez will trade leather with journeyman Manuel Sarabia in a six round bout.
Tickets for “New Blood III” are available and priced at $75, $45, and $30. To purchase, please call 714-935-0900.
After suffering from an injured hand in September 2008, Juan Carlos Burgos is fully recovered. “It took me two fights after the injury to get my confidence back. I was avoiding the pain when I was throwing punches, even after my doctor told me I was 100% recovered, I just did not trust myself,” said Burgos as he packed for the trip to California. “I have been training since early January and I don’t feel any pain, what I want is to make my opponent feel it and win in spectacular fashion.”
A dedicated Omar Lizarraga has been training in Big Bear, CA, and feels very confident about his chances against the young undefeated Burgos. “He is a great puncher, attacks the body very well, but I am ready to box him and not give him any angles,” said Lizarraga. “He thinks this will be an easy fight, but he will soon find out he has been wrong all along.”
Juan Carlos Burgos is currently rated as #6 by the WBC and #10 by WBA, and will now fight for the vacant IBA Featherweight title.
“We want to give the fans a great show. If all goes well, Burgos will campaign for a major title very soon,” said Ken Thompson of his protégé. “Interesting things are happening in the division and Juan Carlos should be ready for any challenge. The main one thus far, is coming out victorious over Lizarraga and then we will see.”
The six-bout card of hard-hitting professional boxing action is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and will take place at the Doubletree Hotel – Ontario, located at 222 N. Vineyard Avenue. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first bell is at 7:45pm.