thaxton434643 By Daniel Cann: In a partisan and electrifying atmosphere local fighter Jon ‘Jono’ Thaxton defended his European title against French challenger Anthony Mezaache. As the preliminary instructions were made the shaven skulled champion looked menacing. His tanned and younger opponent (by four years) limbered up across the ring.

From the first bell Thaxton held the centre of the ring from his southpaw stance. He kept busy and Mezaache looked wary, having success with a decent looking right. Thaxton targeted the body and the Frenchman attempted an uppercut inside. Thaxton looked eager as he missed with some hooks, winging his punches, trying to take the visitors head off. He had more success with a decent body shot. It was a positive start for Thaxton as he pressed forward pressuring Mezaache. The challenger held his gloves high and whipped in fast jabs and uppercuts. Thaxton was falling short with his own punches.

Suddenly late in the round, Thaxton finally found the punch he was looking for as a fantastic right hook exploded behind Mezaache’s ear and the challenger crashed to the canvas for a count. He got to his feet but looked unsteady, his legs ‘gone.’ Mezaache’s head must have been reasonably clear as he spat out his gumshield to buy some time only for the referee to penalise him one point. He had tasted the champion’s power early and as the action resumed he managed to land a good right of his own that had Thaxton blinking. Thaxton responded with another right of his own and clearly won the round 10 points to seven.

The second saw Thaxton moving forward, bossing and bulling. He unloaded more body shots trying to slow down the fleet-footed Mezaache. Sometimes the Norwich fighter looked a little too eager to land the power shots instead of looking to work his way inside with jabs and creating openings.

A good overhand right staggered Mezaache and he looked anxiously across to his corner. He was clearly sickened by these early power shots. Thaxton looked so strong compared to Mezaache. He landed another good body punch and his opponent had a hunted expression as he attempted to stay out of range.

It looked like Mezaache had got through his crisis though and started the third round quickly. He landed several fast punches and caught Thaxton with some good jabs and a solid right for good measure. He was still very much in the fight. Thaxton just walked through these punches intent on crushing his challenger. Mezaache did well not to receive a warning for hitting on the break.

Thaxton continued to target the tall Frenchman’s body. Mezaache was showing good movement and footwork as well as fast hands. He was clearly warming to his task and the champion was looking increasingly pedestrian. It was a much better round for the challenger and the first he won on my card.

The fourth round saw yet another positive two-fisted assault from Mezaache. Thaxton connected with a jab and Mezaache looked open mouthed. After more hooks from Thaxton Mezaache emerged with clear damage around his mouth. More body shots came in from the champion as he clearly attempted to slow his faster opponent down.

Mezaache threw a great right hand that was thrown with great speed and accuracy, which must have been unsettling for the champion. Thaxton replied with a good left right combo as well as an uppercut but it was clear that he was having his work cut out and his earlier success was not being repeated. Mezaache landed another right to close the round as if to remind Thaxton he was still very much in the contest.

Thaxton began the fifth with a nick under his left eye testament to the accuracy of Mezaache’s work. It was clear that the champion had to wrest control back again and needed more than ever to work up a few gears. Mezaache was settling in and warming to his task with each passing second. The Frenchman displayed smooth movement and good timing.

Thaxton steamed in and landed a long left only to get nailed later by a fantastic right uppercut that made him dip at the knees and had him looking very unsteady. He was lucky not to go down and the pendulum had swung in favour of the man from Paris.

The sixth began and the feeling that Thaxton had to reassert himself quickly was all too apparent with his opponent growing ever confident. Mezaache was now bouncing around and doubling up on his jab and showing lots of lateral movement. Thaxton just kept plodding forward in the same gear.

Mezaache was the busier, not landing the heavier punches but just landing that bit more leather.

Thaxton had some success with a nice right hand lead, which caught the canny visitor out, but it was a limited success. The volume was coming from Mezaache and the power from Thaxton.

At this stage it was shaping up to be a very close fight and the champion had his hands full with a challenger growing in self-belief. Mezaache landed a decent right and then received a warning from the referee for use of the head.

‘Keep the pressure on Jon!’ Exhorted Thaxton’s corner.

Thaxton tried to work inside letting both hands go. Thaxton then landed a decent left from the orthodox stance before switching back to his favoured southpaw stance. He appeared a little one-paced and pedestrian but in a quiet round he had done enough to nick it on my card.

Early in the eighth the referee warned Thaxton to keep his punches up. The Englishman did not stop going forward and early on was doing most of the work. The referee warned Mezaache about use of the head again.

‘Let them go Jon!’ Thaxton’s corner cried again, perhaps sensing how close the fight was and the need to get points in the bank.

Thaxton walked onto a solid left before responding back in kind with both hands. Mezaache showed great heart by matching him and a touch of bravado by raising his hands at the bell.

At this point my notes said ‘Mezaache looks confident and Thaxton looks tired.’

The ninth, I was surprised it had gone this far especially after the earlier fireworks but here we were. Thaxton really needed a lift, it had become quite gruelling. It was now a case of who wanted it more?

Mezaache was fast off the mark once more; he had a fluidity to his work and a confidence that could not be denied. Thaxton again landed to the body but this did not dampen the visitor’s spirits. Tellingly at this point Mezaache was happy to come off his toes and mix it up with the champion.

They both stayed centre ring swapping blows, neither giving an inch. Mezaache was getting through with lots of accurate punches. Thaxton was bleeding from the nose and taking too many unnecessary blows.

The crowd tried to lift their flagging man as Mezaache grinned menacingly at the weary champion. Mezaache looked happy and Thaxton was looking increasingly tired and out of ideas (but not out of spirit). Thaxton’s left eye was marking up and Mezaache landed yet another fast right hand. The champion was beginning to look in danger of being overwhelmed by his younger marauding challenger. Thaxton’s left cheekbone was now bleeding freely from a cut and again Mezaache raised his gloves above his head in triumph to close the round.

I wrote ‘its looking very bad for Thaxton now.’

Thaxton showed the heart of a champion as he came off his stool for the tenth full of resolve and all business. His left cheek was bleeding freely once more as he started the round fast.

Mezaache met Thaxton in the middle of the ring, happy to stand toe-to-toe with him. It was a real slugging match now. Tellingly Mezaache was able to take Thaxton’s shots now. The Norwich man managed some success with his jab; the crowd went ecstatic with every Thaxton success.

Mezaache slammed a sizzling right and again they locked horns like a couple of rutting stags in the centre of the ring. Mezaache suddenly emerged with a cut on his right eye which must have been like a ray of sunshine for Thaxton.

Thaxton staggered the visitor and Mezaache nodded as if to acknowledge the blows power.

Thaxton landed to the body growing in confidence and getting back into the fight as the crowd chanted ‘Jono! Jono!’ to lift him.

Mezaache connected with a good left and unloaded with more power shots to close the round. Thaxton roared back defiantly. It was real ‘soul baring stuff.’ At the bell to end the round Thaxton smiled at Mezaache as if to say ‘I’m not finished yet and there’s plenty more of that waiting for you.’

It was a simply tremendous round and it was becoming a desperately draining contest with both men showing courage under fire.

The eleventh began with more bravado and toe-to-toe action. It was gruelling just watching it and those at ringside and watching on ITV4 were being treated to boxing at its finest.

Thaxton jabbed from his southpaw stance and staggered Mezaache with a left hook from his southpaw stance. Mezaache’s legs wobbled briefly.

Who would fold first?

Mezaache found a big right uppercut from somewhere and a decent right hook. Thaxton kept working but Mezaache was landing more frequently. Another uppercut found its target and they fell into a clinch.

Thaxton was having his share of success with jabs and hooks and caught his opponent with two big head shots.

Mezaache was having none of it and raised his arms aloft in triumph. It was a big round, which had the Frenchman shading.

Crucially Thaxton’s corner were urging him ‘You have to knock him out!’ during the interval.

The final round began with Mezaache nailing Thaxton with a left. They were both battling in the centre of the ring again both showing marks of battle. Thaxton’s cut left cheek was bleeding and the right side of Mezaache’s face was soon smeared with crimson as well.

The champion was throwing everything he had left at the French challenger but getting picked off as he came inside.

Mezaache held his arms aloft again, showboating. The scores were very close on my card. Thaxton looked so tired, looking for one big punch to end it and make the judges cards unnecessary.

The arena reverberated to chants of ‘Jono! Jono!’

Mezaache landed another quick combination before speeding out of harms way. The bell signalled that a great championship contest had ended and the result was now in the hands of the three judges.

The judge’s scores were unanimous 115 – 112, 115-111 and 114 – 113 (which matched my own) all in favour for the new champion Mezaache.

It had been a thrilling contest with both men digging deep. In the end Mezaache’s workrate, precision, determination and speed won him the title. Thaxton was philosophical and defiant in defeat. The big question now is will he be able to come back. Yes it was close, but have the tough contests finally began to catch up with him? Time will tell.