UK Boxing: Murray vs Thaxton; David Price; Carl Baker

John Murray has been warned not to underestimate Jon Thaxton ahead of their British Lightweight title clash this weekend. The advice comes from Scott Lawton, the current English Lightweight Champ and a man in a good position to air his views on the fight given that he has shared the ring with both men in previous British title fights. Murray and Thaxton headline at the Altrincham Leisure Centre on Saturday night with the Hennessy Sports event live on ITV4 and Lawton believes that Murray will have to be wary of the former British and European Champ’s power..

“Going by the form book you’d have to fancy John Murray,” revealed Lawton. “You would expect him to be too young and simply have too much energy but with Thaxton’s power you can never count him out.

Lawton challenged Thaxton for the British title in 2007 and had some success early on before being stopped in seven rounds while he took on Murray last time out suffering a sixth round stoppage defeat under the relentless pressure of Murray.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Thaxton catches Murray with one because he still carries a whack,” predicted Lawton. “I still fancy Murray to win it but he might have to get off the floor to do it. Whatever happens it should be exciting anyway because they are both top class fighters and both of them love to get in there and get stuck into a fight.”

Saturday’s undercard features amongst others Bob Ajisafe, Richard Towers, Phill Fury, Kid Galahad and the pro debut of Manchester’s Danny Randell. Tickets for the bout priced £30 and £70 are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.

PRICE IS GOING TO BE BUSY

DAVID PRICE is set to become the busiest fighter in Britain as he plays catch up with his Olympic team-mates.

Price, 26, has managed just one professional fight since switching codes after winning a super-heavyweight bronze medal at last year’s Beijing Olympics.

But his new promoter Frank Maloney already has plans to give his latest heavyweight hope two fights inside seven days next month.

The 6ft 8in Liverpool boxer will fight in Sunderland on Friday 16th October and seven days later (23/10) tastes more action at Bolton Arena.

But Maloney insists it isn’t an effort to get Price to the top in double quick time.

He said: “David is still a baby and it could be four years before we see the best of him at world level.

“Over the next 12 months he will learn his trade in a series of learning fights around Britain and at his gym in Liverpool where there is an impressive set up.

“In about a year when he has had ten or so fights we will sit down and start making real ambitious plans to get him some work in America to get his name known even more.

“If he needs to work on his fitness, David and his trainers can use my camp in Portugal which is the best place I have ever known for roadwork.”

To buy tickets for either of David’s first two fights in Sunderland and Bolton log onto www.frankmaloney.com or call 0871 226 150

BAKER: I’LL MAKE TYSON EAT HIS WORDS

THE FRIDGE ANGRY AT ‘NO CHANCE’ JIBES FROM IRON MIKE

CARL BAKER has vowed to make Mike Tyson eat his words after ‘Iron Mike’ ridiculed him live on television.

Tyson performed the draw for next Friday’s Prizefighter Heavyweights III and dismissed Baker as having no chance after he was paired with Danny Williams.

Baker, 27, believes Tyson’s words will motivate him towards the biggest victory in his career over Williams, the current British Champion.

“When I heard Tyson say that my first reaction was he doesn’t know me so how could he say that?” said Baker, who has won eight of 11 professional contests.

“Tyson has never seen me box but, after all, Danny beat him, so what else could Tyson say? I might offer Tyson out after I’ve beat Danny!

“I’m in a win-win situation as everyone expects me to lose – including my friends, family and people I’ve trained with.

“But if I beat Danny then everything changes and I’ve ruined the dream final of Williams v Audley Harrison. All I can do is gain from this and I have nothing to lose.

“Danny is the British Champion and, apart from David Haye, the best British heavyweight that we’ve got.

“But I’m going to go in there, do what I normally do and it should be enough to win. We have gameplan after gameplan for this fight and it’s only three rounds so anything could happen.

“I’m confident I can beat Danny. If you don’t think you can win a fight then you have lost it before you’ve even started.”

Prizefighter, the eight-man, one night-tournament, has captured fight fans’ imagination and is expected to be a 5,000 sell out at London’s Excel Arena on Friday.

Baker, a former British Masters Champion, comes into the competition as a late replacement for Michael Holden and believes he has a lot to prove.

“My friends and family have asked me why I’m going in this,” added Baker, who is known as ‘The Fridge’.

“When I told them I was in Prizefighter and said the people in it, they said ‘you can’t win that’ so I won’t be talking to them up to the fight

“I’m quite ignorant so I don’t listen to them and just laugh it off. When they say that stuff I tell them to go and stick a grand on me and see how much they get out of it when I win.”

Prizefighter tickets are going fast but some are still available at £40 or £80 from See Tickets on 0871 220 0260, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.