22.06.04 – By Ben Carey: Some of British Boxing’s finest talents were present at Dennis Hobson’s show at the Octagon Centre on Thursday night. British Eastside did its best to speak to the movers and the shakers.
Maxwell happy to be back: A jubilant Patrick Maxwell was delighted with his first round destruction over veteran Howard Clarke after being out of the ring since last November with an injured right hand.
“Its taken more or less 6 months for it to get better. There was a swelling in the joint and it got worse. The scar tissue basically made it come up when I boxed Isidro Gonzalez in September but I fought through that. But the same injury got worse when I fought Conroy McIntosh last time out. I went to see a specialist and he told me I could have a pain killing injection or allow it to heal naturally. I decided on the latter,” Patrick told British Eastside afterwards.
If the American-born puncher was concerned whether his hand would “go” again you would never have guessed it as he tore into Clarke from the off, forcing referee Howard Foster’s intervention after 2.57 of the opener. “I thought the stoppage was a little premature. I prefer my knockouts clean but I wasn’t holding back at all really. I was obviously a bit rusty because I hadn’t fought since November. My weight went up really high and I literally couldn’t punch a bag for about 5 months. Instead of doing what I should do, being on the road and all that, I felt sorry for myself and stayed off,” an honest Maxwell revealed.
Now firmly back down to serious business, the promising 25-year-old is looking to gather some momentum in his so far stop-start career and has set his sights on a fight with recently crowned Central Area champion, Rob Burton. New trainer Adam Booth has been given the task of helping Maxwell fulfil his undoubted potential.
“I’ve moved down to London and the training there is exactly what I need. I need someone on my back. I never really needed it when I was with Billy Graham but with so many fighters there you sometimes don’t get your look in (at Graham’s Phoenix camp) – it’s like that in some gyms. But Adam is devoting his time to me equally and he’s on my case making sure I don’t slack off,” said Patrick.
Maxwell’s decision to swap Yorkshire for the capital is beginning to bear fruit but the prospect admitted he was close to leaving the UK earlier in the year. “Its been really hard because I hate London. Put on that on. I hate London,” he insisted with a smile on his face. “But at the end of the day you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I was actually considering moving to Atlanta. I got my passport and I was considering going over to train with Buddy McGuirt. I spoke to him and he said I could come over. I may still go for a spell later in the summer but I’ll have to talk to my management (Fight Academy) about that first. However, right now I’ve got a really good team around me here.”
Pickering hungry for more success
Esham Pickering is hard at training for his forthcoming European super-bantamweight title defence against Alexander Fedorov at the Brentwood International Centre on July 10. The Newark stylist looked in good shape and told British Eastside that he weighed just over 9 stone as he gradually brings his weight down to the super-bantamweight limit of 8st 10lbs. Should Pickering see off the unbeaten Federov in his 2nd defence, he is likely to face mandatory challenger, Miguel Mallon, of Spain in September before setting his sights on a world title shot.
[b]Haye targets Euro glory[/b]
Cruiserweight quicksilver David Haye is targeting the best in Europe as he looks to continue his rapid ascent towards a world title shot. The Bermondsey prospect took a significant step up in class when halting former IBF champion Arthur Williams in 3 rounds in April. British fans are eager to see Haye duke it out with domestic rivals Carl Thompson and Mark Hobson. However, the former world amateur silver medallist told British Eastside he fears neither is willing to fight him. If that proves to be case, Haye will switch his attention to the European scene. Showdowns against current EBU champion Vincenzo Cantatore or German Rudgier May are on the Londoner’s radar.
Browne would love Hobson opportunity
Cruiser bruiser Denzil Browne is a regular fixture at local shows and was happy to chew the fat with British Eastside concerning his future plans. The Leeds man was supposed to have topped this Sheffield bill in a rematch with Tony Dowling but the Lincoln fighter pulled out a fortnight ago with a “back” injury. Browne was then paired with Paul Bonson in a four-threes matchup only for the Featherstone trier to ask for the fight to be cut to four-twos. Understandably, Team Browne wasn’t willing to comply and Denzil was left kicking his heels in frustration come fight night.
Browne remains optimistic that good fortune will come his way, however. The Central Area champion is on the verge of sealing a “significant fight” in September against an as yet unnamed opponent. Victory would put Browne in line for a tilt at former sparring partner Mark Hobson’s British and Commonwealth titles, a challenge he would dearly relish. “To tell you the truth the way he (Hobson) took care of Lee Swaby and Rob Norton really shocked me. He used to phone me up and ask me to spar with him and I would always hold back a little bit. But now he’s leapfrogged me and won both belts,” he reflected.
Despite Hobson’s rapid improvement Denzil still feels he’s got the double champion’s number. “If I was given proper notice, instead of say 2 weeks, I’d definitely fight him. I’m out there to beat him, David Haye would probably go out there and blitz him too. If you fight Mark Hobson you have to go out there and jump on him from the off – you can’t fight him going back. I said that to Lee Swaby before he fought him but his trainer thought they’d be better off boxing him and letting Hobson come forward. Mark looks good when you let him do that.”
Khan satisfied with Rasani victory
Rising Sheffield light-heavyweight prospect Ameer Khan is one to keep an eye on after he outscored former Commonwealth title challenger Hastings Rasani on the undercard. “I was very pleased to get the win over an experienced opponent in warm conditions,” said a victorious Khan.
Khan boxed sensibly behind his southpaw jab for the main and dropped Rasani with a straight left in round 2. “I think it was more a reflex punch from me that caught him,” the 23-year-old Ingle fighter acknowledged. “I’m a still a student. He (Rasani) is a former Zimbabwean national champion and a Commonwealth title challenger. Possibly this fight came 12-18 months early for me but I still did it and I won clearly,” said the now 7-0 prospect.
Ameer also revealed to British Eastside that he hurt his left hand early on against Rasani but thankfully it didn’t appear to be anything serious.
Vanzie determined to see it through to the end
Bradford’s Bobby Vanzie was in a more relaxed mood when British Eastside grabbed him for a brief chat. The Viperman was there to support rising prospect Femi Fehintola. Although still seething inside following his controversial points reverse to Graham Earl, The Viper is more determined than ever.
Bobby’s post-fight conduct has landed him a meeting with the British Boxing Board Of Control’s stewards on August 9 and the former British and Commonwealth champion stated that he will be attending to put forward his version of events. The next time Vanzie appears in a ring it is likely to be as a light-welterweight. “I was doing some serious skipping in the final week,” he admitted.
British Eastside wish Bobby well.