The first half a sporting double for the South Coast city of Portsmouth, England became a reality this weekend at Wembley Stadium when Portsmouth defeated Cardiff City 1-0 to win the FA Cup. Now, light heavyweight Tony Oakey has to keep his side of the bargain by keeping his British title when he meets Commonwealth champion Dean Francis on Friday, June 13 at Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Sports Centre..
Oakey will make a personal plea with the Portsmouth football club to have the FA Cup on show on June 13 to give him extra incentive to beat Francis. The atmosphere at the Mountbatten Centre will be as electrifying as it was in Wembley Stadium when Portsmouth turned back Cardiff City with both fighters being propelled on by their vocal supporters.
This is Oakey’s first appearance in his hometown in over three years and the 32 year old will be looking to erase the memory of a disastrous night at the Mountbatten Center in 2003 when he lost his WBU title to Matthew Barney.
Oakey’s career went into freefall following the Barney fight but the Portsmouth man has since regrouped, rebuilding his career under trainer Johnny Eames while re-signing with his former manager, now promoter, Frank Maloney.
Oakey’s drive and ambition is to add the European belt before the end of 2008 as that is one of the few titles that he has not yet held during his ten year professional career.
“I couldn’t be at Wembley Stadium to watch Portsmouth win the FA Cup due to my training schedule,” said Oakey, 25-2-1 (7). “I also can’t be at Manchester next week to see the homecoming of my friend Ricky Hatton but I’m hoping to have both the FA Cup and Ricky Hatton ringside when I fight on June 13.”
A former European and British champion at super middleweight, Dean Francis, 29-3 (23), remains a very dangerous puncher as he has recently knocked out opponents at both cruiserweight and light heavy.
“I intend to put Oakey into retirement”, said Francis. “I will show the British boxing public that this is the second coming of my career.”
Frank Maloney Promotions presents the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight title fight between champion Tony Oakey and challenger Dean Francis on Friday, June 13 at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth, England. Tickets are priced at £80 and £40 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508. Sky Sports will televise.