Burton boxer, Tom Shaw, insists his first defeat since turning professional was ‘just a blip’ and he is determined to bounce straight back when he fights in his hometown next month.
The 22 year-old had made the perfect start to his pro career, comfortably winning his first 8 fights. A ninth straight victory was expected when he faced Mark McKray on the undercard of Frankie Gavin’s successful British title defence at Walsall Town Hall last month. However, the London scrapper upset the form book by recording a first-round stoppage.
McKray floored Shaw twice and, with the Burton light welterweight in no position to continue, the fight was stopped with just one second of the opening round to go.
Since losing his perfect record, Shaw has had time to reflect and take the positives out of the defeat.
“I just got caught,” Shaw told www.uko-boxing.com . “It was an unorthodox shot and it caught me on the top of the head.
“That happens in boxing sometimes. I wasn’t out-classed or out-boxed, I got caught. It’s just a blip and I’ll learn from it.
“When you’re unbeaten, you don’t just think about your fight, you think about your record.
“It was nice having a perfect record but at least now I can just concentrate on my opponent rather than having that added pressure of maintaining an unbeaten record on my mind too.”
Shaw will be looking to return to winning ways when he fights at Burton Town Hall on Friday, 1st March. Derby’s Luke Gallear takes on Walsall’s Joel Ryan for the vacant Midlands Area Welterweight Title at the top of the bill with Shaw facing an as yet unnamed opponent on the undercard.
“I’m ready to get back in there,” he added. “Every fighter loses. It’s how you deal with it that counts. I’m going to come back stronger and as soon as I get a win under my belt, no one will be mentioning this loss.
“I could have gone hiding but I haven’t. I want to put that loss to bed and get my career back on track. I’ve got the opportunity to do that in front of my own fans in my hometown on 1st March. I’m looking forward to it.”
Also on the undercard is Dudley’ Kyle Spencer (4-0) versus Swadlincote’s Jimmy Price (0-0-1) and Tamworth’s Matt Seawright (3-69-4) against Exeter’s Faheem Khan (4-0-1).
Tickets for the Errol Johnson-Promoted Show are priced at £30 unreserved seating and £50 Ringside. They are available from Burton Town Hall Box Office on 0128 350 8547. Doors open at 7.00pm with boxing commencing at 8.00pm.
BOLTON TITLE TILT FOR BLACKPOOL’S JACK
Blackpool’s British champion Brian Rose may be the UK’s top light-middleweight, but another Fylde Coast fighter is hot on his heels.
Jack Arnfield gets his first shot at title glory, on a huge bill of North West boxing, when he clashes with Surrey’s Gary Boulden for the British Masters crown at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium on March 9.
Boulden, with just five defeats in 14 bouts, won’t be an easy night’s work for Arnfield, but the 23-year-old is convinced that this will be the start of a great 2013.
“I’ve seen a couple of videos and he [Boulden) is always fit and strong,” assessed Jack, who is undefeated in 15 with four KOs.
“He’s been 10 rounds with [British middleweight champion] Billy Joe Saunders so he’s tough and isn’t just going to fall over, but I’m confident I’ll outbox him and if the stoppage comes I’ll go for it.
“I’m massively excited and can’t wait. It’s my first time at the top of the bill; my first title fight and it’s in a good venue so it’s a great platform to get a good win.
“Anyone who’s put in front of me I’m confident I’ll beat at the moment. It’s all going good and hopefully this’ll be a big year for me.”
Jack, a former junior ABA winner and England international, has huge respect for ‘The Lion’, Rose.
The pair train together under the tutelage of renowned coach Bobby Rimmer and Arnfield has been delighted at his stable-mate’s rise to the top.
Now, with Brian potentially moving on to bigger things after winning the Lonsdale Belt outright, Jack is eyeing up pole position and wants to be the next ‘Seasider’ with the British belt around his waist.
“I’d take the English [title shot] tomorrow if it was offered to me, I’d snap it up straight away. There are a lot of fighters at the top who are eye-catching, and I’d be willing to fight any of them.
“Obviously Brian’s the number one in Britain, he’s proved himself and everyone that’s been put in front of him he’s out-boxed and beaten well.
“I’ve trained with Brian since we were amateurs, we’ve come through the pro ranks together and he’s done really well, and I’d love to follow in his footsteps and get that British title.”
“This show is a huge card and is going to be a great day of professional boxing for fans in the North West," stated promoter Steve Wood.
"At the moment we've got 15 fights on with guys from right across the region and they are all talented prospects.
“Most of the lads sell really well too which means the venue will be packed and a great atmosphere is guaranteed, and I would advise fans to get their tickets early so as not to miss out.
"We really do think Jack Arnfield can emulate his gym mate Brian Rose and go on and win a British title, but he's in for one of his toughest tests to date against Gary Boulden who we know is a really tough kid. It's going to be a real scrap but hopefully Jack will come through and we can push him onto a bigger title challenge immediately."
VIP Promotions’ ‘Road to Glory’, at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium on March 9, will be headlined by Jack Arnfield versus Gary Boulden for the British Masters light-middleweight title.
The stacked, quality undercard will feature fighters from every corner of the North West, including Middleton’s Warren Tansey; Liverpool’s Ryan Farrag; Preston’s Dean Halsall and Jack Catterall; Blackburn’s Kurt Grieve and Shaheed Ali; Denton’s Lyndon ‘Lights Out’ Newman and Callum Cooke; Bolton’s Daniel ‘The Phantom’ Watson and Paul Drago; Merseyside’s Wayne Adeniyi; Cumbria’s Rick Skelton; Darwen’s Stevie Taylor, and Lancaster’s Tomi Tatham.
Tickets, priced at £30 (General) and £50 (Ringside) are available from all boxers or at www.vipbe.co.uk
WILTON LEADING IRISH INVASION
LUKE WILTON wants Kevin Satchell to think he’s in the lion’s den despite being the away fighter when they clash later this month.
The Belfast slugger will be roared on by around 500 fans when he challenges for Satchell’s British flyweight title at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday 23rd February.
The battle of the little big men forms part of the undercard when David Price (15-0) boxes American double world title challenger Tony Thompson (36-3).
Scouser Satchell (9-0) will be a big favourite when he faces Wilton (13-2-1), who fancies to spring a huge upset.
Promoter Frank Maloney said: “The response from the Belfast fans has been remarkable and the first 300 tickets Luke took flew out of the window.
“I think Luke will have at least another 200 fans in the arena that will be looking to have a big weekend in Liverpool.
“Luke knows he cannot let his fans down and he will give Kevin all the trouble he can handle and more.”
Maloney has worked with 24-year-old Luke before but believes he has improved considerably.
The promoter recalled: “I can remember him losing a four rounder on one of my bills and wondered where he might go.
“But all credit to Luke who has shown through hard work and knuckling down you can get to the top.
“He has managed to win his last nine fights and deserves his chance against Satchell, who is one of the best young flyweights in the world.”
Another British title defence on the bill sees Darren Hamilton (12-2 makes the first defence of his light-welterweight title against another Liverpool fighter, Steve Williams (13-1).
Adil Anwar (18-1) who hopes to challenge the winner also boxes and Maloney hopes he will be involved in the fourth 12 rounder on the bill.
Others boxers on the bill include David Burke (26-2), Paul Edwards (9-2), Sean Dodd (4-0), Louis Cuddy (6-0), Neil Perkins (2-0), Steven Lewis (2-0), Andy Colquhoun (5-0) and Peter Gallagher (1-0).
Tickets can be purchased £230 (VIP including meal and inner ringside seat), £95 (Ringside), £70 and £40 at www.echoarena.com - www.frankmaloney.com or 0844 8000 400.
The show will be broadcast live by the home of boxing BoxNation (Sky 437/Virgin 546). Join now at www.boxnation.com. WealthTV will be broadcasting the card live in the United States.