British champion Rob Norton has warned challenger Leon Williams that his talk will only increase the distance he'll have to fall after defeat.The mallet-handed Stourbridge cruiserweight, having his first outing since January 2010, can earn the Lonsdale Belt outright if he can successfully make the third defence of his crown, against capital-based puncher Williams, tonight [Friday, October 21] at York Hall.
BoxNation televise the Queensbury Promotions-promoted 12-rounder.
Williams, 12 years younger at 27 and with a patchy paid ledger of 8-3 (4), is hungry, a banger, an improved all-round boxer since a link-up with respected Johnny Eames and, possibly more importantly, hungry.
He's had seven fights in the time Norton's been inactive [including an early stoppage win over Nottingham's ex-Midland Area champion Tyrone Wright] and though on a two-fight winning streak - both quickly - the Southern Area boss has been shut-out by dangerous Brummie journeyman Hastings Rasani, lost in Prizefighter to Jon Lewis Dickinson and knocked out in two by heavy-handed if crude Rik Turba earlier this year.
So he's taking a huge step up against an awkward former English, Commonwealth and WBU champion with only four defeats in 38 [32 wins, 19 early, and two draws] paid contests.
Though inactive for 21 months, Rob always keeps himself in decent nick and finally won the sought-after British title in 2008, outpointing Mickey Steeds over 12 neat-boxing rounds. He added the Commonwealth strap to his collection with a points nod over David Dolan in an up-and-down war in 2009 - holding onto both belts with a draw in the rematch 11 months later.
On top of that experience, his southpaw-leading stance is effective, if awkward and not easy to watch at times, and he swings through the heavy left back hand from around his waist. Only well-schooled men like Mark Hobson, Seb Rothmann [who stopped him], Darren Corbett [controversially] and Enad Licina have been able to solve the conundrum.
Yet the bullet-domed West Midlander has endured a career that's been blighted by long absences from the ring and there's a school of thought that if he can turn away the challenge of the Streatham boxer, who has claimed the champion is "over the hill, ready for the taking and will be crushed", then the 39-year-old will call it a day.
"He's talked a lot and that's something he's been doing a lot since he turned pro," said Dudley-born Norton, who has sparred with heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko in the past, ahead of his 36-minute scrap in Bethnal Green.
"But at the end of the day talk is just that - talk. I don't disrespect anyone but he hasn't backed a lot of what he's said up and not beaten anyone of note, really.
"I'll have too much for him," added the Black Country banger.
At yesterday's weigh-in Norton tipped the scales at 14st 3lbs; Williams 13st 3lbs.
No comments:
Post a Comment