It’s been a cracking year for British boxing fans – there have been so many sensational domestic battles, Mitchell-Murray, Fury-Chisora, McDonnell-Hall and Walsh-Appleby being amongst the very best to date – and it’s just about to get even better, as on the 21st of this month Streatham’s hugely popular, all action, Cruiserweight prospect Leon ‘Solid’ Williams challenges savvy former WBU World and current British and Commonwealth Champ Rob Norton for his British crown at York Hall in Bethnal Green.
It’s the contrast in styles – Norton, often described as a cagey counter-punching fox, is an awkward southpaw, whilst Williams is a fast moving, forward coming, power puncher, right out of the the ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson mould – that makes this fight such a mouth watering, and potential ‘Fight of the Year’, prospect.
Williams, the current Southern Area Cruiserweight Champ, is renowned for his raw talent and a fully loaded arsenal of bone breaking punches. However, whilst clearly always a talented and tough fighter, it wasn’t until he linked up with TRAD TKO supremo Johnny Eames that this rough diamond was polished into a fully rounded boxer with a newly acquired knock out reputation – just two stoppages in eight bouts previously but two sensational knockout finishes out of three starts since.
On paper Williams may seem to be the underdog – having won just eight of his eleven outings, during which he only defended his Southern Area title just the once. Whilst Norton, whose record stands at 32 (19 KO)-4-2, has contested nine championship title fights including two at World level – but It’s this brutal power, plus the much improved ring craft the venerable Mr. Eames has worked so hard on, that will test Norton to the hilt.
Having guided various of his charges to British, Commonwealth and World titles over the years, Johnny Eames knows what it takes to achieve Championship success. As such it comes as no surprise that when he recently spoke of the upcoming British title clash he appears confident that Williams will bring the Lonsdale belt home to South London. “First I want to thank Francis and George Warren, as well as Frank Warren and Dean Powell, for making this fight possible.
At first I was in the belief that a British title fight might be a little too soon for us, but now I think this is a very good fight for us to take.
The improvement in Leon is immense since he’s been with us, so this could well be the right fight at the right time, and is an opportunity we couldn’t turn away.
Also being on the new BoxNation TV channel, live, at this stage is a good opportunity for Leon and I’m sure that he will grab it with both hands.”
Leon ‘Solid’ Williams versus Rob Norton for the British Cruiserweight Championship headlines the Francis and George Warren’s Queensberry Promotions event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, and broadcast live on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456), on Friday the 21st October 2011.
Heading up the support card for this battle of the big boys will pitch Cromer, Norfolk’s Ryan Walsh against Melsham, Wiltshire’s Liam Richards for the vacant English Super Bantamweight title.
The stacked undercard also features the UK debut of unbeaten Irishman Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne, Penge’s unbeaten Welterweight Bradley Skeet, Stanford-le-Hope’s hugely popular Stetson wearing John Wayne Hibbert, Croydon Light Welter Danny Davis and the debut of Peckham Welterweight John Garton, all against yet to be named opponents.
Tickets, priced £40 (standard seated) and £60 (ringside) for Williams vs. Norton are available now, either direct from Leon Williams – tickets are also be available at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA and on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com
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