Boxing: Lawton shock as title rival fails to make weight

The Sentinel13th June, 2009

SCOTT Lawton's second attempt to land the British lightweight title remains on course after defending champion John Murray dramatically failed to make the weight for their showdown at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan tonight.

Manchester brawler Murray lost his British title on the scales yesterday after weighing in above the 9st 9lbs championship limit.

In a desperate bid to make the weight, the 24-year-old tried to sweat off the excess, but on his final attempt was still 6oz overweight.

As a result the British Boxing Board of Control stripped him of his title.

Tonight's televised bout will go ahead as planned and Lawton, a two time English champion, will still claim his first Lonsdale belt if he emerges victorious.

But the Cellarhead fighter, who weighed in 2lbs under the limit yesterday, expects his rival to come out all guns blazing following his devastating setback. Lawton, aged 32, said: "Losing his title on the scales can't be very good for John's mind-set because he knows that even if he wins he has still lost his belt.

"But I believe he's going to be trying 110 per cent to hurt me because of what has happened. I'm expecting a war, but I'm going to put that out of my mind.

"Personally, I'm in the best condition I have ever been in. I've had good sparring partners in Terry Flanagan and Carl Place, who train up in Manchester, and everything is in place."

Lawton, who is part of the Impact boxing stable in Fenton, admits this will be his last chance to win major honours after failed attempts to grapple the British and Commonwealth crowns from Jon Thaxton and Amir Khan respectively.

That said, a more mature Lawton believes the time has finally arrived for him to join his beloved Stoke City in the big league.

He explained: "I'm completely different to how I was earlier in my career. I now see myself as a boxer, not a fighter.

"Earlier in my career I just wanted to go out there and knock people out. But I've learned the craft of boxing and I'm now boxing better than ever before.

"I feel I'm one of the best boxers in the country which I've shown in the gym loads of times, but I haven't always transferred that onto the big stage.

"But I think this is the best Scott Lawton people have ever seen."

Tonight's fight will be broadcast on ITV4, starting at 8pm.

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