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Norwich boxer's new role
28 March 2006
Norwich boxer Sam Sexton has been drafted in to help British champion Matt Skelton prepare for the biggest British fight of the summer - and a possible world title shot.
Skelton, who lost on a split decision after 12 super-charged rounds with Danny Williams last month, called on Sexton to help him prepare for this weekend's Bethnal Green date with Suren Kalachyan.
And so impressed was Skelton that he wants Sexton, 21, as a sparring partner as he builds up to the big Manchester showdown with Commonwealth champion Williams in July - a rematch that could prove to be the domestic fight of the year.
“I was over the moon with the way he helped me prepare. I was more than pleased with what he offered,” said Skelton yesterday. “Sam is a very good young prospect and there are good signs. Clearly him and his trainer have taken things carefully and sensibly and are following the right path for him.
“He stood his ground with me, he has a good, quick jab and I was impressed with his movement. He's a big lad and he has good boxing skills.”
Sexton had four sparring sessions with Skelton at his Bedford base, including a bruising confrontation on Friday as former kick boxer Skelton brought his preparations to an end.
“It was a bit of a baptism of fire for him because I really worked him hard, but he stood up to it well,” added Skelton.
“I have asked him to come back, along with another couple of sparring partners, to help me prepare for the Williams fight so that we can mix it up a bit. For the big fights I like to get one round in against one partner and then another against someone different. It keeps me ready for whatever might come at me.
“Hopefully the experience will do Sam good as well. We don't forget people down here and if Sam gets himself a fight when I don't have any fight commitments or preparations of my own I will go and have a look and support him.”
Sexton will be involved in Skelton's build-up over a four-week period and should the Bedford-based boxer beat Williams on July 15, he is likely to earn himself a world title shot later this year possibly against Russia's WBA champion Nikolay Valuev.
Sexton may well have been back in the ring himself by the time he meets Skelton again, having been forced to miss a recent planned bout in Leicester because of a cold.
Although the Carl Moore-sponsored Sexton has just two professional fights on his CV - both wins - trainer Graham Everett sees the Skelton sparring sessions as hugely beneficial to his future.
“It was excellent for his boxing education,” said Everett. “Fighters over the years have always been able to learn so much as sparring partners - look at Larry Holmes, who was Muhammad Ali's sparring partner. It's where they learn their trade and pick up all the tricks.
“This was the toughest sparring Sam has had but he handled it well.
“Sam used his feet well and when Skelton stepped it up on Friday he really had a go back.
“Skelton spars like he fights - he's a brute in the ring but a gentleman outside of it and he was really impressed with the way Sam worked him - which is why he's going back in the summer.”
Skelton lost a split decision to Williams at the ExCeL Arena last month on the same night that Norwich boxer Jackson Williams took on the great British hope, Amir Khan.
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