Praise for Team Poxton after a performance of blood, sweat and smiles

Graham Everett has paid tribute to Craig Poxton and his trainer Matt Smith after the Lowestoft boxer was involved in another fight of the year contender.

The 28-year-old's hopes of European glory came to a bloody end against Lyon Woodstock, but the manner of his performance has again left him with many admirers in boxing circles.

Poxton suffered a terrible cut – which later needed 12 stitches – after a clash of heads midway through the second round of their WBO European super-featherweight title clash in Leeds.

But thanks to the expertise of cut man Mervyn Turner, Poxton was able to continue through 10 torrid rounds during which neither man gave an inch.

There was little in it at the end, with the judges scoring it 98-93, 97-95 and 97-93 in Woodstock's favour, but Poxton – who won the Southern Area super-featherweight title in a classic encounter with Boy Jones Jnr in February – came out with as much credit as the rising star from Leicester.

'It was a close, close, fight,' said manager Graham Everett, who was in the corner along with Turner, Poxton's head trainer Matt Smith and Jon Thaxton.

'Craig lives the life, he's a proper throwback boxer, like one of the men from the 70s – he gets up at 5am and runs on Lowestoft beach, he works as a roofer all day and then he's in the gym after work.

'He smiles when he gets into the ring, he smiles in the ring and he smiles when he leaves the ring – he has a great attitude. What you saw with Boy Jones and now with Lyon Woodstock are two absolute classic fights.

'I have to commend Matt Smith for the work he does with Craig because it is top drawer, it really is – Matt puts his heart and soul into Craig.

'Mervyn did a superb job with the cut as well – we were worried the doctor would stop it between rounds, but the cut was dealt with really well and we ended up with a fantastic fight.

'Everyone of us hates losing and we did believe it was a fight we would win – but if you are going to lose a fight, then lose one like that.

'Lyon Woodstock is a terrific young boxer and we wish him all the best – and if anyone didn't know of Craig Poxton a year ago, then they do now.'