Trainer urges Lowestoft fans to back their man as Craig Poxton returns to ring

Poxton, the Southern Area super-featherweight champion, hasn't fought since his epic European title defeat to Leon Woodstock last October.

It was the second time in 2017 that Poxton had been through a torrid title fight, having won the Southern Area super-featherweight title against Boy Jones Jnr in an upset win in February.

Both fights earned the 29-year-old national acclaim, but he suffered a terrible cut – which later needed 12 stitches – after a clash of heads midway through the second round against Woodstock.

That has now healed and it's time for Poxton to get back into the ring, beginning on a dinner show in Norwich tonight.

'This is a fight to get Craig back in action,' said trainer Graham Everett.

'He had those cuts and he needed a bit of time out.

'Craig runs his own roofing business as well as being a professional boxer, so it is not all plain sailing for him. He works with (trainer) Matt Smith who does a great job with him.

'He is running on the beach in the morning, working all day then going to the gym straight after - it is a tough cycle.

'Craig is a throwback to the old fighters.

'He deserves to showcase his skills in front of his own people and it would be great for everyone in the town to get behind him and come out and support him.'

Poxton has perhaps surprised a few observers with those two big performances in 2017, and the local shows are that vital part of the cog when a pro has his own big following as he attempts championship fights - just as Sam Sexton proved a fortnight ago when he faced Hughie Fury in front of a Bolton crowd which included a huge numbers of Sexton fans.

'Everyone saw what happened with sam,' added Everett.

'That is what you can do when you build someone, get the crowd - he was watched by 2.9m people on TV as well.

'This is what we want to do with every single fighter we have. Some we can, some we can't, but at least we are doing home shows and giving fighters a chance.'