By Mark Froggatt  

Following a six round annihilation at the hands of John Murray last June, Scott Lawton found himself in deep trouble.  With 33 years on the clock and a stumbling lightweight career, tough decisions had to be made.  Retire a talented and respected domestic fighter or roll the dice one last time in the hope of a glorious swansong?

Always the dreamer, Lawton decided he had unfinished business with boxing and made two of the biggest decisions of his career.  Firstly to drop down to super featherweight and most importantly, transfer his services to Hatton promotions.

Fast forward to the present day and the Stoke-on-Trent fighter is currently in training for his first assault on the vacant European title against Leva Kirakosyan at Stoke’s Fenton Manor - after knocking out Derry Matthews in an impressive first outing in the division in November.

A reality that Lawton finds a little too surreal to contemplate.  “I couldn’t believe it, I still can’t believe it,” he declared.  “It must have been a shock to the people around the boxing game but I tell you what, it was a bigger shock to me.  I was hoping for maybe an English title fight to try to get myself back in the mixer a little bit.  But after a good result in the Derry fight I got a call saying I had a European title fight.  And the even bigger thing was saying it’s going to be in Stoke so that was great for me and everyone who is a boxing fan in Stoke.”

Lawton has signed a five-fight deal with Hatton promotions and believes they are exactly what was needed to give him a new lease of life in the sport.  “To be honest I’ve never had a promoter that has been willing to back me,” revealed Lawton.

“I mean I have always sold a few tickets, they always wanted me on the show but they would always push the kids in the local area and I sort of got whatever else was left.  So I sat down with the Hatton’s and said I’m getting on a bit now, I want to fight for titles and I really want to win something good before I finish boxing.

“I told them I’m willing to fight anyone, anywhere in the country and they said if I have that attitude then they want to do something with me.  They have been true to their word as well.  I have always felt like I am helping promoters out but this time they are helping me out.  They have backed me 100% and I think you are going to see the benefits of that.”

He continued: “In my head I have always set my sights on winning a British title, nothing higher than that and I thought if I could do that then that would be like my world title.  I never dreamt in a million years that I would get an opportunity for a European title.  But now it has happened and I have got the Hatton’s who are backing me, I’m no longer just making up the numbers so it has been a massive boost to me and the lads in the gym.”

Coming into the fight, Lawton is confident he can conquer the Russian former European champion Kirakosyan, who is three years his senior and has not fought since August.  When questioned whether his opponent will be ring rusty, Lawton’s reply was bullish with an underlying tone of pure confidence.

“I certainly hope so,” stated Scott.  “To be honest I have been boxing now for 20 odd years without a rest, never had a year out so I am always in good shape.  Even at the start of training camps I can do 12 rounds sparring on my head.  So on fight night, if he does have a bit of ring rust I’m going to exploit it.  I don’t think he has been past six rounds in the last four years so in the latter rounds I am going to make him work twice as hard and try and turn the screw on him.

“I feel like I am good enough now so I just want to get in there and show people that I am a good super featherweight - I’m going to be European champion.”