LEWIS Lawton is a second-generation boxer who has all the tools to make it right to the top of the sport.
After signing a promotional deal with powerhouse Queensbury and debuting at the Echo Arena, he thought a chance to box in his home city of Stoke-on-Trent could be unlikely.
But now he gets that chance on July 26 when he boxes on the undercard of Nathan Heaney’s homecoming show at the Kings Hall.
The 21-year-old super welterweight was an outstanding amateur, a journey which culminated in him winning the prestigious Haringey Box Cup in 2024 and made his professional debut in March this year, blowing away the normally durable Estonian Artjom Spatar inside a round.
It was a sparkling start to life in the paid ranks and has increased the already high expectations on the young talent.
Lawton said: “I didn’t really get a chance to show what I can do, as it was over so quickly, but getting a stoppage on your debut on a huge show is all that you can really hope for.
“There were a few nerves on the walk in, but I had watched him box before, and I knew he would leave gaps and throw back, so I just had to pick my shots. He had been in with a few Queensbury-signed fighters and had gone the distance with them, so to get him out in the first round, I was happy with it.”
Lawton trains at the Impact Community Gym in Longton under coach and father Scott, a former two-time English lightweight champion and British title challenger.
The close-knit gym has grown considerably since its opening in 2014, and Lewis feels very much at home there.
He added: “I’m lucky in a way because I have always sparred with pros at the gym, so even as an amateur, I got plenty of preparation with the sort of boxers I will be facing now. After winning the Haringey Box Cup, it was a quick decision to turn over and sign with someone who I think is the best promoter in the U.K., Frank Warren.
“Queensbury have the best heavyweights, and a lot of their stable I boxed with when I was competing as an amateur, and now we are together again. For this fight I’m boxing a southpaw, so I have been to the BCB gym and got in rounds with two of the best southpaws in the country, Tyler Denny and Elliot Whale.
“On working with my dad, It’s simple for me; I just listen to everything he says, and it’s easy to take his advice and coaching because he has been there and done it himself. There are a lot of good coaches, but he has been in the ring and just knows what it takes.
“For this fight I have added a strength and conditioning coach who’s looking after my nutrition, and it’s important to do this early on and not just when I get to championship level.”
“Getting this chance to box in Stoke was a really welcome surprise, and it’s something I thought might never happen, definitely not so soon, as you don’t get arena shows here, so I’m really grateful for the opportunity to do so. I want to box as often as possible on the biggest shows, and that’s the plan for the rest of this year.”
The main event of the sold-out show sees Nathan Heaney face Grant Dennis. The undercard sees a potential classic for the English Welterweight Title between Ben Vaughan and Bobby Dalton; unbeaten duo Ollie Cooper and Levi Vaughan are in action along with Connor Parker and Shauna Browne. All tickets have sold out, but you can join the waiting list for any returns by emailing info@bcb-promotions.
