Rising star Lawton’s home city surprise
Lewis Lawton on the huge Kings Hall show. Pic: Queensberry Promotions
LEWIS Lawton is a second-generation boxer who has all the tools to make it right to the top, writes PAUL WEBB.
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 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. Lewis 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.
Lewis 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. 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 it opened in 2014, and Lewis feels very much at home there.
He said: “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 UK, Frank Warren. Queensbury have the best heavyweights and a lot of their stable I boxed with when I was competing as an amateur. 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.
“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. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to do so. I want to box as often as possible on the biggest shows - that's the plan for the rest of this year.”