Sam Sexton (born 18 July 1984) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2018. At regional level, he held multiple heavyweight championships, including the Commonwealth title from 2009 to 2010; the British title from 2017 to 2018; and won the Prizefighter series in 2008.

Sam Sexton
Sexton in 2015
Born (1984-07-18) 18 July 1984 (age 40)
Norwich, Norfolk, England
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights28
Wins24
Wins by KO9
Losses4

Professional career

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Early career

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Sexton started his professional career in September 2005, in his home town of Norwich when he defeated Paul Bonson over six rounds at Carrow Road. He ended up compiling a record of 7-0 before he was defeated by former ABA champion Derek Chisora at the York Hall. The referee stopped the fight with 26 seconds to go in the last round. A distraught Sexton said after the fight "Maybe the occasion got to me. I really don't know. I'll go back watch the fight probably have a week off. I'll be back straight. I just didn't feel myself, but I'm not one to make excuses. I boxed, I lost, that's just the way it is".[1]

Prizefighter champion

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On 12 September 2008, Sexton competed in the "Prizefighter" competition in Newcastle upon Tyne.[2] He defeated Pelé Reid in the quarter-final and Luke Simpkin in the semi-final, both by unanimous decision. Sexton then defeated Chris Burton in the final, the only boxer with an unbeaten professional record, the fight was stopped 2:10 into the third and final round.[3] Talking of his pride at winning the tournament and picking up the £25,000 top prize, Sexton said: "Winning this is by far my top moment in boxing. I've represented England and that was fantastic boxing for my country but this is something completely different...I don't think I'm far off a British title shot now and I will see what I get offered. Hopefully I will be boxing for the British title as soon as possible."[4]

Following the tournament Sexton returned to the ring in November in order to challenge for his first professional title belt, the Southern Area Championship. In the opposing corner, Colin Kenna was stopped in the 6th round to give Sexton his first professional belt.[5]

Commonwealth champion

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Sexton vs. Rogan

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Sexton fought Martin Rogan for his first defence of the Commonwealth heavyweight title, at the Odyssey, Belfast on 15 May 2009. Sexton defeated Rogan, handing him his first professional loss, after the doctor ruled that Rogan was unfit to continue in the 8th round due to a closed eye.[6]

Sexton vs. Rogan II

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On 6 November at the same venue, he stopped Rogan in a rematch to retain his title. Rogan's corner threw in the towel before the start of the 7th round, handing Sexton the win. Rogan cited a neck injury preventing him using his left arm when interviewed afterwards, as the reason for being pulled out by his corner.[7]

Sexton vs. Chisora II

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On 13 February 2010, Sexton was due to fight Danny Williams for the British title at Wembley Arena but had to pull out with a hand injury. The fight was rearranged for May but Sexton pulled out after his mother suffered a brain aneurysm and was replaced by Derek Chisora.[8] Sexton fought for the British title on 18 September, matched up against Derek Chisora. Sexton was stopped in the 9th round losing the second defence of his title.

Second British title challenge

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Sexton vs. Price

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On 19 May 2012, at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, Sexton was defeated by David Price by a fourth-round KO, in a fight for the vacant British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. The fight was ordered by the BBBofC on 9 February after Tyson Fury vacated in order to step up.[9] Price controlled the bout with his jab and distance, hurting Sexton badly whenever he connected. In the fourth round Price knocked Sexton out cold.[10]

British champion

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Sexton vs. Cornish

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On 6 October 2017, Sexton defeated Gary Cornish by unanimous decision and won the vacant British title at the Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh.[11]

Sexton vs. Fury

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On 14 February 2018, Hennessy Sports along with Infinitum announced that Sexton would make his first defence of the British heavyweight title at Macron Stadium's Premier Suite in Bolton on 12 May against Hughie Fury, live and exclusive on Channel 5. The bout would mark the first time in nearly seven years that the British title would be contested for on terrestrial TV. Speaking of the fight, Mick Hennessy said, "I'm delighted to bring the historic British Heavyweight Championship back to mainstream, free-to-air, television on Channel 5 where it will be seen by the biggest viewing audience possible due to their considerable reach and exposure. I can't believe that it will be nearly seven years since the British Heavyweight title was last seen on free-to-air in the UK on Channel 5." Fury started the fight moving around the ring throwing jabs and right hands. The movement looked to frustrate Sexton in round 3. Fury knocked Sexton down twice in the fight in dropping him in rounds 4 and 5. Fury won the British title defeating Sexton via TKO in round 5; Referee Terry O'Connor stopped the fight after Fury knocked Sexton down with a right hand in round 5. Sexton got back to his feet, but the referee stopped it anyway.[12][13][14] The fight peaked at 2.9 million viewers.[15]

Retirement

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Sexton retired from boxing in December 2019.[16]

Professional boxing record

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28 fights 24 wins 4 losses
By knockout 9 4
By decision 15 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
28 Loss 24–4 Hughie Fury TKO 5 (12), 2:03 12 May 2018 Whites Hotel, Bolton, England Lost British heavyweight title
27 Win 24–3 Gary Cornish UD 12 6 Oct 2017 Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland Won vacant British heavyweight title
26 Win 23–3 Hari Miles TKO 2 (6), 0:19 15 Jul 2016 The Halls, Norwich, England
25 Win 22–3 Peter Erdos TKO 4 (6), 0:47 4 Mar 2016 The Halls, Norwich, England
24 Win 21–3 Tomas Mrazek PTS 6 20 Nov 2015 The Halls, Norwich, England
23 Win 20–3 Kamil Sokolowski PTS 6 18 Sep 2015 The Halls, Norwich, England
22 Win 19–3 Larry Olubamiwo PTS 6 8 Mar 2014 Epic Centre, Norwich, England
21 Win 18–3 Jiri Svacina PTS 6 15 Jun 2013 Epic Centre, Norwich, England
20 Win 17–3 Tomas Mrazek PTS 6 22 Mar 2013 Epic Centre, Norwich, England
19 Win 16–3 Tayar Mehmed TKO 2, 1:10 10 Nov 2012 Norwich Showground, Norwich, England
18 Loss 15–3 David Price KO 4 (12), 2:07 19 May 2012 Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England For vacant British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles
17 Win 15–2 Larry Olubamiwo TD 5 (8) 13 Jan 2012 York Hall, London, England Points TD after Sexton cut from an accidental head clash
16 Win 14–2 Remigijus Ziausys PTS 6 14 Oct 2011 Millennium Hotel, London, England
15 Loss 13–2 Derek Chisora TKO 9 (12), 2:53 18 Sep 2010 LG Arena, Birmingham, England Lost Commonwealth heavyweight title;
For British heavyweight title
14 Win 13–1 Martin Rogan RTD 6 (12), 3:00 6 Nov 2009 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Retained Commonwealth heavyweight title
13 Win 12–1 Martin Rogan TKO 8 (12), 2:37 15 May 2009 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Won Commonwealth heavyweight title
12 Win 11–1 Colin Kenna TKO 6 (10), 1:16 21 Nov 2008 York Hall, London, England Won vacant Southern Area heavyweight title
11 Win 10–1 Chris Burton TKO 3 (3), 2:10 12 Sep 2008 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England Prizefighter: The Heavyweights II - Final
10 Win 9–1 Luke Simpkin UD 3 12 Sep 2008 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England Prizefighter: The Heavyweights II - Semi-final
9 Win 8–1 Pelé Reid UD 3 12 Sep 2008 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England Prizefighter: The Heavyweights II - Quarter-final
8 Loss 7–1 Derek Chisora TKO 6 (6), 2:34 14 Jun 2008 York Hall, London, England
7 Win 7–0 Darren Morgan PTS 6 12 Jan 2008 York Hall, London, England
6 Win 6–0 Luke Simpkin TKO 5 (6) 13 Oct 2007 York Hall, London, England
5 Win 5–0 Paul King PTS 6 16 Mar 2007 Norwich Showground, Norwich, England
4 Win 4–0 Lee Mountford TKO 2 (6) 15 Oct 2006 Mercy XS, Norwich, England
3 Win 3–0 István Kecskés PTS 4 12 May 2006 York Hall, London, England
2 Win 2–0 Jason Callum PTS 6 11 Dec 2005 Lava Ignite, Norwich, England
1 Win 1–0 Paul Bonson PTS 6 3 Sep 2005 Carrow Road, Norwich, England

References

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  1. ^ EDP24 | Warren keen to give Sexton chance for revenge
  2. ^ "Sexton eyes Prizefighter victory". BBC Sport. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  3. ^ "Chris Burton v Sam Sexton – LIVE!". The Northern Echo. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  4. ^ British Boxing.net | Sexton claims second prizefighter title Archived 15 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ EDP 24 | Victory for Sexton
  6. ^ "Rogan rocked by Sexton". Sky Sports. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  7. ^ BoxingNews365 > Sexton Retains Against Rogan Archived 24 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Sam Sexton withdraws from Danny Williams title fight
  9. ^ "David Price-Sam Sexton Ordered By Board For Fury's Title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Price With Deadly Sexton KO; Hamilton Shocks Theophane". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Gary Cornish v Sam Sexton: Scottish heavyweight's historic title bid ended". BBC Sport. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  12. ^ "SEXTON V FURY ON CHANNEL 5! PRESTIGIOUS BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BACK ON TERRESTRIAL TV! - Hennessy Sports". Hennessy Sports. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Hughie Fury to fight Sam Sexton for British heavyweight title in May". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Hughie Fury Drops, Stops Sam Sexton in Five For British Title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Hughie Fury vs. Sam Sexton Generates Big Rating". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  16. ^ Sam Sexton calls it a day - Eastern Daily Press
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Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Micky Steeds
Southern Area
heavyweight champion

21 November 2008 – May 2009
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Larry Olubamiwo
Preceded by Commonwealth
heavyweight champion

15 May 2009 – 18 September 2010
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Dillian Whyte
British heavyweight champion
6 October 2017 – 12 May 2018
Succeeded by
Honorary boxing titles
Previous:
Martin Rogan
Prizefighter 2: heavyweight
tournament champion

12 September 2008
Next:
Audley Harrison