Hosea Burton: ‘I wanted to save the show against Bob Ajisafe’

Hosea Burton

WITH Saturday’s vacant Commonwealth title fight between Leedsโ€™ Bob Ajisafe and Daniel Wanyonyi falling through, after the Kenyan had visa problems, Hosea Burton was offered the chance to step in as a late replacement.

But Ajisafe, who will still appear on the April 11 bill in Leeds, took to Twitter to point out he didnโ€™t want a change of opponent at such short notice for the title fight. That show has also seen Chris Jenkins forced to withdraw from his British light-welterweight title fight through illness.

Burton, who boxed in a four-rounder the previous weekend, could only lament missing a breakthrough opportunity. โ€œIโ€™d love to fight him for that,โ€ Burton said. โ€œNot many people really want to box me. I was a decent amateur and I am a decent pro.โ€

Hosea continued, โ€œIโ€™m trying to make a show. Josh Warringtonโ€™s your main event, Bob Ajisafe chief support. Iโ€™m trying to make a show.

โ€œHeโ€™s got nothing to lose, heโ€™s a Commonwealth title to gain by fighting meโ€ฆ Iโ€™m so disappointed because this would have been one of those upset fights where people didnโ€™t expect me to win because I havenโ€™t done the distance before, I havenโ€™t boxed big names before.

โ€œThere are people I donโ€™t want to fight, Callum Johnson, a stablemate, Travis Dickinson, Iโ€™ve known him all my life, heโ€™s been a friend all my life since being three or four years old Iโ€™ve known Travis. Other than that Iโ€™d love to fight anybody there, any light-heavyweight that wants to put a pair of gloves on with me, theyโ€™re more than welcome, I will accommodate anybody. Iโ€™m just disappointed heโ€™s turned it down.

โ€œIโ€™ve done one eight rounder before, against a mediocre Frenchmanโ€ฆ He should be rubbing his hands together thinking, โ€˜Yes, Iโ€™ve got Hosea Burton. He hasnโ€™t done much, he hasnโ€™t proved himself, heโ€™s not this, heโ€™s not that.โ€™

โ€œBut I think this has opened doors for me now, seeing as Iโ€™ve took the fight and Iโ€™ve said yes to it. People in boxing should be saying, โ€˜Heโ€™s tried to save the show, heโ€™s shown that he will fight, letโ€™s get him a fight.โ€™ Iโ€™m ready for titles now.โ€

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