Deano checks on fight offers

11:47am Friday 20th June 2008

DEAN Francis' swash-buckling victory over Tony Oakey, to win the British title, has meant his phone has not stopped ringing.

The Basingstoke-born boxer produced one of the fights of his life on Friday night as he came back after early punishment to beat the local hero at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth.

The light-heavyweight bout was screened live on Sky Sports 2 and viewers were able to see Oakey sent to the canvas for the first time in his career.

The Pompey fighter got to his feet but, moments later, after a flurry of Francis punches, the fight was stopped by the referee in the ninth round.

The new champion said: "This has proved to be a massive victory for me. I have had plenty of offers and, by the end of this week, I think a decision will be made on my next opponent.

"I would hope my next fight is in September as I think the six-month lay-off before the Oakey fight did not help me. I will be going back to the gym in a couple of weeks, looking to be ready for a quick return to the ring."

The fighter, trained by his father Trevor Francis, is keen to defend his British title three times so that he can keep the Lonsdale belt.

He said: "I want to defend my British title and build up a bigger fan base, so that I can take an army of fans like Ricky Hatton did when he went to Las Vegas for his world title fight.

"That is the ultimate aim, but I would be happy to have a shot at the European title first."

That is currently held by Ukrainian Yuri Barashian, who will fight for the vacant WBA world crown against Hugi Garay, of Argentina, in Buenos Aires on Thursday, July 3.

Victory for the eastern European fighter is likely to see him give up his European crown and that would make Francis a strong contender for that belt.

Reflecting on his victory over Oakey on Friday, the Basingstoke boxer feels his British title is a much bigger achievement than 11 years ago when he last won a British crown.

The win also saw him retain his Commonwealth title, which he put on the line for the bout.

Francis said: "This means so much more to me now I can appreciate what I have done.

"In my head on Friday I always felt I would win, but I did feel a little sorry for myself after I cut early on.

"I think that made me lose concentration, but after that I felt I was the better fighter."

After his previous win over Michael Gbenga, he was criticised for being afraid to throw his right.

This time the new British champion showed he can fight with both hands.

He added: "I think I have proved to everyone that my right arm is now okay and I am looking forward to my next fight."