Home zone gets Graham fired up (From York Press)

Home zone gets Graham fired up

11:14am Saturday 26th September 2009 in Sport By Tony Kelly, Deputy sports editor

HARD-HITTING home service is the motivation for boxer Graham Fearn as he nears his dream of fighting as a professional in his home city of York.

Big-time boxing returns to the medieval city for the first time in more than a decade when upcoming pro Harry ‘the Pocklington Rocket’ Matthews hosts a night of contests featuring several home-grown fighters at Oaklands Leisure Centre on Saturday, October 17.

As part of the five-bout bill will be an appearance by light-welterweight Fearn, who only turned pro just over a year ago at the ripe bold age of 33.

At the outset of entering the paid ranks the man, who works on the Aero chocolate bubble bar production line at Nestlé Rowntree, said his career would be short and explosive.

And he promises to detonate a superb outing when he gets to realise the dream of fighting as a professional in York, where he has previously twice boxed in an illustrious amateur career spanning almost two decades.

Said Fearn: “It’s a dream come true for me to be able to box as a pro in my home city of York. It’s an honour and I take my hat off to Harry Matthews for getting this show together. I’d also like to thank him for getting me on the card and enabling me to achieve my dream.”

So determined was Fearn to make the bill that he turned down a more lucrative cash offer to box this weekend on the under-card of the world super-bantamweight championship contest between title-holder Bernard Dunne and Thai opponent Poonsawat Kratengdaengym in Dublin.

“I was due to fight Oisin Fagan, who has been in with Amir Khan, but I want to fight in York, so the Harry Matthews bill is just right for me,” said Fearn, who combines rigorous training sessions in York and Leeds with his job involving 12-hour Continental shifts at Nestlé.

Fearn, whose last outing was a loss to world-rated Frankie Gavin at Manchester’s MEN Arena last month, was determined that his York pro debut against an opponent yet to be confirmed, would advance him on his ambition to bag a Central Area title before he quits the ring.

Aware that at the age of 34 he is more susceptible to taking punishment, Fearn revealed he would quit the pro game should he lose in three weeks’ time at Oaklands.

“I have found just how hard and ruthless the pro game is especially with the job I have to do, but my intention is to make sure that I cap my pro baptism in York with victory,” said the New Earswick-based ring warrior.

“My days as a pro are not going to be long, I’ve always said that, but I am passionate and committed about winning this next fight in my home city.”

Anyone interested in buying tickets for the Oaklands show can phone Fearn on 07923 670919.