As first defences go, you'd be forgiven for thinking the preparation for this fight might have been trickier than the fight itself. Norwich boxer Jon Thaxton's training started a couple of months ago, with Hungarian Laszlo Bognar the target. Bognar pulled out following a training injury five weeks before fight night, but there was plenty of time to arrange an alternative opponent. Eduardo Roman stepped up to the plate, only to pull out at the last minute leaving Thaxton's promoter Neil Featherby with just four days to bring in a replacement. Luckily former Romanian Light Welterweight champion Vasile Dragomir was in training, and on standby. Dragomir was closer to home than Thaxton is likely to find again in the lightweight division. Like Thaxton, he's made the move down a division and similarly he's known as a big hitter, which could have proved a problem for the former Sprowston High School pupil. In the first round there was little sign of the frantic eagerness to land the killer blow that was seen in Thaxton's original title bout at the Sports Village in April as both fighters began patiently, testing one another's game.  | | Dragomir goes on the defensive |
Thaxton started round two in more like his full flow, but Dragomir was quick to respond, and by the end of the round Jono was sporting a cut beneath his right eye, scoring the round was probably about even. If the cut wasn't a wake-up call for Thaxton, the third round was. More direct hits from the Romanian caused the treated cut to re-open, and Thaxton had little choice by the start of the fourth but to try to open up on his opponent. He did it in some style. Seven seconds after the bell Dragomir was on the floor. In almost a carbon copy of his April title win, it took just one blow, a right hook to the chin, to end the challenger's hopes. There was no repeat of the broken nose suffered by Christophe de Busillet, but the result was the same. The referee had no choice, despite the Romanian's protests, but to stop the fight as Dragomir stumbled to his feet. Thaxton was pleased with his performance. "I thought I boxed well to be honest, I boxed him, I jabbed him, I did swing and miss a couple of times, but what would a Thaxton fight be without that," he said. Jono admits that from now on he'll have to take his show on the road if he's to go in search of further titles. Bigger names may be wary of his punching power, but that doesn't bother him. "I've never ducked anybody in my career and I never will, and from now on for me it's a case of have gloves, will travel," he said.  | | Sam Sexton made a steaming debut |
As for the rest of the local fighters on the bill, all were successful. Jackson Williams and Steve Russell both made successful returns to the big stage, winning on points, while fledgling pros Danny McIntosh and Sam Sexton, the latter making his debut, were also points winners over experienced opposition. Danny Smith is the man to watch from this part of the world, with Thaxton now likely to be on his travels. The Lowestoft Middleweight had a change of opponent, but still stopped Domville Hendrix in the fifth round. At 25 years old, now is the perfect time for Smith to push on and look for title fights. | 
