Meager Means Business

Lee Meager is putting friendship aside when he takes on John Murray for the vacant British Lightweight Title at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan on Friday 11th July 2008 on a Hennessy Sports in association with GoldenPalace.net event. The two Manchester lightweights are part of the same Hennessy Sports stable and know each other from numerous sparring sessions together. The sparring sessions have been described as being explosive but former British champion Meager is not reading too much into them ahead of his much-anticipated showdown with unbeaten Murray, the English champion. Salford-born Meager lost the British Title in his first defence on points after an epic encounter with Jon Thaxton in 2006 and believes victory over Murray will get him back to the level he was at a few years ago. "Me and John might be good mates and we know each other well after the sparring sessions, but it will be strictly business on the night," said Lee, who was crowned British champion in 2006 after his exciting stoppage of Dave Stewart. "I know what to expect from John in a way because we have sparred with each other, but I’m not taking those sparring sessions too seriously. "Sparring is nothing like the real thing where you are a different weight and wear different gloves. So I’m treating those sparring sessions with a pinch of salt. "But I’m expecting a tough fight and I know he is a good hooker. "The Thaxton defeat took a while to get over but this is a great opportunity for me to make something of my career."