Sam Sexton


Sam Sexton is a British professional boxer. At regional level he has held multiple heavyweight titles, including the Commonwealth title from 2009 to 2010, the British title from 2017 to 2018, and won the Prizefighter series in 2008.

Professional career

Early career

Sexton started his professional career in September 2005, in his home town of Norwich when he defeated Paul Bonson over six rounds at Carrow Road. He ended up compiling a record of 7-0 before he was defeated by former ABA champion Dereck Chisora at the York Hall. The referee stopped the fight with 26 seconds to go in the last round. A distraught Sexton said after the fight "Maybe the occasion got to me. I really don't know. I'll go back watch the fight probably have a week off. I'll be back straight. I just didn't feel myself, but I'm not one to make excuses. I boxed, I lost, that's just the way it is".

Prizefighter champion

On 12 September 2008, Sexton competed in the "Prizefighter" competition in Newcastle upon Tyne. He defeated Pelé Reid in the quarter-final and Luke Simpkin in the semi-final, both by unanimous decision. Sexton then defeated Chris Burton in the final, the only boxer with an unbeaten professional record, the fight was stopped 2:10 into the third and final round. Talking of his pride at winning the tournament and picking up the £25,000 top prize, Sexton said: "Winning this is by far my top moment in boxing. I've represented England and that was fantastic boxing for my country but this is something completely different...I don’t think I’m far off a British title shot now and I will see what I get offered. Hopefully I will be boxing for the British title as soon as possible."
Following the tournament Sexton returned to the ring in November in order to challenge for his first professional title belt, the Southern Area Championship. In the opposing corner, Colin Kenna was stopped in the 6th round to give Sexton his first professional belt.

Commonwealth heavyweight champion

Sexton fought Martin Rogan for his first defence of the Commonwealth heavyweight title, at the Odyssey, Belfast on 15 May 2009. Sexton defeated Rogan, handing him his first professional loss, after the doctor ruled that Rogan was unfit to continue in the 8th round due to a closed eye.
On 6 November at the same venue, he stopped Rogan in a rematch to retain his title. Rogan's corner threw in the towel before the start of the 7th round, handing Sexton the win. Rogan cited a neck injury preventing him using his left arm when interviewed afterwards, as the reason for being pulled out by his corner. On 13 February 2010, Sexton was due to fight Danny Williams for the British title at Wembley Arena but had to pull out with a hand injury. The fight was rearranged for May but Sexton pulled out after his mother suffered a brain aneurysm and was replaced by Dereck Chisora. Sexton fought for the British title on 18 September, matched up against Dereck Chisora. Sexton was stopped in the 9th round losing the second defence of his title.

British heavyweight champion

On 6 October 2017, Sexton defeated Gary Cornish by unanimous decision and won the vacant British title at the Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh.
On 14 February 2018, Hennessy Sports along with Infinitum announced that Sexton would make his first defence of the British heavyweight title at Macron Stadium's Premier Suite in Bolton on 12 May against Hughie Fury, live and exclusive on Channel 5. The bout would mark the first time in nearly seven years that the British title would be contested for on terrestrial TV. Speaking of the fight, Mick Hennessy said, "I’m delighted to bring the historic British Heavyweight Championship back to mainstream, free-to-air, television on Channel 5 where it will be seen by the biggest viewing audience possible due to their considerable reach and exposure. I can’t believe that it will be nearly seven years since the British Heavyweight title was last seen on free-to-air in the UK on Channel 5." Fury started the fight moving around the ring throwing jabs and right hands. The movement looked to frustrate Sexton in round 3. Fury knocked Sexton down twice in the fight in dropping him in rounds 4 and 5. Fury won the British title defeating Sexton via TKO in round 5; Referee Terry O’Connor stopped the fight after Fury knocked Sexton down with a right hand in round 5. Sexton got back to his feet, but the referee stopped it anyway. The fight peaked at 2.9 million viewers.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
28Loss24–4 Hughie FuryTKO5, 2:0312 May 2018 Whites Hotel, Bolton, EnglandLost British heavyweight title
27Win24–3 Gary CornishUD126 Oct 2017 Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, ScotlandWon vacant British heavyweight title
26Win23–3 Hari MilesTKO2, 0:1915 Jul 2016 The Halls, Norwich, England
25Win22–3 Peter ErdosTKO4, 0:474 Mar 2016 The Halls, Norwich, England
24Win21–3 Tomas MrazekPTS620 Nov 2015 The Halls, Norwich, England
23Win20–3 Kamil SokolowskiPTS618 Sep 2015 The Halls, Norwich, England
22Win19–3 Larry OlubamiwoPTS68 Mar 2014 Epic TV Studios, Norwich, England
21Win18–3 Jiri SvacinaPTS615 Jun 2013 Epic TV Studios, Norwich, England
20Win17–3 Tomas MrazekPTS622 Mar 2013 Epic TV Studios, Norwich, England
19Win16–3 Tayar MehmedTKO2, 1:1010 Nov 2012 Norfolk Showground, Norwich, England
18Loss15–3 David Price4, 2:0719 May 2012 Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, EnglandFor vacant British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles
17Win15–2 Larry Olubamiwo5 13 Jan 2012 York Hall, London, EnglandPoints TD after Sexton cut from accidental head clash
16Win14–2 Remigijus ZiausysPTS614 Oct 2011 Millennium Hotel Mayfair, London, England
15Loss13–2 Dereck ChisoraTKO9, 2:5318 Sep 2010 LG Arena, Birmingham, EnglandLost Commonwealth heavyweight title;
For British heavyweight title
14Win13–1 Martin Rogan6, 3:006 Nov 2009 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained Commonwealth heavyweight title
13Win12–1 Martin RoganTKO8, 2:3715 May 2009 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern IrelandWon Commonwealth heavyweight title
12Win11–1 Colin KennaTKO6, 1:1621 Nov 2008 York Hall, London, EnglandWon vacant Southern Area heavyweight title
11Win10–1 Chris BurtonTKO3, 2:1012 Sep 2008 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, EnglandPrizefighter: The Heavyweights II - Final
10Win9–1 Luke SimpkinUD312 Sep 2008 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, EnglandPrizefighter: The Heavyweights II - Semi-final
9Win8–1 Pelé Reid312 Sep 2008 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England - Quarter-final
8Loss7–1 Dereck ChisoraTKO6, 2:3414 Jun 2008 York Hall, London, England
7Win7–0 Darren MorganPTS612 Jan 2008 York Hall, London, England
6Win6–0 Luke SimpkinTKO5 13 Oct 2007 York Hall, London, England
5Win5–0 Paul KingPTS616 Mar 2007 Norfolk Showground, Norwich, England
4Win4–0 Lee Mountford2 15 Oct 2006 Mercy XS, Norwich, England
3Win3–0 István KecskésPTS412 May 2006 York Hall, London, England
2Win2–0 Jason CallumPTS611 Dec 2005 Lava Ignite, Norwich, England
1Win1–0 Paul Bronson63 Sep 2005 Carrow Road, Norwich, England