John Keeton
Encyclopedia
John 'Buster' Keeton is a British
professional boxer fighting out of Sheffield
in England
, he competes in the cruiserweight division and is a former British cruiserweight champion and three time British title challenger.
, Bruce Scott
and Nicky Piper
. Following the Piper defeat on 7 July 1995, Keeton scored a run of five victories to earn a shot at the British title for the first time.
in Bethnal Green
on 11 May 1996. He earned another shot at the title on 16 December 2000, but lost once more, this time to Bruce Scott
in the sixth round at the Sheffield Arena. His final unsuccessful fight for the title came on 1 June 2006 against Mark Hobson
when the Commonwealth
belt was also on the line at the Barnsley Metrodome
. Success finally came Keeton's way on 20 October 2006, when the now vacant cruiserweight title was contested between himself and Lee Swaby
resulting in a seventh round win and the championship belt. He lost the belt in his very first defence against former champion Mark Hobson
on 29 September 2007, at the Hallam FM Arena
in Sheffield
.
and the WBF cruiserweight title against Jake Kilrain on 19 March 2003 in Slough
. He challenged unsuccessfully for the WBO Inter-continental title prior to winning it, losing to the undefeated Kelly Oliver on 11 October 1997. He travelled to Poland
to contest the WBC Youth World cruiserweight title on 11 June 2000 losing to Krzysztof Wlodarczyk
(and travelled to Canada
to challenge for the Commonwealth title losing to Troy Ross
on 19 March 2007.
in September 2007, Keeton took a break from the ring and only returned on 19 May 2009 to compete in the seventh Prizefighter tournament
featuring the cruiserweights at Earls Court Exhibition Centre
. He faced Bruce Scott
in the first round, Keeton scored a knock down and won on points over three rounds. In the semi-finals he met Dean Francis, the former European and two-weight British champion, knocking him out in the first round. The final of the tournament pitched Keeton against Ovill McKenzie
, who he lost to on points.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
professional boxer fighting out of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he competes in the cruiserweight division and is a former British cruiserweight champion and three time British title challenger.
Early professional career
Keeton had his first professional contest on 11 August 1993, scoring a stoppage win over Tony Colclough in Mansfield. For the first three years of his career Keeton's results were a mixture of victories and defeats losing to the likes of Julius FrancisJulius Francis
Julius Francis is a former British Heavyweight champion boxer - who participated in many noteworthy boxing matches in the 1990s and 2000s. In 2007 he also participated in a mixed martial arts bout....
, Bruce Scott
Bruce Scott
Bruce Craig Scott , Australian politician, has been a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1990, representing the Division of Maranoa, Queensland. He was born in Roma, Queensland, and was a wool and grain grower before entering politics...
and Nicky Piper
Nicky Piper
Nicky Piper MBE is a retired Welsh super middleweight and light heavyweight boxer from Ely, Cardiff. His career was at its peak in the 1990s becoming the Commonwealth Light-heavyweight champion in 1995. He was trained by Charlie Pearson and self managed...
. Following the Piper defeat on 7 July 1995, Keeton scored a run of five victories to earn a shot at the British title for the first time.
British challenger and champion
Keeton's first fight for the British title ended in failure, losing to Terry Dunstan in the first round of their meeting at the York HallYork Hall
The York Hall is a health and leisure centre and one of Britain's best known boxing venues.The venue is situated on Old Ford Road in Bethnal Green, London, England. The hall, opened in 1929 with a capacity of 1,200, stages boxing as well as providing a gymnasium and swimming pool.The hall is owned...
in Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
on 11 May 1996. He earned another shot at the title on 16 December 2000, but lost once more, this time to Bruce Scott
Bruce Scott
Bruce Craig Scott , Australian politician, has been a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1990, representing the Division of Maranoa, Queensland. He was born in Roma, Queensland, and was a wool and grain grower before entering politics...
in the sixth round at the Sheffield Arena. His final unsuccessful fight for the title came on 1 June 2006 against Mark Hobson
Mark Hobson (boxer)
Mark Hobson is a British former professional boxer fighting out of Huddersfield in England. He competed in the cruiserweight division and is a former British & Commonwealth cruiserweight champion and former world title challenger....
when the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
belt was also on the line at the Barnsley Metrodome
Barnsley Metrodome
The Barnsley Metrodome is one of the UK's premier sports facilities. It is located along Queens Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in England...
. Success finally came Keeton's way on 20 October 2006, when the now vacant cruiserweight title was contested between himself and Lee Swaby
Lee Swaby
Lee Swaby is a professional heavyweight boxer from Lincoln, Lincolnshire.-Professional career:Swaby began his sporting career as a kickboxer aged 14. He trained at the 'Still Kickboxing Gym' in Lincoln city. Swaby's trainer invited him to attend a trial to join the fighters class. This trial...
resulting in a seventh round win and the championship belt. He lost the belt in his very first defence against former champion Mark Hobson
Mark Hobson (boxer)
Mark Hobson is a British former professional boxer fighting out of Huddersfield in England. He competed in the cruiserweight division and is a former British & Commonwealth cruiserweight champion and former world title challenger....
on 29 September 2007, at the Hallam FM Arena
Hallam FM Arena
Motorpoint Arena Sheffield is an arena in Sheffield, England. It is situated near Rotherham, Sheffield City Centre, Attercliffe, Meadowhall and the Centertainment and is the premier concert venue for Yorkshire.The arena opened as Sheffield Arena and was renamed Hallam FM Arena, but returned to its...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
Title wins and challenges
In between his challenges for the British title, Keeton won a number of fringe title belts including the WBO Inter-continental cruiserweight title against Garry Delaney on 23 January 1999 in CheshuntCheshunt
Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station...
and the WBF cruiserweight title against Jake Kilrain on 19 March 2003 in Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
. He challenged unsuccessfully for the WBO Inter-continental title prior to winning it, losing to the undefeated Kelly Oliver on 11 October 1997. He travelled to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
to contest the WBC Youth World cruiserweight title on 11 June 2000 losing to Krzysztof Wlodarczyk
Krzysztof Wlodarczyk
Krzysztof "Diablo" Włodarczyk in Warsaw, Poland is a professional Polish boxer, the current WBC Cruiserweight World champion and the former IBF Cruiserweight World champion....
(and travelled to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to challenge for the Commonwealth title losing to Troy Ross
Troy Amos-Ross
Troy Amos-Ross is a Guyanese Canadian boxer, currently residing in Brampton, Ontario. He competed in the light heavyweight Troy Amos-Ross (born July 17, 1975 in Georgetown, Guyana) is a Guyanese Canadian boxer, currently residing in Brampton, Ontario. He competed in the light heavyweight Troy...
on 19 March 2007.
Prizefighter
After losing his British title to Mark HobsonMark Hobson (boxer)
Mark Hobson is a British former professional boxer fighting out of Huddersfield in England. He competed in the cruiserweight division and is a former British & Commonwealth cruiserweight champion and former world title challenger....
in September 2007, Keeton took a break from the ring and only returned on 19 May 2009 to compete in the seventh Prizefighter tournament
Prizefighter series
The Prizefighter series is a knock out boxing tournament created by boxing promoter Barry Hearn and aired on Sky Sports. The format has an initial eight fighters, who compete in four quarter-finals of 3 x 3 minute rounds followed by two semi-finals and one final all on the same night...
featuring the cruiserweights at Earls Court Exhibition Centre
Earls Court Exhibition Centre
The Earls Court Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre, conference and event venue located in west London, United Kingdom in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . It is the largest exhibition venue in central London. It is served by two underground stations, Earl's Court and West...
. He faced Bruce Scott
Bruce Scott
Bruce Craig Scott , Australian politician, has been a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1990, representing the Division of Maranoa, Queensland. He was born in Roma, Queensland, and was a wool and grain grower before entering politics...
in the first round, Keeton scored a knock down and won on points over three rounds. In the semi-finals he met Dean Francis, the former European and two-weight British champion, knocking him out in the first round. The final of the tournament pitched Keeton against Ovill McKenzie
Ovill McKenzie
Ovill McKenzie is a Jamaican professional boxer fighting out of Derby in England; he competes primarily in the light heavyweight division but has also fought at cruiserweight...
, who he lost to on points.