Lenny Daws
Encyclopedia
Lenny Daws is a professional boxer
, fighting out of Morden
, England. He is a former two time British light welterweight champion and a former English light welterweight champion.
. Over next few years he compiled a record of twelve consecutive victories with wins over the likes of Ernie Smith, Karl Taylor and Oscar Hall. On 12 May 2006, he defeated Colin Lynes
at the York Hall
in Bethnal Green
to win the Southern Area light welterweight title. The fight also served as an eliminator for the full British title.
via a 12 round points decision. The new champions reign was however to be short lived with the first defence of the title also resulting in a first defeat. Daws lost the belt to Scotsman
, Barry Morrison
at the Alexandra Palace in Wood Green
, this time by split decision with one judge scoring widely in Daws favour with the other two scoring narrowly to Morrison.
for Wright's English title on 14 November 2007. The contest with Wright again took place at the York Hall and resulted in a draw meaning that Wright retained the belt. He went on to win three more fights before getting another chance to fight for the English title. His chance came on 11 April 2009, and claimed the belt with a win over Peter McDonagh
the Southern Area champion. The win gave Daws the opportunity to challenge Ajose Olusegun
for his old British title, before Olusegun vacated the belt choosing to fight in an eliminator for the WBC
light welterweight instead. This meant that Daws opponent in the other corner for the vacant belt would now be old foe Barry Morrison
in a contest to take place on 18 September 2009. The fight itself, at the York Hall once more, saw Daws regain the belt he lost to Morrison and gain revenge over the only man to have beaten him with a 10th round stoppage.
on 2 February 2010. Cook, a former European lightweight champion, had taken some time away from the sport only to bounce back and reach the semi-final of the Prizefighter light welterweight tournament
. Despite being rocked in the first round Daws did enough to retain the title via a draw with all three judges scoring closely. Daws next defence was held on 9 July 2010 against English champion Steve Williams, Daws retained for the second time after Williams sustained two cuts on his eye which forced his corner to pull him out. On 19 February 2011, in his third defence of the title, Daws lost the belt to Ashley Theophane
at the Wembley Arena. Despite taking control in the first half of the fight, Theophane came on strong in the second half and knocked Daws down twice in the 9th round to run out an eventual winner over 12 rounds.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, fighting out of Morden
Morden
Morden is a district in the London Borough of Merton. It is located approximately South-southwest of central London between Merton Park , Mitcham , Sutton and Worcester Park .- Origin of name :...
, England. He is a former two time British light welterweight champion and a former English light welterweight champion.
Early professional career
Daws made his professional debut on 16 April 2003, defeating Danny Gwilym at the Ice Arena in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. Over next few years he compiled a record of twelve consecutive victories with wins over the likes of Ernie Smith, Karl Taylor and Oscar Hall. On 12 May 2006, he defeated Colin Lynes
Colin Lynes
Colin Lynes is a British professional boxer from Hornchurch in London. He is a former IBO World, British and European champion at light welterweight and is the reigning British champion at welterweight.-Early Professional Career:...
at the York Hall
York 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,...
to win the Southern Area light welterweight title. The fight also served as an eliminator for the full British title.
British champion
Daws fought for the British belt on 12 May 2006, in his very next fight. The contest, once again held at the York Hall, saw Daws defeat Northumbrian boxer Nigel WrightNigel Wright (boxer)
Nigel Wright is a professional boxer, fighting out of Crook, England. He is a southpaw fighter standing at , with a record of 22-6-1, with 9 KOs and is a three-time English light welterweight champion and a two-time challenger for both the British and the Commonwealth titles.-Early professional...
via a 12 round points decision. The new champions reign was however to be short lived with the first defence of the title also resulting in a first defeat. Daws lost the belt to Scotsman
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Barry Morrison
Barry Morrison
Barry Morrison, is a Scottish professional boxer who fights in the light welterweight division.He is a former British light welterweight champion.-Professional career:...
at the Alexandra Palace in Wood Green
Wood Green
Wood Green is a district in north London, England, located in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated north of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of the metropolitan centres in Greater London.-History:...
, this time by split decision with one judge scoring widely in Daws favour with the other two scoring narrowly to Morrison.
Road back to contention
Following the Morrison defeat, Daws returned to action in May 2007 with a win over Billy Smith and then challenged former opponent Nigel WrightNigel Wright (boxer)
Nigel Wright is a professional boxer, fighting out of Crook, England. He is a southpaw fighter standing at , with a record of 22-6-1, with 9 KOs and is a three-time English light welterweight champion and a two-time challenger for both the British and the Commonwealth titles.-Early professional...
for Wright's English title on 14 November 2007. The contest with Wright again took place at the York Hall and resulted in a draw meaning that Wright retained the belt. He went on to win three more fights before getting another chance to fight for the English title. His chance came on 11 April 2009, and claimed the belt with a win over Peter McDonagh
Peter McDonagh
Peter McDonagh in Galway, Ireland is a professional boxer. He usually fights at lightweight or the divisions either side.-First professional fight:...
the Southern Area champion. The win gave Daws the opportunity to challenge Ajose Olusegun
Ajose Olusegun
Ajose Olusegun is a Nigerian-born British professional boxer. He competed for Nigeria at the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games reaching the 2nd round. As a professional he is unbeaten and is the former British and current Commonwealth light welterweight champion....
for his old British title, before Olusegun vacated the belt choosing to fight in an eliminator for the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
light welterweight instead. This meant that Daws opponent in the other corner for the vacant belt would now be old foe Barry Morrison
Barry Morrison
Barry Morrison, is a Scottish professional boxer who fights in the light welterweight division.He is a former British light welterweight champion.-Professional career:...
in a contest to take place on 18 September 2009. The fight itself, at the York Hall once more, saw Daws regain the belt he lost to Morrison and gain revenge over the only man to have beaten him with a 10th round stoppage.
Two time British Champion
The win over Morrison propelled Daws back to the top of the domestic scene as holder of the British light welterweight title. His first defence was against Welshman Jason CookJason Cook (boxer)
Jason Cook is a professional boxer, who fights under the nickname "The Power". As an amateur, he won a silver medal for Wales at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. As a professional, he has fought as a lightweight, and has won both the European and IBO championships at the weight...
on 2 February 2010. Cook, a former European lightweight champion, had taken some time away from the sport only to bounce back and reach the semi-final of the Prizefighter light welterweight 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...
. Despite being rocked in the first round Daws did enough to retain the title via a draw with all three judges scoring closely. Daws next defence was held on 9 July 2010 against English champion Steve Williams, Daws retained for the second time after Williams sustained two cuts on his eye which forced his corner to pull him out. On 19 February 2011, in his third defence of the title, Daws lost the belt to Ashley Theophane
Ashley Theophane
Ashley Theophane is an English professional boxer who competes in the welterweight division. He is the British and IBO international welterweight champion, he has a record of 28 wins against only 4 defeats and is a regular boxer on both sides of the Atlantic.-Early professional career:Thoephane...
at the Wembley Arena. Despite taking control in the first half of the fight, Theophane came on strong in the second half and knocked Daws down twice in the 9th round to run out an eventual winner over 12 rounds.