Sexton And Rogan Ready For Rematch Rumble

In March, Martin Rogan and Sam Sexton went hammer and tongs for eight hotly contested rounds before referee Dave Parris controversially withdrew the Irishman with a closed eye. As they prepare for a Friday November 6th rematch, the interim period between bouts has thrown up as many twists and turns as the initial contest.

 

Belfast’s Rogan has split with career-long trainer John Breen, accused Sexton of sectarianism and the verbal barbs - mixed in with a begrudging mutual respect - have been flying back and forth ever since the rematch was announced. The fight, originally pencilled in for October 9th, was put back a month after Rogan suffered a trapped nerve, which has recently been treated with the aid of a ‘bionic hand’. Fitness guru John Magee, who also works with Paul McCloskey, identified nerve problems in Rogan’s neck and the state of the art technology has bolstered his recovery.

 

Prior to the postponement, the 12-1 (6 KO’s) man had been in the news with more serious issues - splitting from Breen and Magee, pointing to his team’s lack of belief in his abilities and a dispute over the training schedule as the reasons behind a move across town to the St. John Bosco gym. It all went sour for the quick-witted Clonard native who won captured the imagination of the boxing public when he claimed the inaugural Prizefighter trophy in 2008 and followed it up with wins over Audley Harrison and Matt Skelton. One of Rogan’s gripes with Breen was regarding the temperature he keeps the gym – a hothouse to aid lower weight fighters keep trim, “The Entertainer” felt heavyweights’ didn’t need that sort of calorie burning. However, I wouldn’t want Rogan to come in too heavy and sluggish on fight night, which I believe would aid the fleeter-footed Sexton. He later added that Breen had taken him as far as he could go and with his minimal training input, it became time to move on to pastures new.

 

On October 6th pundit Steve Bunce rolled his roadshow into town and Martin took to the platform to offer his thoughts on Irish boxing as well as all matters Sam Sexton. The triviality of such an evening was welcome relief from some of the backbiting that had crept in to the press conferences earlier in the promotional tour. Rogan accused Sexton of posing in front of Loyalist murals in an attempt to create a sectarian division of support. Sam contested the allegations and the offending photograph appeared to have been taken outside Eastside boxing club in East Belfast, while Sexton also visited a Catholic club before the first fight. Emotions were running high and with the training under-current running at that time, Rogan could perhaps be excused for his outbursts which he later admitted were out of character.

 

Sexton later responded to Rogan’s claims that he was a modern day Peter Pan by labelling his opponent a pensioner and vowing to send the 38-year-old reaching for his pipe and slippers. “I made Rogan look like an old man the first time I met him and he hasn't stopped moaning like one since,” opined Sexton. “[He] keeps going on about how he feels like Peter Pan, but you've got to go with youth in this fight.

 

“Let's face it, he's nearly 40 and once I've dealt with him the best thing for him to do will be retire and go to the park and feed the pigeons. I'll run rings around him in Belfast and he won't be able to keep up. I usually like to show respect to people who are older to me, but Rogan's been doing my head in with all his griping about the first fight, so I can't wait to shut him up. This time I'll make sure he can't say a word by knocking him out.”

 

It is hard to imagine that anything could have surpassed the dramatic events of the first contest, with refereeing indecision, questionable sportsmanship and a damaged eye all thrown in for good measure. Dave Parris certainly won’t be given the chance to amend for his performance, and a strong, experienced replacement is needed to keep control inside a vociferous Odyssey Arena. Rogan’s new trainer Paul McCullagh is an unknown quantity at this level and the calm head of John Breen will be missed. Sexton insists that the change of trainers will not make any difference and that he is destined to use his jab and movement to full effect, before breaking the former Commonwealth champion down and returning to Norwich with his belt.

 

Respect is due to the Norfolk man for travelling back to Northern Ireland to take the rematch, although Belfast was always going to be the big sell, while the recent announcement of TV coverage for such an anticipated domestic encounter is encouraging. Sexton was sagging badly –as many had predicted- when the Irishman’s damaged eye signalled a premature end and more questions than answers. For all his dexterity, stamina issues continue to dog the 25-year-old Sexton and despite being over ten years his senior, Rogan thrives on pressure, fitness and brute strength.

 

The first fight was a true clash of styles and when Rogan’s left eye started swelling, Sexton began throwing more right hands while continuing to use the jab throughout, keeping Rogan off balance. The seemingly indestructible Belfast man looked weary at times and after round seven the referee and ringside doctor began taking a closer look. In the same round, Rogan had Sexton in big trouble on the ropes and referee Parris jumped in the middle of the action to admonish Martin for hitting behind the head.

 

Rogan stopped and offered his foe vital seconds for a gumshield to be replaced, allowing Sexton not only to survive but also pop in a three-punch combination for good measure. Shortly after, Parris took the home fighter over to the doctor and when Rogan could not see through his injured optic, called a halt to proceedings. I envisage the second fight following a similar pattern, but with the outcome slightly skewed. Sexton will again have the better of the early sessions, but come the eighth or ninth round I think (providing his eye holds up) Rogan will start to inflict more damage on the away man.

 

An added incentive sees the winner getting a crack at British heavyweight champion Danny Williams and I cannot see Rogan, in front of a hostile home crowd, passing up such an opportunity. If he gets Sexton hurt this time he will certainly leave nothing to chance and finish the job. I believe he can do so at some point after the tenth round.

 

In an action-packed undercard, Neil Sinclair and Alex Arthur head the hopefuls with scheduled eight-round assignments apiece. Popular Kevin O’Hara meets tricky Londoner Mickey Coveney, while Jamie Conlan and Luke Wilton both make flyweight appearances. Journeyman Ciaran Healy mixes it up with Lee Noble and Joe Rea awaits confirmation on an opponent after Manoocha Salari was stopped last weekend.