Oakey aiming to go out as a Master
Tony ‘Oakey Kokey’ Oakey takes to the ring for the final time against British Masters light-heavyweight champion Michael Banbula, at the Ultrachem TKO Boxing Gym and Bruce Baker co-promoted “Oakey’s Last Stand” event at Mountbatten Leisure Centre in Portsmouth, Hampshire on the 21st May.
During his colourful twelve year professional boxing career the popular 34-year-old from Havant, Hampshire won both the Commonwealth and British titles but was last seen in February being stopped in two rounds by Danny McIntosh.
Taking a little time out following an exhilarating sparring session with fellow gym mate, unbeaten light-middleweight Pat McAleese, Oakey spoke a little about his upcoming fight and his highly colourful career.
“Yeah, I’ve had a good distinguished career, I’ve achieved everything I set my sights on when I started. I’m not happy it has come to an end but I’m happy it’s come to end by what I’ve achieved. It’s nice to end it with a war. It’s nice to give the fans entertainment and it’s a real good quality battle, I want to go out with a good ‘un, I wouldn’t want to go out on a easy fight that’s for sure.
"I’m against Michael Banbula, I watched him fight on the last Portsmouth fight we had last year in June. He boxed a local boy Sam Couzens. It was a good tough fight, he’s a good quality bloke. Banbula’s caused a few upsets. He’s tough, comes forward, he’ll give me the sort of fight fans will want to see.”
“I’m not one for making excuses about things because I shouldn’t have been put down in the first place," said Oakey of his loss to McIntosh. "The knockdown wasn’t really a knockdown, his pushing me back into the ropes and his sheer weight caused me to go down. I was going to jump right up and take the eight count. I would have had to take the eight count if I got up so decided to stay on one knee. About on count seven someone in the crowd distracted me , I looked back at the ref who still only went eight so I jumped straight up. The ref could see I’m OK but went nine. As I said it wasn’t even a knockdown, everyone could see that, even the commentators on TV said that I misjudged the count.
"I wish Danny McIntosh the best for his career and that he goes on and does great things. There’s no sour grapes as far as he is concerned. As I say I retire, not as the happiest man in the world, but happy none the less.”
For the past four years Oakey has shown total dedication to his craft by travelling from his home in Havant, Hampshire to be coached by Johnny Eames five days a week at Eames’ Ultrachem TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, East London.
‘Oakey Kokey’ explained why and how this came about as well as his reasons to finally call it a day. “A few years back when I was with Ronnie Davies, who used to train Chris Eubank. I trained with him for the majority of my early career and I won everything with him, you know, and I had my ban (drugs offence).
"I was coming back from the ban and my first fight back was the fight with Peter Haymer and got robbed terrible. It was really really bad, it was a really disgraceful robbery. So I sat down with Ronnie and we came to a mutual agreement that if I was going to further my career again I needed to come up to London.
"I’ve known John since I turned pro, you know, I think he turned pro at the same sort of time as me and his way of teaching people really suits me. I rang him and asked him if he would have me up here and he said he would so I came up. That was four years ago. I come up here on a Monday and go back on a Friday, that’s another reason why I had a discussion with John about retiring.
"I’m 34, and I’m just about to have my first child with my missus and we had to go three lots of IVF. I felt it’s time for me to start the next chapter of my life and spend a bit of time at home. Over the course of a year I’m up here for eight months of it and only at home for four months of it. I don’t want to miss eight months of the first year with my child really.
"Hopefully it will be great entertainment for the fans, forget about the misjudgment of the count last time out. Boxing’s a very cruel sport and you’re always judged on your last fight. So I’m hoping to have an out and out war, win a close points decision and everyone remembers ‘Oakey Kokey’ for what he is - a true warrior.”
The undercard includes a very interesting light-heavyweight contest featuring Oakey’s Ultrachem TKO gym mate, and former two-time opponent, Peter ‘The Daddy’ Haymer against the dangerous Portsmouth southpaw Paul Morby.
Another of Oakey’s gym mates, Redhill, Surrey’s Daryl Setterfield has his work cut out when he faces unbeaten, in six outings, Wayne Goddard from Borden, Hampshire. Whilst at super-middleweight, Newmarket, Suffolk’s Matt Jack has an equally tough opponent when he faces New Milton, Hampshire’s Danny ‘Dangerous’ Goode.
Also at super-middleweight Tariq Quaddas will be facing Titchfield, Hampshire’s Sam Couzens. Another of the Couzens clan, Sam’s brother Danny is also on the card but his opponent has yet to be announced.
Finally debutant George Jupp will be going up against another first timer Peter Barney in a featherweight contest.
‘Oakey’s Last Stand’ will be on the 21st May 2010 at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Alexandra Park, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO2 9QA.
Tickets are available from:
Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Alexandra Park, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO2 9QA. - Tel: 023 9362 6500
Ultrachem TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA - Tel: 020 7474 3199
