Lomax: Winning Prizefighter is the best moment in my career - 28/10/2008

MICHAEL Lomax has described becoming the Prizefighter Welterweights Champion as the best moment in his career.

Lomax claimed a split decision triumph over fellow Londoner Ted Bami to claim the title and the £25,000 first prize after a thrilling evening of boxing at the York Hall in Bethnal Green.

“This feels great but I was so psyched up I knew I was going to win Prizefighter,” said Lomax.

“I said at the beginning I would win but I didn’t want to be vain about it. I knew I was the most talented out there but I just needed a chance to prove how good I can be and I felt I got better as the night went on.

“I thought Bami was going to look for the big shots and he was tired but I’d trained really hard and I wasn’t tired going into the final so just enjoyed it.

“I expected Bami to come out swinging and I beat him twice as an amateur so I knew what he was all about.”

“All my supporters were here at the York Hall and I wanted to please everyone. A lot of people had money on me so there was a bit of pressure, especially when my dad told me he had put his rent on me so if he had got kicked out then it would have been my fault!

“The odds were stupid, some people got 30-1 on me so they must be laughing – the bookmakers have lost a lot of money.

“I’m really pleased for me, my wife and my little one – it was the best I could’ve done.

“I went to Newcastle to see the second Heavyweights one and all the fighters were really tired but my amateur experience of fighting twice in one night pulled me through.

“I’ve made a lot of sacrifices and my wife and baby were in the spare room as I was up at five doing my first training session, then I went to work then go back in the gym at 4 o clock so I was tired all the time.

“This is the best day of my career and Prizefighter is a unique boxing event and Sky are loving it and the fans are loving it.”

Lomax had defeated Craig Dickson in the quarter-final but needed eight stitches after doing so.

He had six stitches on his forehead and another two over his left ear and, with blood streaming down his face in stages of the first fight, looked likely to be the first boxer unable to fight due to a doctor’s decision.

However, as the cuts and blood were not affecting Lomax’s sight, he was allowed to continue.

“It was a bit upsetting as he took me straight from the ring to get stitches,” said Lomax. “But the doctor said as it wasn’t blurring my vision then I was able to fight again.

“So I came back into the dressing room, didn’t sit down once and carried on shadow boxing and kept myself rehydrated.

“It wasn’t worrying me during the fights because the doctor said it would be fine and didn’t concern me as I was so psyched up for it.

“After my first fight Sky were calling me ‘The Warrior’ so they could see how determined I am to get to the top. Barry Hearn said it was the best he had ever seen me fight.”

Lomax has now set his sights on avenging his only professional defeat, which came against Craig Watson in July 2007.

Watson has gone on to claim the Commonwealth Welterweight Championship and a rematch could now be on the cards.

“Bami is in the top five in the British rankings and now I’ve beaten him,” said Lomax “It’s only three rounds but a win is a win and it’s down to me now to step on and go to the next level.

“Being Prizefighter winner now everyone will want to fight me and I might be able to get a rematch with (Commonwealth Champion) Craig Watson.

“Hopefully I can keep a bit more active as I haven’t been in the ring for nine months as I had a bad cut from Craig Dickson but I want to be active.

“Fighting for the Commonwealth title would be nice or the British, whatever comes first.”