Sussex has a new British boxing champion.
When Wayne Alexander stepped into the ring to challenge for the WBO world light-middleweight title in Widnes last Saturday he did so as a resident of Hailsham.
Twenty-seven-year-old Alexander has chosen the Sussex coast as an area where he can focus on achieving his dreams.
Alexander is already the British light-middleweight title holder, now he wants to be champion of the world.
He took last Saturday's WBO title fight against Namibia's Harry Simon at 24 hours' notice and it was no real surprise that he was stopped in the fifth round. But Alexander did enough to suggest that the boxing world's expectations of him can be realised.
After the Simon fight Alexander said: "I will be world champion one day. It is still possible before the end of the year. Simon is giving up his title and I could get another shot at it.
"I was disappointed to lose but you have to consider I only had 24 hours' notice. If I had been fit, I would have beaten him."
Prior to the Simon fight, Alexander had a record of 15 wins from 15 fights, 13 by KO. The showdown left him with the first defeat on his record, not to mention two broken hands.
He will now have to rest for the next two months, but the break will give him a chance to take stock of his career and of his new surroundings.
Alexander said: "I want to get away from the city. I want to get away from the bright lights and get myself focussed.
"I have always liked the South Coast. I have a lot of friends of the family here and I thought it would be a nice place to start this new stage of my career. I have friends in Eastbourne and Peacehaven. I used to come here every summer and I like the area."
Big-hitting Alexander, who hails from Croydon, is staying with friends in Hailsham but plans to get a place of his own.
His career began at Croydon ABC. He explained: "As a kid I was hyperactive, a mischievous kid. I tried karate as a youngster but I didn't like that.
"I had a couple of mates who were boxing at Croydon ABC and they told me to come down. From the first day I was there I loved it and I have loved it ever since."
Alexander won his first national title, the junior ABA crown, as a 16-year-old in 1990. He claimed the London Novices crown two years later and became senior ABA champion at light-middleweight in 1994. He also represented England in the ring four times.
His professional debut came with a third round stoppage of Andrew Jervis in Derby in November, 1995.
Trouble with injuries meant he did not get a shot at the British title until last February when he stopped the previously unbeaten Paul Samuels inside three rounds.
Alexander, who is managed by Frank Warren, said: "I was always con-fident I could at least win the British title. I was told by my train-er, Jimmy Tibbs, that I had the potential to be British champion.
"The British title fight was the hardest of my life. Paul Samuels at the time had had 15 fights and was still unbeaten. He was the IBF inter-continental champion and he was Welsh champion.
"He was a big hitter, like me, and it was a war for three rounds but I came through."
Alexander admits his inspiration comes from the greats of boxing - the likes of Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali.
He knows he could never match the exploits of those greats, but wants to match them in terms of being world champion.
"I have got the experience, I have been a pro fighter for five years. I haven't had a great amount of fights but I have learned a lot in the gym.
"Being world champion is my dream. I want to reach the top. At the end of my career I want to be respected as a good fighter. I want people to say, 'Yeah, he was good'."
Alexander is keen to forge Sussex boxing links. He is hoping Sussex businessmen may help him with sponsorship.
Alexander has made contact with the Hove-based Savages/Southwick amateur club.
He said: "I would like to speak to the kids and encourage. I want to tell them not to rush into turning pro. I had a good amateur career. People see the bright lights of the TV and the money but that is only the top fighters. It is hard getting there."
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