SOME men are born champions – the likes of Prince Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton were never going to be anything else.
But some fighters have to work extraordinarily hard to become champions.
And if Chris Burton ever makes it through to a heavyweight title triumph then he'll look back at last night's titanic tussle with Lee Swaby at Middlesbrough as one of the turni
ng points of his career.
The Hartlepool-trained prospect, managed by Dave Garside and coached at Neil Fannan's Brierton gym, toughed it out to beat Swaby on points on the chief support bout of last night's Paul Truscott v Osumanu Akaba Commonwealth featherweight title battle.
More than once, Burton looked vulnerable, but he rode the storm and finished strongly to get a 79-75 verdict from referee Mark Curry.
It was his 11th straight win as a pro.
"Pure grit and determination to go places in this sport got me through it," admitted the 27-year-old.
"I want to be a champion and to do that you've got to come through these situations.
"I don't think I boxed that well – it's the first time I'd boxed a southpaw and he took my jab away from me.
"I hadn't even sparred much with a southpaw, so I found it hard adjusting to that style and I walked on to his back hand quite a few times.
"But I displayed heart and showed not only that I can take a shot, but that I am fit and very determined.
"Swaby's a very good fighter – he's fought twice for the British and Commonwealth title and he knocked out Enzo Maccarinelli.
"I learned a lot from fighting him."
Middlesbrough's Paul Truscott sent the home fans wild when he became the Commonwealth featherweight champion in only his 11th pro bout.
The 22-year-old Boro talent won a unanimous points decision (116-112, twice and 115-113 ) against Osumanu Akaba of Ghana.
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