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By Andrew Wake: Four years ago Nottingham’s Jason Booth was title-less, penniless and written off by the majority of the boxing fraternity. Now he stands on the verge of a world title triumph.
It’s well documented that the likeable Englishman, 32, suffered from the despair of alcoholism after his sister Deana committed suicide a decade ago. He battled on best he could for years but after losing his IBO super-flyweight crown in late 2004, fell off the rails and never looked likely to make great waves in the sport again.
So it would be a story of almost fairytale proportions if Booth can defeat well schooled Canadian southpaw Steve Molitor and take the IBF super-bantamweight strap at the Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Springs this Saturday night.
“Four years ago I was on death’s door. I’ve fought my way back from where I was,” Booth told SecondsOut.com. “Back then I didn’t think a chance like this would come. It’s fantastic what’s happened to me, people are praising me left, right and centre.
“When you look back from where I’ve come and what I’ve achieved it’s amazing. If I can pull this off it’s going to be a great story, it’s going to be one of the biggest comebacks ever.
“I had a good first career where I won titles but this second career has been amazing. I’ve won a Lonsdale belt outright and I didn’t think I’d get better than that but I think I’ve proved a lot of the doubters wrong and now they’re patting me on the back.”
In September 2002, Molitor ripped the Commonwealth bantamweight title from the grasps of Jason’s younger brother Nicky with a points decision after 12 rounds, but Booth is keen to point out that restoring family pride is far from the only motivating factor for him this week.
“Nicky was a good opponent at the time, so full credit to Molitor,” stated Booth, 35 – 5 (12 KOs). “Revenge would be good for me but I’m fighting for my own reasons, I’m fighting to get that world title.
“This means the world to me and I’m going to give it my best shot. I know I’m not going to be the favourite but there’s no reasons why I can pull of an upset. I think of the ability to beat him.
“He’s a world class opponent so there isn’t many flaws I can pick with him. He’s a top performer, a class act and he’s a good person out of the ring but he’s only human, he’s got two arms and two legs.”
It could easily be assumed that fighting in his home nation will provide Booth with a small advantage when this contest begins. However, defending champion Molitor has turned Britain into a happy hunting ground, winning here three times in the past including when he demolished common opponent Michael Hunter for the same title in 2006.
“I think travelling is what brings the best out of him,” noted Booth, who has won titles in four weight divisions. “He (Molitor) has been here and done well a couple of times.
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I’ve fought at home and it doesn’t always bring the best out of you, sometimes you’ve got to go away to find yourself.
“I’m expecting the best Steve Molitor because he isn’t going to come over here to mess about, he’s coming to do a job on me and I’ve got to be ready for that.
“I’ve been training for a long time and I’m going to be 100 per cent on the night. I don’t have a serious plan but I’m going to make sure I’m boxing the best I can. Basically I’ve got to outwork him and make sure that I land more shots on him than he lands on me.
Promoter Frank Maloney has said that if Booth can defeat Molitor and be crowned IBF king this weekend a unification with Rendall Munroe could be on the cards providing the Leicester bin man annexes the WBC strap from Toshiaki Nishioka in October.
However, as much as both fighters would love to become double world champions, the pair are old stablemates and Booth isn’t keen to trade punches with a man he considers one of his best friends.
He said: “We’re really good mates so the money would have to be really good for us to meet. I couldn’t see it happening for even a £1 million pounds each. We’ll probably do a fun run together but that’s as competitive as we’ll get!”
Andrew Wake can be contacted by emailing andrewwakeboxing@yahoo.co.uk or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Andywakeboxing
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