UNHAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Tony Salam (right) in action last year against Courtney Fry at York Hall, the last time he fought.

Salam hopes to lay his demons to rest

22 January 2009

TONY SALAM returns to action at York Hall, Bethnal Green, when he faces local rival Richard Horton on January 30, just two days short of an unhappy anniversary - on February 1 it will be a year since his light-heavyweight ambitions were crushed at the same venue, writes LEN WHALEY.

Salam is back with a new trainer, working with Babatunde Ajayi at the Peacock Gym in Canning Town, and new ambitions as he hopes to launch a fresh bid for glory in a lighter weight division.

Salam, a former student at Stratford's University of East London, faces his first bid for super middleweight honours in the paid ranks when he meets Horton for the Southern Area title.

The east London power-puncher's lightheavyweight ambitions were crushed by former Repton amateur Courtney Fry, when he was blasted to a sixth round defeat in February last year - the last time he fought.

That was his first setback after seven impressive wins, and his Romford rival Horton has also suffered a single setback in seven pro outings.

That defeat came when Welsh fighter Shon Davies shocked him with a first round assault in 2006 at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham.

The rivals realise how important it will be to their future ambitions to come through a winner when they clash on the Sports Network bill headed by the Kell Brook v Stuart Elwell British welterweight title fight.

Also booked for action on the York Hall bill are heavyweight Derek Chisora, super-featherweights Vinnie Mitchell and the Walsh brothers Liam and Ryan..