Scott Lawton (boxer)

Professional career

Lawton made his professional debut in September 2001, defeating Dave Hinds at the Elephant & Castle Center in Southwark. After nine further bouts, which brought his record to nine wins and one loss, he fought for his first professional title in June 2004.

The Midlands Area lightweight belt was at stake, and Lawton claimed it with a ten-round points decision over Carl Allen at the Octagon Center in Sheffield. He defended that belt once, in May 2006, beating Baz Carey at the King's Hall in Stoke. Between the Allen and Carey fights, Lawton had eight bouts, winning six, drawing one, and losing to Alan Temple.

English champion and title challenger

Following the Carey victory, Lawton fought for the vacant English title in June 2006, stopping Stefy Bull in the eighth round at the Doncaster Dome. Two more wins over journeyman opponents gave him a record of 20-2-1 and a shot at the full British title in March 2007. The reigning champion Jon Thaxton defeated Lawton in the seventh round. In his next fight, Lawton challenged for the Commonwealth title against Amir Khan, who won in the fourth round.

Lawton then won four straight fights, setting up a December 2008 challenge against the unbeaten English champion Martin Gethin. The bout ended in the ninth round when Gethin suffered a large cut on his head; Lawton was ahead on the scorecards and was awarded the win, becoming a two-time English champion at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham. On 13 June 2009, Lawton again challenged for the British title, facing John Murray at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan.

The referee stopped the fight in the sixth round, giving Lawton a third championship defeat. Afterward, Lawton said the result made him consider his future, stating, "I'm 32 now and you can't keep going on forever. It's something that I've got to think hard about."