Special features

Rogie ready for revenge

I want my title back, Belfast boy tells Sexton

Last updated: 6th November 2009

Rogan: wants revenge against Sexton

I'm punching so hard at the moment, I could punch holes through walls with the way I'm feeling. Sam will not last with me this time. He is going to feel the pain.

Martin Rogan
Quotes of the week

LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Sam Sexton v Martin Rogan
10pm, Fri, Sky Sports 1 &HD1

Also see

Martin Rogan is ready to do a real-life Rocky and win his title back.

The Belfast heavyweight is gunning for revenge when he meets Sam Sexton in Belfast six months after surrendering the Commonwealth belt in an eighth-round stoppage.

The defeat brought Rogan's fairytale rise from taxi driver to Prizefighter winner to an abrupt halt and he is determined to make Sexton pay in front of a packed out Odyssey Arena.

"I don't like Sexton's arrogant attitude," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"I don't like the way he looks down his nose at the people of Belfast and our country. I'm going to smash him up. I'm in absolutely great shape for Friday night. "

"I'm sure Sam's trained hard, he took my belt in controversial circumstances last time with a bad decision. That will not happen this time.

"I forgive the referee for stopping the fight, he was only doing his job to protect the fighters on the night, that's water under the bridge now."

Rogan is still seething following the first defeat in which he had Sexton in real trouble only to pause after the Norwich man intentionally spat out his gumshield.

As Rogan turned to the referee, Sexton landed a couple of blows and the tide turned immediately and shortly after Dave Paris ruled the champion's left eye was too swollen to continue.

Pressure

"What's important now is that I get my title back and make right what was wronged last time," said Rogan.

"I'm punching so hard at the moment, I could punch holes through walls with the way I'm feeling. Sam will not last with me this time. He is going to feel the pain."

Sexton, who won the second heavyweight Prizefighter, admits he was fortunate to take that first meeting.

But he enjoyed more than his fare share of success in the early stages and even though Rogan has since switched trainers, he believes he will repeat the feat on Friday night.

"He let me off the hook the last time," he said. "But you could see that I won the first seven rounds very easily.

"I rocked him and he was hurt in the first fight, he didn't know what to do with me.

"Again all the pressure is on him because the bookmakers have him as the favourite. I beat him the first time and I'll beat him again. I'm just 25 and he's old now. I'll beat him and he'll probably not fight again after this."

Sexton weighed in the heavier of the two on Thursday, tipping the scales at 241lbs (17st 3lbs), compared to Rogan 234lbs (16st 10lbs) which is half-a-stone lighter than when they first met.