Kane: not too much sugar, plenty of spite

Kane Baker…a real fighter’s fighter and road warrior

ONE look at Kane Baker, with his chiselled features, tells you what he does for a living.

The Birmingham junior lightweight – flat cap over his hooded brows – looks as if he belongs on the set of Peaky Blinders. He looks a lot more sinister than the Shelbys.

On Saturday night, the 32-year-old again went to war, slugging it out toe-to-toe against Oxford prospect Jordan Flynn.

After eight rounds at London’s 02 Arena, Flynn was awarded a 77-75 victory on the card of referee Kieran McCann.

There were plenty who thought battle hardened Baker did enough.

To a degree, the result plays second fiddle to Kane’s performance. He dragged an opponent, who is now 9-0, deeper than he’d been before.

Baker, gashed over the right eye following a clash of heads, hurt Flynn and introduced him to the fight game equivalent of trench warfare. There wasn’t a lot of sugar in Kane’s work, but there was plenty of spite.

The pair served up the best fight of the night – a contest infinitely more entertaining than headliner Anthony Joshua’s points win.

Yet they got paid a fraction of the fortune earned by the heavyweight.

As a fighter, there’s a lot to like about tattooed Baker, now under the BCB banner.

He’s a fan who decided to make a living from his passion. He was expected to be a journeyman, at best, but, through grit, bulldozed his way through the domestic rankings.

Baker is tough as a Dunlop tyre and that toughness – the willingness to enter a contest with all guns blazing – has seen him capture a Midlands title at lightweight and miss out on an English belt by the narrowest of margins.

That toughness has seen him regularly appear on major televised shows, even during lockdown. Promoters know he’ll provided entertainment for the armchair masses.

And Baker possesses a winning record of 18-10-1. Who would’ve predicted that when he turned pro in 2016?

There have been nights that have been too much. Conor Benn stopped him in two at York Hall, big punching Darren Surtees KOd him in two in Jeddah.

But he’s also pushed British champ Sam Maxwell to a points decision.

Baker is a fighter’s fighter. He’s a credit to the game.

While writing this, I’m mindful of the post Baker put out following his majority decision loss to Myron Mills for the English belt:  "What a night! Home happy and safe with my princess after a few rounds dancing. Great fight tonight, support was out of this world.

"Lost on points in my biggest fight to date against a good boxer. Been a great couple years - won a Midlands title, fought for an English title. The long camp took a lot out of me.

"After climbing some mountains I'm finally going to enjoy the view."

Baker, a man who has asked for no favours and been given no favours, has earned his time taking in the scenery.