Danny 'The Cannon' Shannon gunning for first ever title
Kent’s Danny Shannon (6-8-1, 2KOs) will challenge unbeaten prospect Aaron Sutton (12-0, 2KOs) for the vacant Southern Area middleweight title on April 2 in Bristol.
The 31-year-old from Chatham will occupy the away corner for his maiden title tilt at The Galleries in Bristol on a Sanigar Events show.
Danny ‘The Cannon’ Shannon has only ever experienced two fights from 15 in the home corner so travelling 150 miles to the lion’s den is something he’s relishing.
“I prefer to fight on the road than fight at home, to be honest, I’m in my element, I love it!” He enthused.
“The crowd can’t do anything for him, it’s just me and him in the ring. I like being the underdog; they call us journeyman and think we don’t train and just come to lose, but every time I show up, I turn up to win.”
Full-time scaffolder Shannon renewed contracts with promoter Joe Elfidh’s Boxing Connected in November 2019 and immediately declared his intention to challenge for Southern Area honours.
Although he damaged his hand during his last fight with Umar Sadiq in December 2019, he is now injury free after allowing it to heal properly, but it’s a result of the ongoing pandemic that has caused his two-year-plus ring absence.
“I’ve gone back to training with a new team – Lee Page and Chris Lamontange,” he revealed. “As soon as I started training with Lee at Kent Gloves, he told me he would get me a Southern Area title shot.
“I’m training five times a week with my team and it’s the best camp I’ve ever had. Been training all through Christmas, so I’m fit now; I’ve been in camp for weeks already.
“It’s my first 10-rounder, I’ve done six rounds before, but I’m in the gym sparring 10-rounds now. I’ve been sparring Denzel Bentley; Louis Greene; Charlie Shane; and Alex Branson-Cole, who is Joe Elfidh’s new signing.”
Danny’s debut title challenge will be 88 years to the month of the first ever Southern Area middleweight title fight back in 1934.
Recent winners of the prestigious title that’s so steeped in history includes Billy Joe Saunders, Darren Barker and Howard Eastman. Another recent holder of this belt was Shannon’s friend, sparring partner and stablemate Grant Dennis, also from Chatham.
It’s been an inspiration to him knowing that Dennis won his Southern Area title from the away corner against home favourite Nicky Jenman in Brighton.
Shannon said, “The Southern Area is my achievement in boxing completed, that’s my goal I set. I want to move on and fight for other titles obviously, but it’s an achievement that I’ve always wanted, so this title is going to be the first of many for me.”
Standing in his way is Bristol’s Aaron Sutton, who is 24-years-old and undefeated in 12 bouts. He comes into his maiden title fight following back-to-back knockout wins and will be the heavy favourite, but Shannon is ready for the challenge, focusing solely on himself.
“I don’t know nothing about my opponent, I leave that to the boss, and I follow his instructions. We’ve got the game plan,” he asserted.
“On fight night, obviously it’s my first fight with Lee and Chris, and it’ll be a different fighter you’ll see. I’ve been around Lee and Chris for years and always liked the way they operate, and now I’m part of their team I feel like no one can touch me.”
On paper, the opponents couldn’t look any different. Shannon has won just six from 15 contests while Sutton is undefeated in 12. Danny believes his contrasting record will work in his favour on fight night, however.
“I think a lot of people take a look at my record and think I’m a no one, but you look at the names I’ve lost against and they wouldn’t want to fight them.”
The 31-year-old has shared the ring with WBO European middleweight titlist Danny Dignum – who faces Grant Dennis in his next fight – and WBO World super-welterweight title contender Jimmy Kelly during his eight-year pro career.
He has already scalped three unbeaten prospects already and had his hand raised from the away corner on five occasions against home fighters with a combined record of 13-1-2.
Even on his pro debut, he was causing upsets on the road, kicking off his paid career with a draw against future Midlands Area title contender Aston Jolly (2-0, at the time).
He lost his next two fights on the road, but took points from both unbeaten fighters in the process – future Southern Area titlist Ben Hall and Qasim Niaz, who went on to reach 11-0.
After 70 amateur fights, Danny became promoter Joe Elfidh’s first ever professional signing, back in 2014, but he took a break after eight fights into his career to focus on his family and work commitments, returning to the ring again three years later in 2018.
He crammed in seven fights within 21 months on his return, but was forced to stop again, this time due to a hand injury sustained in the sixth of a scheduled eight rounds with Umar Sadiq in December 2019.
He has only fought in front of a home crowd twice, at Mote Park in Maidstone, with 13 of his 15 ring opponents possessing winning records, 11 being undefeated at the time.
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