Rocky Dean

Dean made his professional debut on 14 October 1999 defeating Lenny Hodgkins at the Royal National Hotel in London. He won his next three contests before losing to journeyman Chris Jickells on 10 November 2000. Dean did not fight at all in 2001, making a return to the ring a year later and winning all three of his fights in 2002. In 2003 Dean failed to win any of his six contests, drawing twice and losing four times in that year. During the year Dean had boxed future Commonwealth champion Isaac Ward twice (one draw, 1 loss) and also met future British champions Michael Hunter and Martin Power in the ring, losing to them both. Dean boxed twice in 2004 winning on both occasions.^[1]

On 5 March 2005 Dean fought for the Southern Area Featherweight title defeating Mickey Coveney over 10 rounds at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham. The win set up a shot at the vacant English title in his next fight only for Dean to lose for the sixth time in his career to Andy Morris, a man who would go on to claim the full British belt. On 18 September 2005 Dean fought and defeated novice boxer Gary Davies with a fourth round stoppage win. Davis became the fourth boxer Dean had fought that would go on to become a full British champion. Dean finished the year by traveling to the Ukraine to fight Andrey Isaev only to lose in the 12th round of his challenge for the WBF International title.