Teesside’s newest boxer must tough it out with Rambo on his professional debut.
Middlesbrough cruiserweight Michael Webster (pictured left) takes his first steps in the paid ranks on Saturday, March 16 at Houghton, where he meets Dmitrij Kalinovskij.
Webster, who boxed out of South Bank ABC as an amateur, enjoyed a good run at heavyweight domestically, including a canny England Elite championship scrap with current GB star Cheavon Clarke, a contest Michael was a little unfortunate to lose.
On Saturday he will face Baltic giant Kalinovskij, the 6ft 5in cruiser who calls himself ‘Rambo’.
The 27-year-old can fight a bit too as Webster must beware. He took a round off Simon Vallily on a previous visit to the Rainton Meadows and has inflicted debut defeats on three opponents in the last couple of years.
There is a heavy , no pun intended,Teesside presence on the event promoted by Phil Jeffries and Steve Wraith.
The unbeaten Hill bros take to the ring.
Joe, with three wins so far, meets the daddy of the journeymen, Kevin McCauley.
The Stourbridge veteran stands at 213 not out in his career, one of the 213 pro appearances being a points defeat at Hartlepool’s Borough Hall, where Tom Hill defeated him on his pro debut.
However, McCauley is not a man to take liberties with as two North-East boxers have discovered.
He clinched a Rainton Meadows draw with ex-Northern Area champ, Daniel Cope, and had Chad Ellis in bother at the Metro Radio Arena before the Spennymoor man came through on the end.
Joe’s kid brother Tom, who trains alongside him at the East Durham College HQ of David Binns, faces Birmingham veteran MJ Hall.
It’s a 10-fight card with another Teessider, Joe Maphosa, involved in the fight of the night against former English champion Louis Norman.
Stablemate Terry Tyers will be up against Bolton’s Chris Jenkinson while Luke Cope will face a new opponent after Lee Connelly was forced out.
Tyneside is featured in the shape of Dean Laing, Joe Laws, Jone Volau and Terence Wilkinson.
Words: Roy Kelly
