Quality defeated quantity when Steve Wraith staged his first show of 2018, headlined by Paul Gidney’s comeback.
The South Shields fighter edged out former Scotland title challenger Scott McCormark in an exciting six-round showdown in Dunston, while there were victories for his Mal Gates team-mate, Sam Menzies, and Darlington’s Ellis Corrie.
Before the event got under way, Wraith took to the ring at the Lancastrian Suite to speak both honestly and eloquently about the perils of promotion, given the collapse of a number of planned contests, and his dilemma over whether to soldier on with just three bouts.
He did and the boxers and spectators will have been glad he did as Gidney, Menzies and Corrie all tasted victory in a highly-watchable Sunday afternoon show, which also featured the talents of entertainment all-rounder Tony Washington.
He opened the show as Bobby Thompson, paying tribute to the ‘Little Waster’ but the afternoon was ended by a little battler as Gidney refused to lie down against an aggressive foe.
Gidney had been due to fight an eight-round challenge belt derby with Chrissy Wood, only for the Darlington fighter to quit the sport, one of two main title bouts to fall through.
It says much for the 22-year-old, and coach Gates, that they sought another test rather than accept a more placid opponent.
McCormack was certainly a test and played his full part in an absolute belter of a six-rounder.
Gidney set off like a train, racing through the first round with combinations aplenty, putting two years out of the ring very much behind him.
Gates doubtless reminded him in the blue corner that there was a long way to go and that was proven correct as the second round was much closer as the Glasgow fighter got stuck in.
McCormack ploughed forward again to have the better of the third but back came Gidney in the fourth, scoring some excellent shots on the back foot.
In football parlance, it was end-to-end stuff and Scott upped his effort again in the fifth, with Paul starting to feel the effects of his first bout in two years.
Your punch-lines writer had them level going into the last and after they went almost blow for blow in that last 180 seconds, I found it hard to separate them on my scorecard. Referee Ron Kearney, the only view that counted, did separate them, awarding Gidney the spoils 58-57.
McCormack’s coach was furious, but in truth any of the three decisions available could have been announced by MC Billy Hardy and there could have been few arguments.
It was a superb top-of-the-bill battle which all three men in the ring could be proud of and for Gidney, it was a brilliant return to the ring.
He was cheered on by team-mate Menzies who had opened the bill in style by taking a four-round points verdict against Ricky Leach.
‘The Pocket Rocket’ used his full repertoire and deserves credit, not just for that, but for not getting over-excited and rushing in on his first pro appearance. Referee Kearney scored it 40-36.
Corrie was just as good as he saw off Mike Castell, also over four rounds.
The unbeaten Darlington welterweight drove a forceful right through the middle in the first and let both fists go in the middle rounds.
Castell did land a couple of clean shots to get a share of the final round but Corrie was a clear winner, 40-37.
Steve Wraith thanked sponsors LA Taxis, Portland Consultants and Rich Energy for their sponsorship of the event.
Words: Roy Kelly
