“T-T-Teessiders”. Expect that chant to be ringing around boxing venues for a year or four.
The Hill brothers are on their climb to the top and they have a lot of people with them.
Fans of Tom and Joe Hill packed into Rainton Meadows Arena to cheer the Redcar siblings to mighty impressive victories on the Phil Jeffries-promoted show in Houghton on Saturday night.
Tom registered his third paid victory by stopping Dan West 23 seconds into the second of four scheduled rounds while elder bro Joe went the distance but was superb in defeating the ageless James Gorman.
The Hill v West contest always had the makings of the fight of the night, given the Sheffield boxer was the only boxer on the right of the bill with a winning record. And it was great while it lasted.
Round one was a keenly-fought clash, Tom boxing nicely at distance, but Dan showing lots of aggression and landing a lot of shots.
On the subject of aggression, Hill ended matters in the opening moments of the second flooring the Sheffield man with a left hook.
Dan hit the canvas heavily, with referee Graeme Williams not even commencing a count.
To the credit of Tom, his corner of Dave and Tom Binns, the reaction was one of dignity and the fans deserve praise too for not celebrating.
Following treatment, Dan rose and congratulated the winner, allowing Hill to get the applause his display warranted.
Joe had to wait until the penultimate bout of the eight fight bill and showed no signs of nerves as he outboxed experienced Belfast operator Gorman.
Hill picked out some nice rights in the opener and the second was even better, with a quality jab, hooks and some stinging rights down the pipe.
“Just box” said Dave Binns from the blue corner and Joe followed instructions to the letter and the final two rounds were just as comfortable as he took a 40-36 verdict from Steve Hawkins.
“I was extremely pleased with both boys,” Binns told punch-lines. “Tom did exactly what we wanted him to do, used his range and used his skills.
“It was the same for Joe, who looked smashing.
“He was up against a very experienced man, but he was brilliant the way he went about it.”
One of the displaysof the night came from another Teessider, Joe Maphosa.
The flyweight prospect produced four highly-accomplished rounds against Gateshead’s Gary Reeve, the man he met on his debut in Leeds last May.
Reeve was extremely game but Maphosa was on a different plain, opening the bout with some delightful lefts though it was a right which jolted Gary in round two.
Excellent combinations rained in from the 
23-year-old who, like Joe Hill, knew how to carry out orders.
“Make the ring small,” said coach Imran Naeem, “busy, busy” and the ex-Tees Active Sports Academy star was simply superb.
Top marks to Reeve for going all the way to the end and he deserved the big smile he worse and Maphosa deserved his 40-36 scoreline from Mr Hawkins for pro win number four.
Words: Roy Kelly
