Steve Wraith has pulled a tasty derby out of the bag for the return of pro boxing to South Shields.
The Newcastle promoter will stage Anthony Nelson’s comeback on Saturday, April 28, at Temple Park Leisure Centre.
No opponent has been earmarked yet for the Commonwealth super flyweight champion but Wraith has been busy assembling a very strong cast list elsewhere on the bill.
And he’s announced an absolute belter of a local affair on the undercard with Newcastle’s unbeaten young prospect, Mark Taylor, chasing the scalp of Tom Whitfield.
Whitfield is trained just a long left hook away from the venue, at the Harton & Westoe Miners Welfare gym of Mal Gates, but hails from Gateshead.
Taylor has won both of his professional appearances, the most recent being a points victory over MJ Hall at Houghton on Saturday night.
Whitfield, on the other hand, goes into the bout on the back of two stoppage defeats, to old rival, Daniel Cope, for the Northern Area title in October 2016 and at the razor-sharp hands of Josh Kelly in Walker last June.
“The fight was mentioned even before Saturday and it’s been agreed this week,” said Gates.
“I watched Mark’s fight closely on Saturday and he had a decent win.
“Mark’s good bout no where near as good as Tom.
“People think Tom’s finished because of the Kelly KO but Josh is world-class and he’d have taken anyone pout that night.
“I admire Mark’s ambition, he deserves credit for wanting this fight.
“I respect him and we never under-estimate any opponent but I see only one winner.”
Gates has two of his unbeaten young fighters on the bill, Paul Gidney and Sam Menzies, fresh from their victories at Dunston last month.
Wraith put on a fantastic show at the same venue in October 2014, when Nelson defeated Terry Broadbent in an English super-flyweight cracker.
And this event is beginning to take shape after announcing the appearances of the unbeaten Leather twins, Josh and Kalam.
The Guisborough brothers will be fighting for the first time since joining new coach, Gary Lockett.
Top promoter, Frank Warren, has released another of his undefeated prospects, Jeff Saunders, to box on the bill.
The Sedgefield light-welterweight has won all 12 of his paid contests.
Words: Roy Kelly
