Just what would Eddie Hearn deliver in Newcastle? The answer was EVERYTHING.
Matchroom’s supremo has put together a bonanza on June 16 at the Metro Radio Arena, with FIVE title fights, all of which feature North-East stars.
We already knew about Lewis Ritson’s toughest defence yet of his British title against fellow unbeaten lightweight, Paul Hyland Jr.
And we already knew who the Newcastle star’s joint headliner would be, Josh Kelly.
The Sunderland boxer has a summer spectacular of his own as he will
Challenge for the Commonwealth welterweight title against Australian Kris George.
But Hearn has pulled three corkers out of the bag for the event which will be screened live on Sky Sports.
Anthony Nelson v Charlie Edwards for the vacant WBA Continental super-flyweight title.
Stuart Hall v Gavin McDonnell for the WBC International super-bantamweight belt.
Simon Vallily v Arfan Iqbal for the English cruiserweight championship.
To have two North-East fighters boxing in title fights in the North-East is sensational, but five? That’s just being greedy.
Certainly two of the three, Nelson and Hall, will be outsiders on their home turf.
Nelson, who is making his comeback THIS Saturday in South Shields will have his work cut out against ex-World title challenger Edwards, purely given the length of time he’s been away from the square ring.
But it represents an incredible chance for the 32-year-old, from South Shields.
The same applies to Hall, who must prove he’s not washed out after back-to-back title defeats at bantamweight.
The Darlington veteran, now 38, is up against former world title challenger McDonnell, who is fresh from the best win of his career, a victory over Gamal Yafai in Sheffield where he won this WBC strap.
Vallily, from Middlesbrough, gets the chance to capture Iqbal’s English belt after the Derby cruiser pulled of their scheduled February meeting with an injury.
Hearn told Tuesday’s packed media conference at Newcastle Civic Centre: “It’s fantastic to be back in the North-East and this is a brilliant card from top to bottom with five excellent title fights.
“We’re back here in a big way and I’m really excited about this bill.
“Every time you come to a place like Newcastle you feel like the city really wants you to be here and you want big shows with the Sky Sports cameras – it feels like a Belfast or a Liverpool, it feels that the city is ready for a great night of boxing and that’s what we’ve delivered.”
Words: Roy Kelly. Pictures: Ian Horrocks/ Matchroom
