Steve Wraith is thrilled to be back home and back in the venue where he staged his first title show.
The Tyneside fight figure staged Anthony Nelson’s English title win over Terry Broadbent in South Shields in 2014, when there was an electric atmosphere inside Temple Park.
So it is fitting Nelson tops the bill here on Saturday night when the former Commonwealth super-flyweight champion faces Simas Volosinas over six rounds.
“South Shields is my birthplace,” said Wraith. “I never lived there but Shields is my hometown.
“It’s a home-coming for me and the last time I promoted at Shields was an emotional moment because it was the first title fight I’d promoted.
“It was brilliant because Nella beat Terry Broadbent to become English champion.
“The aim was to go back to Temple Park earlier than this, but it’s great to be here now.
“My relationship with Mal is rock-solid, it has never faltered to get three of his fighters on.”
It is an ideal tune-up for Nelson’s match with Charlie Edwards for the vacant WBA Continental super-flyweight title in Newcastle on Saturday, June 16, when Eddie Hearn brings a massive show to the North-East. Edwards and Nelson (right) are pictured above.
“Anthony is a great lad,” said Wraith. “I’ve been involved with him more or less from day one.
“It was fantastic to see him get that fight with Charlie Edwards.
“I think it’s a winnable fight. Respect to Charlie who’s a tough fighter but you look at the fight at the Arena on the Anthony Joshua undercards (in 2015) just to see what Nella can do.
“I think he can do that again, but I don’t want to jump too far ahead.
“He needs top get this fight and dust off the cobwebs and then we can all look ahead to June 16th.”
There are six bouts tonight with Paul Gidney kicking off the action at Temple Park against London-based Swede, Edward Bjorkland.
Team-mate Sam Menzies tackles Sheffield’s Anwar Alfadli.
Thornaby’s Joe Maphosa takes on Estonian-based Russian Sergey Tasimov, Sedgefield light-welterweight Jeff Saunders looks to register his 13th pro win against Lithuanian Edvinas Puplauskas.
Light-heavy Lawrence Osueke also has Baltic opposition, Jevgenijs Andrejevs, from Latvia.
“We’ve got some rising talent on, like Joe Maphosa and we added Lawrence Osueke after we lost the Leather twins from the show,” added Wraith.
“We have a fantastic card and it’s great to have Jeff Saunders on.
“It should be a cracking night.”
Doors open at Temple Park at 7pm with the action scheduled to start at 8pm. Tickets are available at the door.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Ian Horrocks/ Matchroom
