Anthony Nelson is back and back with a bang.
The South Shields sports star ended a two-year hiatus from the ring with a conclusive points victory in his home town against Simas Volosinas.
It was a great performance from Nella who entertained a raucous and packed crowd at Temple Park.
Boxing in this arena for the first time since beating Terry Broadbent to become English champion in 2014, Nelson put down the Lithuanian in the opener but the 27-year-old Baltic battler made it through to Stewart Lithgo’s final ring of the bell.
And that’s just how the coach of ‘Babyface’, Mal Gates, wanted it.
Those six rounds have provided the perfect warm-up for Nelson ahead of his North v South match with Charlie Edwards for the vacant WBA Continental super-flyweight title in Newcastle on June 16.
Nella did not appear pleased with his display but, as a reporter who has covered much of the former Commonwealth champ’s career, it looked pretty good from where I was sitting.
It was almost two years to the day since the 32-year-old’s last appearance – his fight of the year with Jamie Conlan in London.
You would not expect Lewis Hamilton to have two years out of F1 racing and win a Grand Prix after eight weeks practicing around the car park at Tesco.
Nor would you expect Andy Murray playing Roger Federer off the court on his return to tennis.
All comebacks must begin somewhere and a good six-round work-out against a resilient foe in front of your adoring public ain’t a bad place to start.
“That’s what we wanted,” said Gates. “Six good rounds.
“Tonight was all about getting back in there, getting his gloves on.
“It was a dress rehearsal for what we want. It’s far away from his best, but we know that, we’re not kidding ourselves.
“But from where he started, from over two stones overweight and not in a great place personally, this was a very good night.”
Gates is spot on in his assessment, as he often is.
Nelson began with purpose, his double jab and follow up right finding their mark and when a right chinned Volosinas, the away fighter was wobbled with his right hand touching the canvas.
Referee Graeme Williams initiated a standing eight count and while Simas landed a couple of head shots of his own, round one was Anthony’s.
As was the second round, which featured more good jabs, plus some strong work in close in and the third saw some accurate work to the head with his left and to the body with is right.
Nelson was forward again in round four and you had to marvel at his engine after such a long spell out.
Anthony possibly over-relied on his right fifth in the fifth which ended up a bit of a wrestle but by the sixth with loud cries of “Nella, Nella, Nella” the ex-Horsley Hill star ploughed forward with a couple of right upper cuts thrown in.
Mr Williams scored it 60-53 and the Nelson comeback had cleared its first hurdle.
Words: Roy Kelly
