You did not need to be a psychic to know that Josh Leather-Glenn Foot 2 was not going to happen.
The British Boxing Board of Control had ordered this mouth-watering match for the British light-welterweight title following Jack Catterall’s decision to vacate the belt .
Promoter Eddie Hearn had even spoken about his desire to stage the North-East derby at his show in Newcastle on Saturday, June 16.
However, Josh has instead plumped for an equally-dangerous domestic dust-up against Ohara Davies in London seven days later.
The unbeaten Guisborough boxer meets the big-hitting cockney on the undercard of Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO middleweight world title defence against Martin Murray at the O2 on Saturday, June 23.
No title has been listed as on the line for this one between two of Frank Warren’s brightest up-and-coming talents though a fight like this, which will be shown live on BT Sport and BoxNation hardly needs one.
It looks a beauty.
Leather has won all 13 of his contests, five of his last six coming inside the distance, his disputed IBF European points victory over Foot in Newcastle last November being the exception.
Davies, from Hackney, just half a dozen miles north of the O2, has lost just once in 17 appearances with 13 of his 16 successes coming early.
“This is a great fight and one that that I’m very confident of winning,” said Leather, who this week announced his return to Teesside following a short and sweet spell in Wales at Gary Lockett’s gym.
“I possess the skill, speed and power to see me past him.
“Ohara is a slick boxer but I’ll have too much for him.
“He won’t know where I’m coming from and I’ll do exactly the same as what Josh Taylor did to him.”
Leather has not boxed since retaining his IBF belt against Foot at the Metro Radio Arena, via a unanimous decision.
This writer did not see the bout but there was almost universal condemnation of the decision in which the judges had the 26-year-old ahead by one, three and five rounds.
Leather, and twin Kalam, are now training at Mas Body in Middlesbrough, with fitness trainer, Mike Hind, today tweeting pictures from the brothers’ training session.
Davies has been absent since a six-round stoppage victory over Tom Farrell in September and he will warm up against Christopher Sebire at Elland Road on May 19 on the undercard of Lee Selby-Josh Warrington.
“I admire Josh’s grit and heart,” said Davies, who says Josh “does the basics well”.
He added: “I don’t see him making it past the eighth round.”
Words: Roy Kelly
