Sunderland have never had it so good inside the square ring. At least not for some time.
The city has three current champions, all of whom have the qualities to go on and win more glory.
But here’s a quiz question for you, who kicked off the gold rush?
You may have guessed thanks to the headline but the answer is Thomas Essomba.
The 30-year-old beat Glenn Foot and Josh Kelly onto the winner’s podium when he pulled off a stunning victory over Louis Norman for the English bantamweight title.
His six-round knock-out victory at the King Power Stadium in Leicester came the night before Foot’s magnificent triumph in Glasgow where he stopped Jason Easton to lift the vacant Commonwealth Light-welterweight belt.
Then came Kelly’s convincing points success against Carlos Molina for the WBA international welterweight crown.
‘Pretty Boy’ defends this strap at the Metro Radio Arena on Saturday, June 16 when he will look to take Kris George’s Commonealth title at the same time.
Foot, who will box a six-rounder at the Newcastle venue, is awaiting news on a first defence AND a proposed crack at the vacant British championship.
But Essomba will be the first into the ring again when he makes the maiden defence of his English title against in Wolverhampton this Saturday.
Thomas, beaten only twice in his career, will again be conceding home advantage against the Wolves boxer at the Willows Banqueting Suite in Willenhall.
Williams has also won eight times and there are no blemishes on a record which saw Nottinghamshire’s Jordan Turner as his last victim after they met in Birmingham in March for the Midlands bantamweight belt.
Essomba, who was previously managed by Wearside fight figure, Phil Jeffries, is now handled by Kieran Farrell, Manchester’s former English lightweight title challenger who is now a coach, manager and promoter in his hometown of Heywood.
Farrell was thrilled when Essomba stopped Norman in six rounds at Leicester and he is tipping the two-time Olympian to repeat the trick against the in-form 26-year-old this Saturday.
“I think Thomas will be too much for Kyle Williams, “ said the manager. “He’s too experienced, too strong and Kyle will do well if he can last 10 rounds with Thomas.
“I see Thomas getting him out there under six rounds.”
Black Country Boxing promotes the show this Saturday.
Words: Roy Kelly
