Simon Vallily will be the first of the North-East title hopefuls in the ring at the Metro Radio Arena on Saturday night and he intends to be the first with a belt around is waist.
The Middlesbrough fighter challenges defending champ, Arfan Iqbal, who makes the maiden defence of his English cruiserweight belt on Matchroom’s action-packed Newcastle event.
Boxing is scheduled to start around 4.30pm with Iqbal-Vallily due in the ring around 7pm – it’s the first of five cracking championship showdowns, all featuring a North-East boxer.
Vallily was expecting to tackle the 26-year-old back in February only for the Derby cruiser to pull out on the eve of the bout in Manchester.
However, four months on, the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist is determined to turn a career with much promise into something meaningful.
“Definitely,” he declared. “I’ve trained long and hard for this and I intend to put it all on show on Saturday.
“I’ve been well thought of for quite a while now, but it’s time to start taking those titles and the first is going to be on Saturday night.”
Iqbal, who won the vacant belt last July with a fourth-round stoppage of Eastender Wadi Camacho at the York Hall, is a tricky foe.
He is unbeaten after 12 consecutive wins, though Vallily, who has lost only once in 13 appearances, is convinced he has his number.
“I just think I’ve a better pedigree as a fighter and am a better fighter,” said the Imran Naeem-trained Teessider, pictured above with promoter Eddie Hearn.
“As long as I am on my game I’d beat Arfan 10 times out of 10.
“I’ll come through and get the title and then it will be onwards and upwards.”
Every one of the title contests has the makings of a classic.
An all-Northern battle sees Doncaster’s Gavin McDonnell defend his WBC International super-bantamweight title against Darlington warrior Stuart Hall in a must-win clash for both men.
Much-vaunted Charlie Edwards faces South Shiels comeback man Anthony Nelson for the vacant WBA Continental super-flyweight title.
Lewis Ritson’s British lightweight title defence against unbeaten Belfast boxer, Paul Hyland Jnr, is the co-headliner to Sunderland’s Josh Kelly’s challenge for Kris George’s Commonwealth welterweight title.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ Matchroom
