Seven fights, seven wins, two titles.
Not a bad list of statistics of Josh Kelly after the Sunderland star added the Commonwealth welterweight title to his WBA International belt when he followed Newcastle hero Lewis Ritson in pulling off an amazing double for the North-East.
Ritson took just under three minutes to blow away Paul Hyland Jnr to win the Lonsdale Belt for keeps after a spectacular third defence of his British lightweight title.
Kelly put the seal on a special night by stopping champion Kris George after seven one-sided rounds, the Aussie retiring in his corner after complaining of hand trouble.
Elsewhere, there were defeats for North-East 30-somethings Simon Vallily, Anthony Nelson and Stuart Hall as they missed out in their title challenges.
Kelly had the rather unenviable task of following the Ritson fireworks.
Credit to the Metro Radio Arena crowd, the vast majority stayed in their seats for ‘Pretty Boy’ instead of hitting the town.
And they were treated to a different sort of fight as the Sunderland boxer went through an entire repertoire.
He had to take a few left hooks from the champion who looked decidedly unfazed with the occasion.
But it was no shock that the shots and the pace Josh set would take its toll and George’s corner called over referee Marcus McDonnell before the start of the eighth round to offer their retirement which the London official accepted.
Glenn Foot produced a typical Glenn Foot display in between the two headline acts.
Cut from six rounds to four, the Sunderland crowd favourite outpointed Sam Omidi, from Manchester 40-36 from referee, Ron Kearney.
The night began with three points wins from local prospects, Chad Ellis, Darren Reay and Lawrence Osueke.
Spennymoor boxer Ellis recovered from being put down by Kevin McCauley in the third round to take a 39-37 result from the busy Ron Kearney, who handled six of the bouts on the night.
Reay had a tricky opponent in Mwenya Chisanga but the ex-Bedlington Terriers player emerged with a 40-37 triumph.
Osueke did not look a class above Remigijus Ziausys, he looked 10 leagues above the portly Lithuanian and he impressed in a 40-35 landslide.
Alas, from a North-East perspective, the region drew a blank from the opening three championship bouts.
Vallily will be kicking himself, or should be, after drawing with English cruiserweight champion Arfan Iqbal.
Having began so brightly, Vallily had a point deducted in round seven and round eight after referee Marcus McDonnell lost patience. Those points would prove crucial in the final reckoning.
Steve Gray marked it 96-92 for Vallily, with Terry O’Connor scoring it 95-94 to Iqbal with Howard Foster having the pair level at 94-94.
Nelson had what seemed to be half of South Shields in the Arena with him but he was to come up against a very good opponent in Charlie Edwards.
The Croyden super-flyweight, who now boxes out of Sheffield, put brave Nella down twice in round two and when he felled him in round three, Mr Foster did not even count calling a halt at 2min 23 seconds, to allow trainer Mal Gates and the medical staff to attend the 32-year-old.
Thankfully, Anthony recovered quickly and was back on his feet to sportingly applaud the new WBA Continental champion.
Hall went all the way with WBC International super-bantamweight Gavin McDonnell, but the Doncaster boxer had the extra class to take a unanimous decision.
The Darlington veteran showed his customary heart and engine, putting in a spirited finish. The Ukraine judge had it 115-113 to McDonnell but the 117-111 scorelines from Daniel van der Wiele and John Keane looked about right.
Words: Roy Kelly Pictures: Jennifer Charlton
