A set of brothers will join forces at the Summer Rumble for only the third time next month. But it won’t be the Wards who have entertained fans at the Stadium of Light in 2013 and 16.
The siblings in question are the Hills, Joe and Tom, who look to continue their unbeaten runs at the Sunday afternoon event at Sunderland AFC on July 1.
Tom, known as ‘One Bomb’ will take on Michael Williamson, while elder brother, Joe, is still awaiting news of an opponent.
Both boxers are trained by David Binns in Peterlee and each has have made exciting starts to their careers, Joe (pictured left) having given a fine display on debut in March, when he outpointed grizzled Belfast veteran, James Gorman, in Houghton, where Tom (pictured right) stopped Sheffield’s Dan West with an emphatic finish.
Two of the four Copes have also made appearances at the Summer Rumble though Peter and Daniel have not boxed on the same date at the Stadium of Light.
On the subject of the Hartlepool fighting brothers, Summer Rumble 8 will only be the second of the series not to feature a Cope, Peter holding the record of five Rumble dates.
Redcar favourites the Hills are joined on the bill by East Durham College comrade Darren Surtees, who is back in the ring after a 13-month absence.
‘Dazzla’ has been handed a tricky foe in the opposite corner in the shape of William Warburton. ‘Warby’ might carry a tag of journeyman, but when he fancies the job he can prove highly dangerous as a number of home fighters have found to their cost.
The Binns camp provides one third of the cast on stage at the Stadium of Light.
Trimdon’s Terry Tyers, trained on Teesside by Imran Naeem, He faces Hull-based Lithuanian Zygimantas Butkevicius over four rounds.
Terry Wilkinson, part of Dave Ritson’s Forest Hall gym, makes his debut on the outdoor spectacular against one of boxing’s most enduring figures, Yousef Al Hamidi.
There is another Newcastle fighter making his professional bow, Joe Laws, with fellow Geordies, Chrissy Atkinson, Lawrence Osueke and Kris Pilkington in action.
Words: Roy Kelly
