To borrow two words from legendary MC Brian Houshby (or three if you count it’s as two): It’s time!
Time to get ready to Rumble with Summer Rumble 8 hitting the ring on Sunday at 1.30pm.
Phil Jeffries, this year in association with his Geordie comrade Steve Wraith, presents seven bouts at the Stadium of Light, topped by the ring return of Darren Surtees.
But punch-lines is looking back at the highlights of Summer Rumble 1 to 7 and it’s been a canny series.
2011: Two 10 quality rounders topped the bill as Jon Lewis Dickinson edged out David Dolan in a Northern Area cruiserweight title derby, referee Mark Curry marking it 97-94 to JLD with Martin Ward producing a masterclass against Ian Napa, though the 96-94 score from Andrew Wright looked a tad tight. Peter Cope and Mark Clauzel were on the undercard and looking good.
2012: Peter Cope was back and starring on a whopping 15 fight show. That’s right 15!
The Hartlepool southpaw took a 98-92 verdict for a International Masters belt, at super-bantamweight no less, against Redcar’s Gavin Reid. The promotion featured a WBO Inter-continental and WBA European totle win for Ireland’s Willie Casey against Nottingham’s Jason ‘Too Smooth’ Booth.
A chocker undercard featured, hold on to your hats, Clauzel, Craig Dixon, Dolan, Glenn Foot, Lee Mould, Anthony Nelson, Greg O’Neil, Mohammed Waqas and Tommy Ward … and many more!
2013: Jaffa loves a derby and fans were treated to two beauties at the third Rumble, Nelson outpointing Waqas 98-95 for the Northern Area super-flyweight belt, while Jonson McClumpha and Andrew ‘El Cannon’ Buchanan brayed each other for six round for a 58-58 draw from Graeme Williams. A Classic match.
Two debuts to mention, Anth Hardy and Mick Hadfield, who launched a sadly-too-brief pro career on this gig.
2014: McClumpha was back and headlining this cracker of a show by outpointing Jason Ball 97-95 for a Masters belt. Tons of stars shone, notably Foot, Hardy, Basi Razaq, Thomas Essomba and Mould, with Daniel Cope on debut as the Cope Rumble tradition continued.
2015: Talking of the Copes, Peter was back to defend his Northern Area lightweight title against familiar foe John Green, but the Boro boxer avenged his previous defeat to Copey by taking a deserved 98-95 decision from Mr Wright. Elsewhere, Essomba flattened Robert Kanalas in round two of their eight rounder while Sam Best stopped Lynden Watt in a derby. Tommy Ward excelled (as always) while there was a North-East appearance from a certain Lewis Ritson, who was boxing out of Scotland at the time.
2016: No titles for Summer Rumble 6 but six was the number of the day with six six-rounders, including both Ward brothers.
Simon Vallily stopped Tony Visic in round three but the highlight of the show was Foot’s points win over Lee Connelly, the Marley Pots favourite dropping his opponent with a body shot which was perhaps a little south of the equator if you catch my drift. Summer Rumble 6 marked the first bout for Ritson under Jaffa’s management. Whatever became of Lewis?
2017: Summer Rumble 7 was shy on quantity but not quality as we got to see a very gifted young unbeaten light-welterweight called Akeem Ennis Brown turn up and nick the English title from Foot after 10 fascinating rounds. Peter Cope (again!) was in action, while the Stadium of Light fans got to see Darlington talent Troy Williamson. Tommy Walsh laid his Groundforce tools down to make a winning debut.
What was your favourite memory? Let’s face it there has been some beauties. If I had to pick one, I’d go for McClumpha-Buchanan. They never had that re-match!
Tickets are available at the door on Sunday. Doors open at 12.30pm with the action starting an hour later.
Words: Roy Kelly
