Sunderland’s annual outdoor boxing spectacular rarely lets us down.
The North-East’s boxing public have been treated to some terrific action at the Stadium of Light since 2011.
And a new star was born at Summer Rumble 8 as Joe Laws made his entrance into the world of professional boxing with a third-round stoppage of Sylwester Walczak.
Cheered on by over 300 fans, the former Birtley ABC crowd favourite, dubbed the ‘Benwell Bomber’, was fighting in the 70th Rumble bout on this Phil Jeffries/ Steve Wraith event.
It was apt because the 23-year-old (pictured) went from 0-70mph in a matter of seconds as he charged at the lanky Pole.
To say Laws, trained by Birtley coach Graeme Rutherford, is aggressive would be an understatement but while it’s rough and ready, it’s certainly entertaining.
Some of his body shots threatened to break Walczak in half, but the 34-year-old somehow survived until the third round.
Laws thumped him with a left hook, right hook and two follow up rights, sending Sylwester to the deck.
He was up by eight, but referee Ron Kearney called to off after a close look at two minutes, 16 seconds on the clock of James Holborn.
A little like the Metro Radio Arena show, the boxer following Lewis Ritson onto stage was always faced with a tough ask.
At the Newcastle show, it was Josh Kelly, here at Sunderland’s ground the task fell to Darren Surtees.
But, credit to the Thornley man, he boxed superbly on his first appearance in 13 months.
‘Dazzla’ is accustomed to a KO or five himself but William Warburton is not a man to roll over.
But Surtees dominated against the wily Lancashire lad in the headline bout to win 60-54 from referee Kearney.
Surtees was final member of a three-strong East Durham squad in the ring at Sunderland AFC.
He followed the Hill brothers on the seven-fight card.
Joe Hill opened the show by knocking out debutant Matt Johnson at one minute, 20 seconds of the third round to make it two wins as a pro.
It was an entertaining opener in which Joe appeared en route to a points success until downing Matt with a perfect combination. Johnson got to his feet, just, only two be counted out.
Tom Hill has the nickname ‘One Bomb’ but he threw hundreds at Mike Williams who showed great spirit and strength to make it all the way to the final bell rung by time-keeper Stewart Lithgo.
Hill was excellent throughout and Williams a great competitor and he earned a share of round four but the Redcar fighter clinched a 40-37 scoreline from Mr Kearney.
One of the performances of the afternoon (and there were several candidates) came from Terry Tyers.
The Ferryhill fighter, trained in Stockton by Imran Naeem, dug out victory against Zygimantas Butkevicius midway through the last round.
‘Turbo’ had established a mid-way lead only for ‘Zygi’ to take the third and was threatening a draw until Tyers rocked him in the last, prompting the Sunderland referee to step in and halt matters at one minute, 36 seconds.
It was a memorable day for Newcastle at the Stadium of Light.
Terence Wilkinson, cheered on by stablemate Lewis Ritson, continued the great run for Forest Hall by outpointing birthday boy Naheem Chaudry.
The debutant, from Walker, gave the Blackburn boxer several thumps for presents but the Lancashire boxer maintained his proud record of having never been stopped. It went to Mr Kearney’s scorecard and it went 40-36 to the excellent Wilkinson.
Lawrence Osueke put down Edgar Sniedze in the opening round but the Newcastle light-heavyweight also had to be content with a points decision, Mr Kearney marking it 40-35.
Osueke, who had Binns guesting as his lead cornerman and his uncle, Manny Burgo, cheering him on from close by, looked a million dollars when he got his jab working but the awkward Latvian took him the distance.
Words: Roy Kelly
