Quantity and quality. That is the bill of boxing coming up at the Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday, July 27.
Martin Ward-James Dickens 2 is a great match at the top as the southpaws reprise their British super-bantamweight title clash from November 2015.
This time though it’s for the vacant belt after Tommy Ward abdicated his crown to pursue his International Boxing Federation ambitions.
The younger of the gifted boxing brothers tackles Ionut Baluta for the IBF European belt in the second of the championship contests.
Below the two Hartlepool-trained siblings, there is a packed undercard, currently standing at eight bouts.
Joe Laws, after raising the roof at the Stadium of Light earlier this month for his pro debut, will be having his second professional outing.
The ‘Benwell Bomber’ has yet to have his opponent confirmed but a number of the supporting cast know their opposition.
Hartlepool and Horden ‘Hitman’ Anth Hardy makes a welcome return to the square ring when he faces Michael Williams.
Hardy, who boasts a 9-2 record, has not boxed since April 2017, though the southpaw will be keen to make progress back to English title level.
Williams, who fought all the way to the last bell against Tom Hill at the Summer Rumble last weekend, will be very much a ‘live’ opponent at the Dennis Hobson Promotions event, in association with Dave Garside and Phil Jeffries.
So too is Sam Omidi who has been matched with undefeated Spennymoor boxer, Chad Ellis.
Omidi battled it out with Glenn Foot at the Metro Radio Arena last month, when he came under heavy fire from ‘The Hammer’.
It won’t be straight forward for Ellis, who doubled his win tally the same night when he climbed off the canvas to defeat Kevin McCauley.
Two other unbeaten North-East fighters know their foes.
Bedlington terrier Darren Reay (pictured) who, like Ellis, was a winner at the big Newcastle event, will be looking to make it four straight wins as a pro.
The 28-year-old ex-Northern League footballers is up against Take Bembere who lost on his pro debut last month.
Kyle Redfearn has made a storming start to life in the paid ranks and he will be chasing his sixth victory against Middleton’s Darryl Sharp.
The Ferryhill light-heavy has won five out of five, with three early, and is a man worth watching.
Taking of boxers worth watching, Luke Cope, Jordan Ellison,Tom Hill and Terence Wilkinson will complete an entertaining North-East line-up with Doncaster heavy Dave Allan also expected to fight.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
