Happy anniversary, Steve Wraith.
The Tyneside fight figure celebrates his ‘sixth birthday in the world of boxing promotion with a a cracker in Dunston on Saturday night.
“My first pro event was when Tommy Ward had one of his first bouts,” Wraith told punch-lines.
“It’s nice to celebrate an anniversary.
“But from the show perspective we’re looking to up our game a little bit.
“We’re working with a company called Fingers & Fringe who are doing the visuals for the big screen.
“We’ve got Rob Orton who is going to do a new sound and light package, so we hope this show has a bigger feel to it.
“Yes, these are small-hall shows but we want to up the status of them.
“We want to make them bigger and better for the paying public.”
Naturally, what happens in the ring will be the ultimate way of judging the show.
Everyone on the region is STILL talking about the Metro Radio Arena gif back in June, starring Josh Kelly and Lewis Ritson.
However, 2018 has been a good year all round for North-East boxing, not just at the elite level.
Those who have attended shows in Darlington, Houghton, South Shields and Sunderland have been entertained.
In fact, if pushed, his writer would have to mark down May’s event at the Dolphin Centre as one of the shows of the year, even after the collapse of the headline attraction at the last minute.
Of course, the bell has yet to sound at the Lancastrian Suite but the fare on offer looks good.
There are two North-East derbies to look forward to.
Opposite banks of the Tyne collide when Kris Pilkington, fighting out of Newcastle’s Jobes Gym, tackles MTK signing Jay Hughes, while one of Krissy’s stablemates, Zaki Shirzad, makes his professional debut against Adam Hutchinson, from Darlington.
One of Newcastle and the North-East’s finest prospects, Lawerence Osueke (pictured), is bidding for his fifth paid success against Kamil Kulczyk.
And one of the region’s most explosive customers will doubtless be worth watching again, Kyle Redfearn, who has won for of his six outings inside the distance. The Ferryhill firework meets JIndrich Valecky.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
