Hold on to your hats. What a weekend for the boxing fan.
Two of the North East’s most gifted 10-and-a-bit-stone men are looking to make breakthroughs on on telly shows, one is at a glitzy awards do and on Saturday night some of this region’s new talent take to the stage at Dunston’s Lancastrian Suite.
It all starts tonight when Darren Surtees meets Kane Baker in a tasty British undercard battle before two bigger Brits, George Groves and Callum Smith, collide in the World Boxing Super Series super-middleweight final in Saudi Arabia.
ITV Box Office screen the action from the King Abdullah Sports City, at a more pleasing price than last week’s Sky Box Office offering.
Both boxers (pictured at Thursday’s weigh-in with Surtees on the right) have won eight times and this is a chance for each man to put himself in the shop window.
Also tonight, Lewis Ritson will be sat on his backside.
Out of character I know, ‘The Sandman’ is usually the man putting his opposition on their backsides.
Ritson will be at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London for the glitzy British Boxing Board of Control awards, where he is nominated for the Boxer of the Year award. It might be one evening the British lightweight champ does not win, given he’s up against Ryan Burnett, George Groves, Anthony Joshua, Billy Joe Saunders, Josh Taylor and Josh Warrington, but he’s earned his spot in that world company.
Saturday night features two big occasions.
Punch-lines will start at the iconic York Hall, where Anth Hardy has the opportunity to make a statement at welterweight where he meets unbeaten Londoner Jez Smith.
It looks a potential fight of the night on the British Warrior Boxing Promotion event which will be broadcast by Free Sports.
The come-forward Cockney has home advantage for this eight-rounder but gifted southpaw Hardy will fancy his chances.
Also on Saturday evening, the Lancastrian Suite hosts four bouts under the Steve Wraith/ Phil Jeffries banner.
Newton Aycliffe’s Thai fighter-turned-boxer Reece McAllister makes his debut over six rounds, against Bolton’s Chris Jenkinson.
Darlington DBMA gym team-mate John Green is also in action over six rounds when he takes on Belfast’s Alec Bazza.
Two of Imran Naeem’s NPBA gym boxers are also on the Tear Up On Tyneside bill.
Luke Cope has his second paid fight, against Shropshire’s Dean Jones and Mohammed Waqas meets seasoned Sheffield campaigner Anwar Alfadli.
