Reece McAllister kept his composure and produced plenty of skill to launch his professional career with a victory at Tear Up On Tyneside.
The 26-year-old outpointed an experienced foe, Chris Jenkinson, over four rounds in Dunston.
McAllister, making the transition from Thai fighting to boxing, was ticked off for a ‘south of the Equator’ shot at the end of the first round and within seconds of the second session he was deducted point for a low blow with the same left fist.
But the popular Newton Aycliffe fighter got to work to Jenkinson’s head and put some good stuff together.
Both boxers landed scoring shots in the last, but McAllister was a deserved winner, referee Ron Kearney marking it 39-38.
Luke Cope doubled his win tally with another impressive showing.
Carrying on from a successful debut in Darlington in May, the youngest of the Hartlepool fighting brothers defeated Telford’s Dean Jones.
Cope’s jab dominated this contest, the third round proving his best as he chucked in six quality rights for good measure.
Jones gave it a go in the final three minutes, earning a share of the last round with Mr Kearney scoring it 40-37.
While both McAllister and Cope are at the start of their professional journeys, John Green was back in the ring for the eighth occasion, but the first time since the 2015 Summer Rumble.
And the Middlesbrough favourite marked his return in style with a third round stoppage of Alec Bazza.
The Belfast battler’s record is not the best, but he played his part in a cracking bout, which had been scheduled for six rounds.
Roared on by chants of “T-T-Teessider” Green was on the front foot from Stewart Lithgo’s first bell, but there was plenty of activity from Bazza.
The Pete Shepperson-trained lightweight got into his stride in the third with five stinging rights, three to the body and two to the head, but it was a left-right combination to the head which did the damage.
Bazza went down and while he was up promptly, after Mr Kearney had reached “eight” he ruled enough was enough and ended matters at two minutes, 50 seconds.
And the final contest of the night was just as entertaining as Middlesbrough neighbour Mohammed Waqas won for the second time since resuming his career and the sixth time in total.
It would not be unfair to say that opponent Anwar Alfadli rarely comes to fight, but he made an exception in this case.
Waqas had the better of the first but back came the Sheffield veteran to take the second. The Imran Naeem fighter was much more effective in round three as he got his left hand working but the fourth saw Alfadli really give it a go to leave the crowd on tenterhooks.
Mohammed (pictured) just about earned his win, 39-38, from Mr Kearney. What a shame this wasn’t over six rounds.
Words: Roy Kelly
