What a week for Joe Maphosa.
Named as a finalist for the Evening Gazette Sports Awards Emerging Star trophy, the Thornaby now looks to make it six wins from six as a professional on Saturday night.
The 24-year-old tackles Hungary’s Gyulla Doda over four rounds at a packed card at the Leicester Arena, which is being screened on BT Sport.
It is a good test for the Imran Naeem-trained super-flyweight.
Doda arrives in the East Midlands with a more-than-decent record of 18 wins and a draw from 28 appearances.
The 21-year-old, from Budapest, has lost every time he has come to the UK, though it has to be stated that each time he has been in with the best of Britain’s little fellas.
Doda is unbeaten on home soil where he has registered nine stoppage wins including lifting the vacant Universal Boxing Organisation international super flyweight title. Yes, it is yet another sanctioning body, but it shows he knows his way around a ring.
Maphosa, a graduate of the Tees Active Sports Academy, has displayed that himself in five very impressive successes to date, none more so than last time out in South Shields.
The Frank Warren-promoted prospect halted Steven Maguire just 10 seconds before the end of the fourth and final round.
The debutant, from Manchester, had proved a very good test, before a Maphosa right-hand floored him in the fourth, with a rattling head combination from ‘Smokin’ Joe’ prompting referee Ron Kearney to intervene.
“Joe’s a consummate professional,” said Imran.
“He’s in great shape and is ready to showcase his skills.
“Gyula Dodu has boxed most of the top flyweights in the country, so for us this is the ideal match up to see where Joe is.
“We expect Dodu to come looking for an upset win and that suits us down to the ground.
“This will be Joe’s last four-rounder we’re looking to push on after this with title aspirations next year.”
Saturday’s card is remarkable for the fact Queensberry Promotions fill all 12 home spots with unbeaten boxers.
Topping the bill is a light-welterweight domestic confrontation of the highest calibre as Jack Catterall (22-0) faces Ohara Davies (18-1) for the WBO Inter-Continental title while Sam Bowen (13-0) takes on Horacio Alfredo Cabral (21-2) for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight belt.
Nicola Adams (4-0) looks to add the interim WBO world flyweight championship to her collection against Isabel Millan.
Imran, who had two winners on Tear up on Tyneside last weekend, added: “It’s great to be out on a big card and a chance to showcase his boxing ability outside of the North East.”
Words: Roy Kelly
