Tommy Ward will have German opposition when he takes to the big stage in Newcastle on Saturday night.
Tom Tran sounds like a Sat-nav device but in fact he is the boxer in the away corner for the IBF European super-bantamweight champion.
Ward is tuning up for an IBF world super-bantamweight title fight with Mexican hard case Cesar Juarez and Tran looks a good test.
The 26-year-old started his career with six straight wins but it was a case of unlucky seven as he came unstick against unbeaten Irish prospect Tyrone McCullough in Belfast last time out.
Ward, coached by Neil Fannan and managed by Dave Garside, is chasing his 25th straight win.
Lawrence Osueke also has an unbeaten record to extend and the Steve Wraith-managed talent has been handed a tricky assignment at the Metro Radio Arena.
The Geordie light-heavyweight, with five straight wins to his name, will fight African veteran Charles Adamu over six rounds.
While the former Commonwealth champion has just squeezed over the 40-mark (age as well as fights) he is still winning and still knocking people out.
The 41-year-old, who has a 32-10 (25) record, has mixed in good company, having fought Carl Froch, George Groves and Rocky Fielding in the UK.
Fellow Newcastle fighter Joe Laws has a winning fighter facing him when he takes to the ring for the third time.
Laws has been matched with ‘The Trumanator’ over four rounds, Chris Truman, from Birmingham, whose log reads 13-10-2 (2).
‘The Benwell Bomber’ has started his career in explosive fashion with two stoppage wins, will there be a third for the Graeme Rutherford-trained fighter?
Joe’s manager, Phil Jeffries, has a busy night at the Metro Radio Arena.
Another of his undefeated crop of boxers is also out for the third time, Terrence Wilkinson.
The Wallsend fighter, a stablemate of Lewis Ritson, has oozed class in his back-to-back wins and the Davy Ritson-trained light-welter is up against Plymouth’s Chris Adaway over four rounds on Saturday night.
Darren Reay, a winner on the Ritson/ Josh Kelly undercard in June, has another date at the Metro Radio Arena with the Bedlington Terrier taking on Michael Mooney. MTK stablemate Chad Ellis is also scheduled for a four-rounder.
Simon Vallily will fly the Teesside flag on Tyneside.
Vallily threw away his English Cruiserweight title fight with Arfan Iqbal on the last Metro Radio Arena show, having two points deducted when winning the contest.
The 33-year-old, from Middlesbrough, can get back on track here but has a formidable foe in Craig Glover who has won eight from nine, seven inside the distance. Sparks could fly.
Words: Roy Kelly Main picture: Tom Collins/ East Durham Life
