It’s fight night! Are you excited? You should be.
Eddie Hearn serves up 14 fights at the Metro Radio Arena, climaxed by Lewis Ritson v Francesco Patera for the vacant European lightweight title.
Fight of the night contender, Glenn Foot v Robbie Davies Jnr, is the chief support for the British and Commonwealth light-welterweight belts.
Punch-lines has rammed thousands of words on both contests down your throats, so what can we expect from the rest of the night?
Tons of good stuff.
Were you at the Metro Radio Arena in 2015 when Matchroom gave Anthony Joshua his sole appearance in North-East England?
Tonight, there is a similar chance to see one of the hottest boxers anywhere.
Joshua Buatsi, a 2016 Olympian, is something special and the South Londoner defends his WBA International light-heavyweight crown against experienced Frenchman, Tony Averlant.
There is heavyweight action as Doncaster’s ‘White Rhino’ Dave Allen faces Samir Nebo. It looks a beauty given the German has been the distance only once in 13 fights.
2012 Olympian Anthony Fowler looks to stretch his winning run against Hungary’s ‘Double G’ Gabor Gorbics. It is scheduled for eight rounds.
Elsewhere, Manchester’s Hosea Burton meets Saido Saul, and Scotland’s John Docherty, a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist debuts against Jordan Latimer, who has won both of his pro bouts.
What about the North-East boys?
Simon Vallily has the opportunity to bury the memories of his last Newcastle appearance when he faces big-hitting Craig Glover in a
British cruiserweight Championship eliminator.
This Middlesbrough v Liverpool battle (pictured above) opens the action live on Sky Sports at 7.05pm.
Vallily was on his way to the English cruiserweight title in June in the same Metro Radio Arena, where had two points deducted allowing Arfan Iqbal to escape with a draw and with his belt.
There can be no such slip ups tonight as the former Commonwealth Games gold medallist looks to line up a crack at British glory.
Chad Ellis will open the show a midge’s finger nail after the Metro Radio doors open at 4.30pm. The unbeaten Spennymoor welterweight has Bulgaria’s Angel Emilov for company over four rounds.
Undefeated Newcastle light-heavy Lawrence Osueke is the next local lad in the ring with a six rounder against former Commonwealth champ Charles Adamu (pictured).
Four of Simon’s unbeaten North-East comrades are involved in what is known in the business as floaters. It means they will be fitted in when Sky choose , usually after a scheduled long-distance dust-up has finished early.
So if Allen v Nebo only goes a round or Buatsi flattens his French foe in two, don’t head to the bar because you might miss one of the following.
Joe Laws, backed by a 1,000-strong ‘Bomb Squad’ takes on Birmingham’s Chris Truman over four rounds.
It’s the same distance for Bedlington’s Darren Reay who has Bulgarian opposition in Samuil Dimitrov.
Ritson’s Forest Hall team-mate, Terence Wilkinson, looks to make it three wins from three against Plymouth’s Chris Adaway.
And one of the North-East’s most gifted boxers, Tommy Ward, will have a six-rounder (or four depending on time constraints) against Germany’s Tom Tran.
If you are there at the Newcastle venue in person, it all starts at 4.30pm, while it’s live on Facebook from 5.45pm and Sky transmit from 7pm.
Words: Roy Kelly Pictures: Jennifer Charlton
