Darren Surtees, British champion.
Four words which sounds like poetry and it might not be that far from moving from a page to a reality.
The British Boxing Board of Control have approved a British light-welterweight title eliminator between the unbeaten Surtees and Welsh fighter Kieran Gething.
And the good news for Surtees and his loyal Co Durham fans is that the fight looks set for an MTK-promoted event on Tyneside on Friday, May 3.
A BBBC statement read: “The Stewards approved a request from Promoter Lee Eaton for the eliminator contest, which will take place on Friday, 3rd May 2019 in Newcastle.”
Surtees (pictured right) has rattled off 11 victories, eight of them early, including three rapid evenings inside just 11 weeks at the end of last year.
Gething, also 24, is not looking bad himself, having established a record of 7-2-1 (2).
Those numbers are made more I’m preside by the fact his career got off to an uncertain start with a draw against Kevin McCauley and a defeat to Aaron Sutton.
However, he has lost only once since, a points decision against Tony Dixon for the Welsh welterweight belt last October.
Surtees, trained by Dave Binns in Peterlee, managed by Phil Jeffries and promoted by the Sauerland brothers, is looking better by the bout.
Binns does not disagree.
“It’s very positive, a move in the right direction,” said the East Durham College-based trainer.
“You would have to say if Darren can’t beat the likes of Kieran then his career might not be going where we think it’s going.
“Watching him in the ring and in the gym, I think there’s a lot more in him.”
Surtees, from Thornley, has taken a mere five rounds to sweep aside his last three opponents, two on World Boxing Super Series events, Kane Baker (R2, Jeddah) and Troy James (R1, Glasgow) plus a second round ending against Oscar Amador on MTK’s North East debut in Gateshead in December.
Binns says that TV win over Baker was a major step forward.
“It was a major show in Jeddah, but Darren took it all in his stride,” hew said. “He was exceptional.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
