It’s England Boxing Elite National Championship time … or the ABAs if you are of a certain vintage.
Friday night marks the Tyne, Tees & Wear stage of the Senior Elite competition, which is being staged, like last year at Hartlepool’s JD Sports Domes.
It has to be said the 2018 finals, at the same Seaton Carew venue, was a belting night and while the entry list looks a bit thin, there is no reason not to expect another good evening this time.
Birtley’s Ben Rees, the TTW’s only male national winner 12 months ago, is back to defend his U81 kilo title,
There are four scheduled to be in his weight division, Brandon’s Dan Lennon, who Ben (pictured) defeated in the TTW semis last year, plus Horden’s Gav Martin and Steve Pattison, From Sunderland.
Jim Tyers, an entrant at 81 kilos last year looks set to go in at 75 kilos this time around.
The East Durham boxer comes to the JD Sports Domes in good fettle having lifted the USL TTW U75 kilo belt against Sol Starke in the same place last month. He has Sunderland’s Mathew Stewart for company at middleweight.
The 69 kilos section has the nighest number of entries, including Sunderland ABC’s Travis Waters.
My ‘fight of the night’ came in this division in 2018 when Birtley’s 2017 silver medallist, and now an unbeaten pro, Joe Laws, defeated Bobby Dalton on a split decision. It’s nice to see the Redcar boxer back this time.
Four divisions, sadly, have only one entrant and the lightest section none, but this is the ABAs, sorry, England Boxing Elite National Championships, and the competition should be fierce.
There are a number of support bouts, featuring Hartlepool Catholic Club boxers, Travis Miller, Conner Gales, Evan Vaughan and Reece Bailey.
Doors open at 6.30pm. Boxing starts at 8pm. Tickets are on sale at the door £15
