North-East boxing’s next fight night will be an intriguing affair as two of Frank Warren’s brightest prospects from our region take to the ring.
Unbeaten duo Joe Maphosa and Jeff Saunders will box at Dunston on Saturday, July 6 as Black Flash Promotions stage a seven-fight card, in association with Queensberry Promotions.
They are joined at the Lancastrian Suite by Maphosa’s stablemate, Luke Cope, the returning duo Basi Razaq and Michael Watson, and two exciting debutants, Jamie Bates and Steven Robinson.
Maphosa is a boxer going places after reeling off eight straight wins, the most recent being a six-round classic with Louis Norman in Houghton back in March (pictured).
At a time when Stockton star ‘Smokin’ Joe was assembling the bulk of his 8-0 (1) record, Saunders has been forced to endure a 20-month exile on medical grounds.
However, the 27-year-old has been passed fit and will tape up the gloves in anger for the first time since November 2017.
When the 12-0 (6) Sedgefield talent defeated Liverpool’s Steven Lewis in the battle of the unbeaten light-welterweights just a mile down the road at the Metro Radio Arena it seemed to open the door to bigger and better things.
Alas, it did not, through no fault of his own. But now training under Niki Gittus on Tyneside, the younger brother of former amateur and pro star, Bradley, will be looking to make up for lost time.
So too will his Sedgefield neighbour and old South Durham ABC team-mate, Michael Watson.
A decorated national junior champ, the cruiserweight made a stunning debut on that Warren event at the Metro Radio Arena, but has not been seen since.
Razaq is back after an even longer absence.
The Mark Clauzel-managed welterweight has not boxed since beating Dan West at St James’s Park in September 2017, his seventh win in nine appearances.
While Saunders and Razaq resume, Cope boxes for the fourth time in 13 months after registering three straights victories.
A stablemate of Maphosa at Imran Naeem’s Natural Progression gym in Stockton, he is also on the Warren books and looks some prospect.
Two fighters will begin their professional journeys at the Lancastrian Suite, having come down two very different routes.
England National Amateur Championship semi-finalist, Robinson, has turned pro with Tyneside fight figure, Clauzel, having enjoyed a top career in the unpaid ranks with Swalwell ABC.
And the 27-year-old, from Blaydon, will be looking to make an impact at heavyweight in the pro game.
Bates is making the transition from kick-boxing, where he enjoyed an excellent career.
Managed by Alfie Warren, the welterweight, from Lanchester, is being trained by North-East legend Glenn McCrory who is building a fine team of boxers.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture Tom Collins/ Stockton & Billingham Life
