Class act. Those two words could have been invented for Lawrence Osueke.
The 31-year-old has the stage to display it on Sunday when he boxes at the 2019 Summer Rumble at the Stadium of Light.
It is Osueke’s second appearance at the annual event at the home of Sunderland AFC having beaten Edgars Sniedze was beaten over four rounds 12 months ago.
But this time around it will be eight rounds for the undefeated Tyneside star when he meets Gianni Antoh.
It is a key fight for the Steve Wraith and Niki Gittus boxer who is not a million miles away from getting his face in the light-heavyweight picture.
North-East boxing already has a number of champions, Josh Kelly, Savannah Marshall, Lewis Ritson and Tommy Ward, while there are a number of unbeaten stars currently just under the radar like Jeff Saunders, Darren Surtees and Troy Williamson, to name just three.
“Lawrence is very very good technically,” Wraith told punch-lines. “The class oozes out of him.
“He is making real progression.
The most recent three of his eight victories have been in six-rounders but this represents the next important step forward.
Read here about the Greek champion boxing at the Stadium of Light.
Wraith revealed Team Osueke turned down a big-fight offer in the not-too-distant past but feels the opportunities are now just around the corner.
“It was a couple of fights ago and that was not the right time,” added Wraith.
“With our team we like to do the right thing for the fighter and when the step up is made we’ll know Lawrence is ready for it.
“It’s been about keeping Lawrence active, getting more rounds and building his unbeaten record,.
“When that comes together you know a fighter is ready to take his chance, you have seen that with Lewis Ritson.”
Osueke (pictured with coach Niki Gittus) boxes for the ninth time as a pro on Sunday when he takes on Antoh.
The Cambridge boxer has made a habit of fighting unbeaten home favourites and defeated one a few months back at the York Hall, so appears to be no dummy.
As punch-lines publishes this the Phil Jeffries/ Wraith event is now at 11 bouts after the loss of the second 50-50 derby on the bill, the Tyneside affair between David Lake and Zaki Shirzad, with comeback man Davey ruled out with injury.
There is still plenty to watch and read about the cast list here.
Tickets will be available on the door at the main entrance to the Stadium of Light. Doors will open at 12.30pm with boxing due to start at 1.30pm.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
