Eddie Hearn says he’d love to sign Joe Laws.
But the Matchroom boss also says he has warned Joe Laws he will lose if he does step up and box like he did in Newcastle on Saturday night.
The ‘Benwell Bomber’ did step up at the Bad Blood show AND registered his eighth victory as a pro in his toughest bout to date.
Matched with Justice Addy, he was up against the Ghana welterweight champion who came into the contest with all but two of his 16 wins coming inside the distance and possessing a significant reach advantage.
Laws (pictured) decided attack was the best form of defence only for the African to score nicely on the back foot in the opener.
Laws found the mark in the second with a hammer right to Justice’s head though his opponent looked untroubled but it was a different story at the end when he was wobbled.
More ‘bombs’ followed in the last two from Laws whose explosive approach had the fans going wild and had Addy holding on. Referee Kearney scored it 39-37.
Earlier, the 25-year-old’s Wallsend Boxing Academy team-mate, April Hunter made the perfect start to her professional career.
The 24-year-old made her debut at the Utilita Arena where she defeated Borislava Goranova over four rounds.
Newcastle’s first female professional for almost two decades, she was presented with an appearance on the city’s biggest night of 2019 and did not disappoint.
Managed by Phil Jeffries and coached by Nik Gittus, the former Howdon ABC star started well against the boxer from Sofia, who is a former Savannah Marshall opponent.
A long right to the head and a left hook to the body hurt Goranova in the third and the visitor was forced to hang on, literally, in the last. Referee Ron Kearney scored it 40-36.
Terence Wilkinson was also in action early doors before the venue really filled up.
But those in early saw the Walker light-welterweight make it eight wins from eight, outpointing Daryl Pearce with Mr Kearney awarding him all four rounds from his ringside stool, with Mr Weaver handling the bout smoothly.
Talking of smooth, ‘Wilka’ boxed superbly, much cleaner and sharper than his last outing on the MTK event three Saturdays previously.
The Davy Ritson-trained let both hands go against his opponent, from Birmingham, who was left battered and bruised.
For the second October in a row Darren Reay had the misfortune of closing the show at the Utilita Arena.
Twelve months ago, the Bedlington boxer blitzed Samuil Dimitrov in the first round but this time his overseas visitor, Eduardo Valverde, not only took him all the way, but nicked a draw to boot.
Given the participants of this ‘floater’ had to wait until after the main event and entered the ring just before midnight, it says much about their professionalism, dedication and desire that they produced one of the most competitive contests of the evening.
It was lively stuff from first to last, with both boxers going at it hammer and tong and it was hard to argue with Mr Kearney’s verdict, neither man deserved to lose. It ended 38-38 with Reay’s unbeaten record extending to eight fights.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
