Joe Maphosa is ready to resume his drive towards championship boxing – and he’ll be doing it at a favourite location.
The undefeated Teesside talent will have his first eight-round fight this Friday at the Rainton Meadows Arena where he takes on Lithuania’s Marius Vysniauskas.
It is the chief support bout to the eagerly-anticipated Northern Area title confrontation between Darlington’s Ellis Corrie and Tom Hill, from Redcar.
Maphosa has not taped up his gloves in anger since his win over Louis Norman at the Houghton venue back in March.
That was the best result of his career to date but hopes of building on it have been dashed by seeing two dates collapse – including a scheduled appearance at the Black Flash promotion at Dunston in July.
Thankfully, Maphosa is being employed this week by promoters, Phil Jeffries and Steve Wraith, and, hopefully, there will be no late dramas.
So has motivation been a problem for the 25-year-old?
“I always keep motivated,” Maphosa told punch-lines. “There have been hard times, especially when my last fight fell through on the day.
“But I’m really looking forward to Friday night – it’s fight week and it’s almost time to go.
“I am looking to finish the year off with a good win and take that into 2020 and some big fights.”
It looks a competitive match despite the away man arriving with a 2-6 record.
Punch-lines would not be unfair in saying that some visitors from areas of Eastern Europe have not been the toughest hurdles for a home boxer to clear.
However, in this instance, Vysniauskas looks no dummy.
The 33-year-old has a good amateur pedigree, including signing off in the unpaid ranks by winning the flyweight gold at the Algirdas Socikas international tournament in his native Lithuania in May.
“He seems good – I’ve watched a couple of clips of him,” said the former Tees Active Sports Academy graduate.
“He looks like he comes to give it a go and that’s what you want as a fighter – they are the contests you get the most out of.
“I must be sharp and box well.
“It’s nice to be boxing at the Rainton Meadows again, it’s my first eight rounder and I’m looking forward to it.”
Maphosa, trained by Imran Naeem at the Natural Progression Boxing Academy in Stockton, has won all eight of his professional dates, one of his successes coming inside the distance.
Also in action are Alex Farrell, April Hunter, Rob Ismay, Jeff Nesham, Anth Ornsby, Mark Taylor, Simon Vallily and Michael Webster.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins/ Stockton & Billingham LIfe
