Fight figure Steve Wraith has saluted the skill and dedication of Team Shep ahead of Ellis Corrie’s maiden defence of his Northern Area welterweight title.
There is only a month to go before the 22-year-old puts his belt on the line against Chad Ellis in Newcastle.
This mouth-watering Darlington v Spennymoor shoot-out will headline MTK’s event at the Newcastle Eagles Community Arena on Saturday, February 29.
It will only be Corrie’s eighth professional bout, his rapid rise to success testament to his ability and adaptability having spent the majority of his sporting life as a Muay Thai fighter.
“I don’t think the lads will mind me saying that it is a big jump going from one discipline to another,” said manager Wraith.
“Ellis has gone from one sport to another and learn something his rivals have been doing for years, with Peter Shepperson’s guidance.
“To learn to adapt and move in such a short space of time is credit to him.”
On the subject of a short space of time, Corrie did not hang around on the night he won the belt, stopping the unbeaten Tom Hill inside four rounds.
The finish was spectacular and ended the wait for success the team hoped would have happened a bit earlier.
An eight-round North-East battle with Basi Razaq went the journey in May 2018, while a mooted derby later that year with Tom Whitfield never got off the ground before Hill v Corrie was delayed until December, having been originally been scheduled for the 2019 Summer Rumble.
Wraith added: “We’ve had him set up for previous championship fights which didn’t happen so there have been things which have set him back.
“But he’s only a young lad he’s got his whole boxing career ahead of him.
“He’s focused, he’s ready, he’s got a good team and good sponsors behind him.
“A lot of credit goes to Ellis, but special mention to Pete, who has worked tirelessly at the expense of spending time with his own family to get Ellis to where he is today.”
Wraith says he was delighted for Shepperson when Corrie triumphed at the Rainton Arena in December.
“Peter deserves this success as a trainer,” said the Geordie who is pictured left with Shepperson, Corrie and Imran Naeem on his left.
“We’ve had some very good fighters who, for one reason or another, have either dipped out or haven’t had the luck or been injured.
“It’s just over two years ago me and Peter were stood in the corner with Chrissy Wood watching him in a Northern Area title fight thinking Chrissy was going to be the next big thing and sadly, after that fight, he never wanted to box again.
“I don’t think we’ll see John Green again and we were hoping for big things there too.
“Looking now at Ellis, fingers crossed, it’s going to lead to bigger things.”
The Northern Area title confrontation headlines a show which also includes the likes of Alex Farrell, April Hunter, Joe Laws, Joe Maphosa, Lawrence Osueke, Jeff Saunders and Troy Williamson and many more.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
