Ellis Corrie’s career could be ready for take-off – providing he retains his Northern Area title at the Newcastle Eagles Community Arena.
The Darlington boxer has been added to the April 4 Matchroom event along the road at the Utilita Arena which promoter Eddie Hearn formally unveiled this week.
However, Corrie must make a successful defence of his welterweight belt in the highly-anticipated DL derby with unbeaten Spennymoor prospect, Chad Ellis.
That match tops the bill on MTK’s big fight night at the Scotswood Road venue on Saturday, February 29.
Corrie’s trainer, Pete Shepperson, is confident his 22-year-old champ will prevail against his challenger and then take a step towards higher honours in April.
“The MTK show is a very big platform with it going out live [on IFLTV],” Shepperson told punch-lines.
“We also know that should Ellis get past Chad he’ll be boxing on the Lewis Ritson bill in Newcastle on April 4th, not that we’re looking past Chad in any shape or form.
“Eddie has said he’ll try to get an English title eliminator for that show.
“That’s the next step for Ellis, we don’t want to be looking backwards, we don’t want to be going back to six and four-rounders.
“We want to follow the proper route, this then English then so on.
“I’m not saying we want the English straight away, but we’d like an eliminator.
“I think the English title will be come vacant soon, the champion is looking to move on to British level.
“That’s the plan I’m looking at but, like I say I’m not looking past Chad and Ellis certainly isn’t he is completely focused on February 29th.”
Shepperson says Team Corrie has nothing but total respect for Chad Ellis who has won all nine of his bouts and has shown significant progress over the last 12 months.
But there is a strong sense of optimism in the camp that the Steve Wraith-managed star’s victory over the previously unbeaten Tom Hill for the vacant crown back in December at Houghton is just the start of something big.
“Everything is going to plan, Ellis is in great shape already, sparring really well,” added the coach.
“I think people are going to see another clinical and explosive performance.”
Ellis Corrie v Chad Ellis is just part of a bumper MTK event which includes some of the North-East’s unbeaten stars including (in alphabetical order) Alex Farrell, April Hunter, Joe Laws, Joe Maphosa and Troy Williamson to name just five.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
