Put aside all talk of AJ-Fury, it’s time for North-East fans to prepare for a big evening of boxing.
MTK are back in Newcastle for Saturday’s fight night, headlined by the intriguing all-Ellis battle as Ellis Corrie makes the maiden defence of his Northern Area title welterweight title against Chad Ellis.
But there is more to the event at Newcastle Eagles Community Arena than that Darlington v Spennymoor match, brilliant though it looks.
There is an absolute ton of North-East talent on show, from the boxers on the verge of big things, to those just at the start of their boxing journeys.
Jeff Saunders continues his comeback, chasing his 14th straight win, the Sedgefield boxer taking on Edvinas Puplauskas.
It’s not a straight forward a task as it looks. While the Lithuanian’s record is nothing exceptional, all his bouts seem to be against unbeaten stars or big ticket sellers.
He has taken an ‘0’ or two in his time and last year stopped the undefeated Tony Bange at the York Hall so it won’t be easy for the Wallsend Boxing Academy fighter.
Also seeking win number 14 is Darlington’s IBF European light-middle champ Troy Williamson, who should have too much for Poland’s Daniel Urbanski.
It will be a perfect 10 for his fellow Frank Warren-promoted boxer, Joe Maphosa, if the Thornaby pocket dynamo sees off Moises Mojica.
Like Jeff’s opponent, this Nicaraguan is no dummy with a good percentage of KOs on his fight log.
Lawrence Osueke is also targeting for his 10th pro win and comes up against Manchester’s Darryl Sharpe. The Steve Wraith-managed star is looking to get back to winning ways after a draw and defeat in his last two contests, both at title level.
Joe Laws and the ‘Bomb Squad’ seem set for a noisy night on home soil as the ‘Benwell Bomber’ prepares to face the Czech Republic’s Jan Prokes.
On the subject of bombs, Redcar’s Tom ‘One Bomb’ Hill returns after his Northern Area defeat to Corrie, with a toughie against former Olympian, Serge Ambomo.
It will be interesting to watch one of MTK’s prospects in action as Ireland’s Lee Reeves (with five wins to date, four by KO) fights for the first time on these islands against the Ukraine’s Artur Davydenko.
Back to the North-East contingent, MTK’s Dave Binns-trained cruiser, Adam Gair, is after his fifth win, facing the seasoned Czech campaigner, Jiri Svacina.
Alex Farrell, Anth Ornsby and Michael Webster all go after their fourth pro ‘W’.
O’Tooles star Ornsby is up against the busy Sheffield operator, Qasim Hussain, while Farrell and Webster have Hull-based Lithuanians in the opposite corner.
Greek-Geordie Farrell, part of the Binns stable in Peterlee, faces Zygimantas Butkevicius, while former South Bank ABC star Webster meets Andrius Ruzas.
Big hitting Mark Clauzel heavyweight Steve ‘USSR’ Robinson (pictured) boxes for the third time in the paid ranks where he is matched with Swindon’s Phil Williams.
Finally, there is a debut for a new MTK addition Matt Stark McCallum, who has ‘turned over’ from a successful run on the unlicenced scene. The light-heavy is up against Italian-born Cambridge boxer, Gianni Antoh.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
