We’ll believe it when we see it, but April Hunter insists it will be beauty before brutality on Saturday night.
The Newcastle boxer takes on experienced Hungarian Klaudia Vigh over four rounds at the Vertu Motors Arena, where the boxing king of Geordieland, Lewis Ritson, faces Jeremias Ponce in a final eliminator for the IBF world light welterweight championship.
While the Sandman is closing in on the fight of his life, Hunter is still making her way in the professional ranks.
The 26-year-old has won all three of her paid bouts, bouts when she has tried taking her opponent’s head off.
Not this time she insists as she aims to clinch her fourth win and her first with coaches Joe McNally and Declan O’Rourke in her corner – the Liverpool fight figures were unable to be with her for her victory over Elsa Hemat in Barcelona in April.
“Strictly boxing Saturday night,” said the Howdon Hurricane pictured above alongside headliner Lewis Ritson (centre) and Joe Laws.
“I’m not going to get carried away. I’m going to show my skill.
“I’m thrilled to be back, I’m home with my people, my city.
“I can’t wait to have a great performance Saturday night.”
We can’t wait to see the Tony Bellew-managed prospect either.
April forms 20 per cent of the North-East talent on the bill at the venue best known as the Eagles Community Arena.
Ritson, of course, is the main man but there are other boxers from NE postcodes looking to shine.
None more so than her old Wallsend Boxing Academy team-mate and good friend, Joe Laws, who makes a welcome return to the ring for the first time since his stoppage defeat to Rylan Charlton last October.
The Benwell Bomber tackles Plymouth’s Chris Adaway, while Alnwick’s Cyrus Pattinson debuts against Yoncho Markov, from Bulgaria.
He’s not in an NE postcode but Co Durham’s Tommy Ward completes the region’s set with an intriguing featherweight cklash with Mexican champion, Edy Mercado.
In other bouts, Croatian heavyweight Alen Babic meets Damian Chambers over six rounds while Midlands heavy, Solomon Dacres, takes on Spain’s Alvaro Terrero, also over six.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
