Darlington boxing’s title collection could soon double if two of North-East boxing’s most feared finishers produce the goods.
Troy Williamson, already an IBF European belt holder, is set for a crack at Ted Cheeseman’s British light-middleweight crown on a Matchroom event this autumn, but before that Ellis Corrie can become English welterweight champion.
The Northern Area king will provide the maiden defence to Samuel Antwi in Sheffield on Saturday, September 18.
Darlington’s destructive duo will both start as outsiders though write off either at your peril – especially given how hard they hit. Twelve of Williamson’s wins have arrived early, including in seven of his last eight bouts, while ‘2 Cool’ Corrie has made short work of his two Northern Area title appearances against unbeaten foes.
He lifted the vacant belt inside four rounds against Redcar’s Tom Hill and was then even sharper seeing off Spennymoor’s Chad Ellis in his first defence in only his seventh pro bout.
Those spectacular 14 minutes have lifted the profile and lifted the popularity of the 24-year-old with coach Pete Shepperson confident Antwi will go the same way at the Ponds Forge Arena.
“I believe he’ll stop Samuel Antwi. I think Ellis will be too strong, too awkward for him,” said the trainer.
“I think we sold 20 tickets for the Tom Hill fight, 90 for the bout with Chad Ellis and then we were flying with over 200 tickets for the Lewis Ritson-Miguel Vazquez show until that got pulled.
“I think we’ll have a few people supporting him in Sheffield too.
“It’s great for Darlington, especially with Troy having got his British title shot against Ted Cheeseman.”
Like Williamson v Cheeseman, it is a Darlington v South London affair.
Antwi is from Stockwell though is now managed by famous South Yorkshire fight figure, Dave Coldwell.
The 29-year-old is more experienced, having had 14 contests, with 13 of them victories, six coming inside the distance, with just the one defeat.
His breakthrough came when he clinched the Southern Area title with an eighth-round stoppage of Jez Smith at the York Hall where his opponent was put on the canvas four times in total while Darren Tetley was down twice when he won the vacant English championship in Bolton in February.
But Shepperson believes the Steve Wraith-managed talent will prevail on the Dennis Hobson promotion in the Steel City.
“I’ve watched a few of Antwi’s fights, with the Tetley fight probably his best performance, his coming out party if you like,” Pete told punch-lines.
“I know Daz well, him and Ellis have sparred a lot, and I don’t think he was firing on all cylinders that night.
“I’m not taking anything away from Antwi who boxed very well but I think it was a case of it being a good night for him and a bad night for Daz.
“There is nothing that I’ve seen of him that Ellis doesn’t do 100 times better. “As long as Ellis is right, which he will be, then I only see one winner.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
