End of an era. That will be the championship boxing show at Houghton where Steve Wraith will bow out as a promoter.
The Geordie fight figure, who is working alongside Phil Jeffries for the event headlined by Joe Maphosa’s bid to win the vacant English super-flyweight title against Craig Derbyshire, has grown disenchanted with the promotion scene and the difficulties that go with it.
Wraith will continue in boxing as a manager, with Northern Area champion and English title contender, Ellis Corrie, his principal boxer.
He will continue top promote sports and entertainment events and has ‘An afternoon with Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank’ coming up in Gateshead on Sunday, October 17.
Steve is also a prolific and successful author, actor and podcaster and is the font of all knowledge where Newcastle United are concerned.
But punch-lines is here to talk about Wraith the promoter.
He has staged shows throughout the North-East (and also London) including bringing boxing to his beloved St James’s Park.
The highlight, undoubtedly, must be the twin championship show he promoted at Temple Park in October 2014, when South Shields hero Anthony Nelson won the vacant English super-flyweight belt against Terry Broadbent and Hartlepool’s Peter Cope outpointed John Green in a Northern Area title derby.
There was also another Northern Area title classic for Wraith in 2016 when Billy Snaith beat Daniel Cope at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield.
Your punch-lines writer’s favourite Wraith promotion featured a title fight which never made it to the ring when Basi Razaq pulled out of his headline bout with Ellis Corrie at the last minute.
The rest of the show was gripping with those in the away corner coming to fight.
Steve Wraith released the following statement: “I will bid farewell to life as a pro boxing promoter after requesting the BBBC refund my bond and fee for the coming year.
“It will be nine years to the day since my first promotion which has seen me stage 35 bouts across the region as well as a couple in London.
“It is getting almost impossible for small-hall promoters to put on shows any more. I almost walked away pre-Covid but this sport is like the mafia at times.
“You try to get out but it pulls you back in. All of the costs are going up such as doctors and referees which means we have to try to find more sponsors or, failing that, put the cash in ourselves.
“Unlike the big promoters we don’t have TV money to bail us out. There is also a desperate shortage of journeymen, meaning that matchmakers can only offer foreign fighters which incurs greater costs and additional financial issues with various Covid costs and restrictions.
“I have some great memories. Nella winning the English title, Billy Snaith winning a Northern Area title in record time, and Ellis Corrie winning (pictured) and retaining the Northern Area title and, of course, putting together the undercard for Anthony Joshua at the arena and putting on the first pro show at St James’ Park.
“I will still be involved and at ringside as I will be renewing my manager’s license and will be helping Phil Jeffries moving forward on his. We have forged a great friendship over the years and I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces this Friday.”
Words: Roy Kelly
