If Alex Farrell is rated as one of the North-East’s hottest prospects, then surely Michael Webster has to be entering that bracket?
While the Greek-Geordie, known as ‘Black Diamond’, sorted out Serge Ambomo with a stoppage in his first six-rounder, the giant Teeeside cruiserweight was winning in an even more rapid time in Houghton.
Webster (right) made it five wins out of five with a devastating show of power to knock out Pawel Strykowski inside the first of four rounds on the Phil Jeffries event, in association with Steve Wraith.
‘Webba’, looking in incredible nick, let his hands go from the start and when a heavy body volley put down the Pole in the neutral corner, there looked no way he would beat the count.
To Pawel’s credit he made it up at nine of Kevin Weaver’s count, but he was in no position to carry on and was counted out by the referee.
It was the third successive early finish from the fighter coached by Denis Power and managed my Michael Marsden.
They have some talent on their hands and he’ll be out again on the Sky Sport/ Boxxer show in Newcastle on October 16.
One of the highlights of the Phil Jeffries and Steve Wraith show was a no-holds-barred derby between undefeated Wallsend fighter Anth Ornsby and Jordan Ellison.
Ornsby was chasing win number five at Rainton Arena while Ellison was looking to halt a sequence of 17 contests without a ‘W’.
Untidy at times but intense it was a Wallsend v Seaham clash that gripped you from first bell to last with Ellison getting the verdit 39-37 from Ron Kearney who was scoring from ringside while Mr Weaver refereed. Top marks to both men.
There was a debut success for two new professionals getting paid for their troubles for the first time.
Both brought big armies with them and each set of fans had plenty to cheers.
Jordan Barker-Porter picked her shots nicely against Lithuania’s Vaida Masiokaite.
A former Lambton Street star, JBP has swapped Wearside for Tyneside and coach Nik Gittus will have been delighted with the performance of Wallsend Boxing Academy’s latest graduate.
Vaida produced a good last round though it did her no good as Mr Kearney awarded a 40-36 to Jordan.
Neil Close did the refereeing for that one as he did for the other debutant, Ewan McKenzie.
Athletics legend Steve Cram was known as the ‘Jarrow Arrow’ or locally ‘Jarra Arra’ and Ewan should be titled ‘Jarra clatta’ after his aggressive approach against Mosborough’s Paul Scaife.
McKenzie, who boxed out of Bilton Hall as an amateur, was relentless in his attacks and his opponent did well to see it though to the end.
Mr Kearney marked it 40-35 and his assessment looked spot on.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
