North-East boxing is poised for a special night in Newcastle and not just because of Savannah Marshall and Lewis Ritson.
Some of the region’s brightest talent are in action on the Sky Sports/ BOXXER event as part of the support cast to Marshall’s third defence of her WBO world middleweight title against Lolitia Muzeya and Ritson’s international light-welterweight clash with Henry Lundy.
Mark Dickinson, April Hunter, Georgia O’Connor, Steve Robinson and Michael Webster all appear at the Utilita Arena, which stages its first fight night in two years.
The stand-out bout on the undercard could well be the Tyne-Tees derby at cruiserweight where Middlesbrough’s Michael Webster is attempting his sixth straight pro win against Newcastle heavy-turned-cruiser Jone Volau.
Webster (pictured) has made a breathtaking start to his career, clinching three of his five wins in the blink of an eye.
But, Volau, a member of HM Forces, will present his sternest test yet, especially with local pride very much at stake.
Such has been Webba’s explosive professional journey, the Teessider has yet to be struck, or certainly come under any pressure, so this will be an interesting contest to say the least.
Robinson has had his chin tested in his last appearance when he outpointed Swindon’s Phil Williams on MTK’s show at the Vertu Motors Arena in February 2020.
It was the first time in three bouts the Gateshead giant was forced past round one and ‘USSR’ has English opposition again just down Scotswood Road at the Utilita Arena.
The 6ft 7in giant is up against another recent pro in Manchester’s Reece Barlow, who lost on his debut in June at Wembley on the Joyce Joyce-Carlos Takam undercard.
No rival has yet been named for Hunter, who will be chasing her fifth straight win in the paid ranks, nor for O’Connor who makes her debut on the Sky Sports show.
The Durham girl, an ABA middleweight finalist in 2019, has joined the professional ranks where she is being managed by Gateshead fight figure and former pro, Mark Clauzel.
O’Connor’s former Birtley team-mate, Dickinson will also be delivering his first punches for money at the event.
The Gateshead middleweight’s 2019 ABA title win was the launchpad for an exciting international amateur career but, like Georgia, decided against a crack at the 2024 Olympics and went pro with MTK and trainer Ben Davison.
Mark, the nephew of former British cruiserweight king, Jon Lewis Dickinson and ex-Prizefighter champ Travis, will face Sloakia’s Michal Gazdik in Newcastle.
Staying with middleweights, there is a North v South affair on the bill as unbeaten Lancashire lad, Bradley Rea, faces highly-touted Londoner Jez Smith over eight rounds.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
