Terence Wilkinson will not overlook Jordan Ellison when the North-East rivals scrap it out for the Northern Area title.
The Newcastle fighter starts as hot favourite for the vacant light-welterweight belt at the Rainton Meadows Arena, saying he “has nothing but complete respect” for his opponent, from Seaham.
At first glance, you would not give Ellison a prayer.
After all, he’s only just recently registered his first win in 18 bouts and he’s up against a fighter with a 100 per cent record.
But look a little deeper and this has the makings of a 10-round war, a war in which you might struggle to pick a winner.
Wilkinson, part of the incredible Forest Hall gym put on the map by Lewis Ritson, has reeled off eight wins as a professional.
All have come over four rounds, the pick of which would probably be his win over Danny Mendoza, the Spanish-based Nicaraguan, in Newcastle.
This promises to be the hardest assignment yet.
Ellison has got through 269 rounds thus far, chalking up a couple of notable successes, registering a couple of draws, which could easily have been wins and been robbed from time to time.
During that winless run of 17 contests there were two draws away from home, against Adam Hague and Colin Day, a boxer whose unbeaten record he had previously taken.
“Jordan is a good, game fighter,” said Wilkinson. “I have nothing but complete respect for him.
“He’s had a good career and upset some big names and I definitely won’t be overlooking him.
“Jordan will see this is his big chance, just as I do, so he’ll be up for it every bit as I am.
“I am confident but not over-confident.”
There are two significant factors which could give Ellison hope.
Wilkinson has never gone beyond four rounds and has not boxed since winning on the undercard of Ritson’s Bad Blood triumph over Robbie Davies.
But there is no concerns with the Walker man.
“Training has gone well and we are good to go,” the Davy Ritson-trained fighter told punch-lines. “I’ve been ready for a step up for some time, if it wasn’t for the pandemic I would have gone up in rounds.
“I’ve never just trained to do four rounds, I train the same for every fight.
“It’s been a while since I last fought, but training has gone great, I’m good to go.
“Davy’s happy and so am I.
“The Northern Area title is a great belt and winning it would not only mean everything to me but it will take me up to the next level.”
There is another 10 rounder on the Phil Jeffries / MTK event, this time a international super-bantamweight match between MTK boxer Shabaz Masoud and Diego Ruiz, while there is North-East talent on the bill in the shape of Adam Cope, Nathan Commiskey, Joe Laws, Sam Menzies and Jordan Barker Porter.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
