Given the times we live in not many people will be rushing to put 2021 down as their favourite year – but Ben Marksby might just disagree.
The Darlington boxer has enjoyed the perfect start to life as a professional with the promise of bigger and better things just around the corner in 2022.
Marksby has clocked up win three from three after outpointing the rugged Lee Connelly over four rounds in Manchester, following on from victories over Benjamin Lamptey in Liverpool in October and Vitalli Maksymiv in Leeds last month.
While a Darlo lad through and through, the 22-year-old is part of the VIP Boxing organisation of Steve Wood in the North-West and is the first boxer in the Tenacity stable of Wearmouth ABC’s Anth Kelly and John Stubbs, from Headland ABC in Hartlepool.
Tenacity are thrilled with Ben’s progress and hope to move him up to six-rounders in 2022 and have him operating at lightweight within the next 12 months.
“The win over Lee closed the year nicely,” Stubbs told punch-lines.
“Given Ben’s had two hand injuries to recover from to get three bouts in three months has been great.
“Steve and all the people at VIP are very excited about him and there is a lot more to come from Ben.
“We are confident that there are big things to come and we’ll look to bring him on at the right pace.
“He’s not that long turned 22 so things are going very well.
“We’d love four to five bouts for Ben next year, hopefully all six-rounders.
“We’ll be bringing him down steadily to lightweight, where we think he’ll make a big impact.”
The son of Andy Marksby, the former Darlington ABC and Phil Thomas School of Boxing star was a highly-decorated junior and has taken to the pro game like a duck takes to water.
He produced a terrific display at the AJ Bell Stadium, where referee Lee Sarginson gave him all four rounds against Connelly.
“We were really happy with the performance,” said Stubbs.
“Lee has been known to pinch a round or two against prospects and certainly knows how to stay in there, but Ben totally shut him out.
“It was a more mature performance – in his previous fight he over did it a bit and went big at times but here he took his time and was brilliant.
“Ben is a very reactive boxer and likes to counter shots so he might benefit from someone a bit more lively but we are more than happy with the progress he is making.”
There was a new addition to the Tenacity corner at the AJ Bell Stadium where Keiran Cain, expert cutsman and boss of Spennymoor Sports (pictured left), was alongside Kelly and Stubbs.
“It’s great to have Keiran on board,” added Stubbs. “He’s gelled nicely into the team.”
Words: Roy Kelly
