NE29. Not just the postcode for North Shields but the calling card for one of its most talented and toughest residents.
Thomas Hodgson’s fans delivered regular renditions of “NE29” during their unbeaten hero’s homecoming bout at the weekend when ‘The Hitman’ outpointed Russia’s Rustem Fatkhullin over six rounds at the Gateshead Hilton for his fifth straight win.
Hodgson’s fans had plenty to shout about as the 25-year-old produced a dominant display against a difficult Russian, who seems to be boxing on a weekly basis in this country.
Having fought Tommy’s North-East neighbours, Calum French and Adam Cope, during his UK it was a chance to compare notes and there was certainly nothing wrong with Hodgson’s performance.
And, having stepped up in class against Fatkhullin, it would be nice to see Dennis Hobson’s Fight Academy add another level next time out – he certainly looks good enough.
After a scrappy opening minute or so, Hodgson got to work in impressive fashion with some good combinations and a left or two to the body.
It put Rustem on the retreat and while the visitor, officially listed as from Southampton, put out a couple of ungainly rights to the body and a left to the head in the third, Hodgson was untroubled.
The former Birtley ABC star (pictured being interviewed by Fightzone) mixed up his attacks in a strong final round, including some spiteful body shots, and clinched a 60-55 scoreline from referee Ron Kearney.
The sell-out show, screened by Fightzone, featured the professional debuts of two North-East boxers who took part in two England v Russia fights, or in the case of Ryszard Lewicki, Poland/ England v Russia.
Lewicki is a Polish-born middleweight, who boxes out of Craig Carney’s gym in Middlesbrough, the HQ of Britain’s light-middleweight champion, Troy Williamson, and ‘Trojan’ would have been proud of his team-mate’s fourth-round stoppage win.
Ryszard was up against a seasoned opponent in Vasif Mamedov, who slung a couple of wild left swings early on, but Lewicki was in no way put off.
Mamedov tried to spoil is way through the third and in the final round had a point deducted by referee Neil Close.
Lewicki had concentrated on power shots throughout and a right put his opponent down just near the away corner.
Mamedov was up smartly and with orders from Carney in the home corner to “let go”, Ryszard did just that as he let both hands go with Mr Close, wisely, stepping in to save the Russian an even bigger beating . Timekeeper Stewart Lithgo’s clock was one minute 45 seconds.
Fellow newcomer, Kai Richmond, had a different approach but it was just as impressive as he beat Viktor Vezhlivtsev 40-36, with Mr Kearney doing the judging.
It was a very accomplished debut, so accomplished you wouldn’t have guessed ‘The Cobra’ had not boxed before.
A former MMA fighter, who boxes out of the Twins gym in Trimdon, had the height and reach advantage over Viktor and he made full use of it.
His good jab got through, with the 21-year-old featherweight just as effective with the straight right.
The third had a little bit more action than boxing and in the last Vezhlivtsev attempted to goad Richmond but the Spennymoor lad stuck to the formula which had served him so well and won superbly to the delight of his fans.
The only downside to the event was there was no fight for Wallsend’s Anth Ornsby with the other two bouts featuring South Yorkshire fighters.
Popular Doncaster heavy Dave Allen stopped Bulgaria’s Milen Paunov in the second round while Sheffield middleweight Harrison Hobson enjoyed a fine debut by outpointing Manchester’s Dale Arrowsmith 40-36.
Words: Roy Kelly
