Has there ever been a North-East boxing show like this?
Back ‘in the day’? Who knows, but in terms of the modern era nothing approaches Friday night’s Probellum event at the Utilita Arena.
Newcastle’s auditorium has had some spectacular nights like Lewis Ritson v Robbie Davies Jnr, while the likes of British greats Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton and Amir Khan have defended their world titles there, plus the Sugar Ray Leonard Cup was once in Toon.
But there has never been a major card stacked from top to bottom with North-East talent.
It has the lot, a maiden British Championship defence for Troy Williamson, Lewis Ritson’s return to the Utilita Arena, an international fight for Tommy Ward, Olympic silver medalist Pat McCormack’s debut and much more.
‘The Sandman’, back in the ‘Ritson Cathedral’, is up against former world champion, Dejan Zlaticanin, the man from Montenegro best known for a win on UK soil against Ricky Burns. The pair are pictured above with Probellum president, Richard Schaefer, and Phil Jeffries.
Williamson got hold of the Lonsdale Belt thanks to one of the fights of 2021, when he beat Ted Cheeseman in Liverpool. Tonight he defends against Ellesmere Port’s Mason Cartwright.
Ward will be looking to press on towards a world featherweight title fight assuming he can see off Africa’s Alexis Kabore over 10 rounds.
McCormack will be boxing for the first time in the paid ranks for the first time when he meets Justin Menzie, a late sub from Essex over six rounds.
The Washington boxer, the Olympic and World championship finalist, is one of the hottest talents to come out of the Tokyo 2020 squad.
Fellow Ben Davison-trained boxer and ex-Birtley ABC and GB team-mate, Mark Dickinson, make his third pro appearance against Hungary’s Peter Kramer over six rounds.
Also boxing over six will be Thornaby’s Joe Maphosa who is chasing his 12th win against France’s Santiago San Eusebio.
The Benwell Bomber is after victory number 13, with Joe Laws tackling Russian-born Czech-based Alexey Tukhtarov, again over six.
It’s six rounds too for one of the night’s debutants, Ben Rees, with Ashington’s ex-England Amateur champion, up against late replacement, Greg O’Neil. ‘The Real Deal’ gave Matt McCallum a decent argument in Gateshead before Christmas so it should prove a good derby against the Phil Jeffries-managed talent.
Moving on to the four rounders, another Jaffa talent is undefeated Greek Geordie prospect Alex Farrell, who will open the show against Bulgaria’s Konstantin Aleksandrov at 5.30pm.
He is followed by the debut of Ritson’s Forest Hall comrade Moe Sayers, a former Royal Marine, who takes on Manchester’s Darryl Sharp.
Unbeaten Sunniside heavy Rob Ismay is looking in great shape ahead of his fight with former Olympian Christian Adjoufack, who was in Newcastle earlier this month to box Darryl Hall.
Gifted Hartlepool lightweight prospect, Adam Cope, is the night’s ‘floater’ so he will be ready to be thrown in at any point against Sandhurst’s Jonny Phillips.
That’s 12 contests, starring 12 North-East boxers, 13 if you include ‘the Real Deal’. It should be some occasion.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Probellum
