Middlesbrough’s very own ‘Iron Mike’ is back in the ring and part of another huge night of North-East boxing.
Just a week after Probellum were in Newcastle with Pat McCormack, Lewis Ritson, Tommy Ward and British champion Troy Williamson and many more, BOXXER are here this Saturday when Michael Webster will be part of the fantastic five.
‘Webba’ is part of a bill headlined by Hartlepool’s Savannah Marshall at the Utilita Arena and including other talent from our region in the shape of Luke Cope, April Hunter and Georgia O’Connor.
Punch-lines understands the matchmaker attempted to get a domestic bout for the unbeaten cruiserweight, but Michael must go again with European opposition and his hardest test yet.
Having fought three Lithuanians, a Czech, a Pole and an Estonian, he now faces a Kosovan-born German, Edogan Kadrija in his seventh bout.
‘Big Edi’ brings a winning record to Tyneside, having won 17 of his 21 contests, including 11 inside the distance.
Kadrija has lost two of his last three inside the distance but both defeats have come in championship contests and he looks a live opponent.
That is good news for Webster, who looks a real prospect but has yet to be tested.
The ex-South Bank ABC star (pictured left at today’s weigh-in) has won all six with four of those wins coming in just two rounds – the same record as a certain ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson had at the start of his career.
There are a few intriguing fights elsewhere at the Utilita Arena, notably as the chief support.
Unbeaten welterweight and Florian Marku faces former British and Commonwealth champion Chris Jenkins in an IBF International title fight scheduled for 10 rounds.
Expect fireworks after the respectful media-day meeting was followed by a confrontation at the weigh-in, where the Albanian King grabbed the Welshman by the throat.
Brad ‘The Sting’ Rea was involved in the fight of the night when BOXXER and Sky were in Newcastle last October, when he beat Jez Smith. Now he faces WBO African middleweight champion Lukas Ndafolumas, who spoke well at Thursday’s media conference.
Then there is a battle of two British super-middles after undefeated Jack ‘The Cannon’ Kilgannon, from Oldham, stepped in as sub to take on Londoner Zak Chelli on Saturday.
Kilgannon, who boasts an 11-0 record replaces Diego Costa, who was unable to make the required weight safely at short notice.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ BOXXER
