Are you ready to Rumble?
North-East boxing’s annual outdoor spectacular is just four Sundays away.
Phil Jeffries will stage 12 bouts to celebrate Summer Rumble number 10 at his beloved Stadium of Light on Sunday, July 17.
WBA world number one ranked featherweight Tommy Ward will headline the event with a 10-round international bout.
Fellow North-East star Mark Dickinson had been due to headline alongside his West Rainton neighbour but is now off the bill.
However, another Probellum prospect has been added in the shape ofLiverpool’s decorated former amateur star, Peter McGrail.
With a Northern Area lightweight title clash between Seaham’s champion at light-welter, Jordan Ellison, and unbeaten Hartlepool fighter, Adam Cope, Jeffries is thrilled with what he’s got on show at his beloved Sunderland venue.
“To have added Peter McGrail to the bill is fantastic,” Jaffa told punch-lines.
“The Northern Area derby is a beauty, but to have Tommy has the headline on this anniversary show after making his pro debut on the 2013 Rumble is pretty special.
“There is some great talent from all over the North-East on the bill and I can’t wait to see it.”
So, who else is on view?
Jordan Barker-Porter will create a little history by being the first female figher on the Rumble, with the ex-Lambton Street ABC boxer having her fifth professional bout.
Watch out for an appearance from first-round KO specialist Nathan Cummiskey, with the unbeaten Jobes Boxing man, chasing victory number four.
Redcar’s Bobby Dalton, a winner on his debut in Houghton in April, turns out for his second contest.
Non-league football turned fighter Darryl Hall, one of a batch of North-East cruisers, will be hoping to extend his winning run to five bouts.
There is another North-East clash, sort of, on the event with exciting Jarrow southpaw Ewan McKenzie matched with George Rhodes, the Scarborough fighter bringing a 7-1 record to Wearside.
Like Ward at the top of the bill, Thornaby’s Joe Maphosa is hopefully not far away from a title assignment and he’ll be looking to build on international wins over Adam Yahaya and Santiago San Eusebio in his last two outings.
Staying with the pocket dynamos, brings us to the ‘Pocket Rocket’ himself, Sam Menzies, with the undefeated South Shields prospect making his first appearance at the Rumble.
So too is Moe Sayers after the Geordie made a spectacular pro debut in March on Probellum’s show in Newcastle whe he stopped Manchester’s Darryl Sharp in the second round.
How nice to see Terence Wilkinson back for a Summer Rumble hat-trick as he returns for the first time since his very close Northern Area light-welterweight title defeat to Ellison last November.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
