What is the saying about waiting for a bus? You wait ages for one and then three coming along at once.
You could say the same about boxing shows in the North-East.
Months after the last one, we now have three in as many weeks, Houghton on Friday night, Newcastle seven days later and Gateshead on December 11. If you can afford all three, you are doing well in these testing times.
First out of the blocks is Phil Jeffries who promotes at his second favourite venue, Rainton Arena, this Friday evening.
It had been scheduled for 11 bouts but it’s now down to six, as often happens there are pull-outs while Bobby Dalton and Ewan McKenzie, originally booked for Houghton are now on the Troy Williamson-Josh Kelly undercard at the Utilita Arena.
You’d probably say it’s quality above quantity with some very good operators on the left side of the card. How good the whole show is will depend on the men on the right side and how much they put into it.
Joe Maphosa is the leading performer, with the Imran Naeem-trained star chasing his 14th professional win, tackling Batley’s Nabil Ahmed.
The Thornaby flyweight’s win over Santiago san Eusebio in March looked like being a prelude to a return to the championship picture but, hopefully, success this Friday at a venue where he had great wins over Louis Norman and Marius Vysniauskas will provide the impetus for a big fight next.
Northern Area champion, Adam Cope, boxes for the first time since his title win over Jordan Ellison, with a six-rounder against Karl Sampson.
His Sheffield opponent has, in Ellison style, taken a couple of unbeaten scalps in his 4-13 record, so the undefeated Hartlepool boxer (pictured centre), coached by ex-pro Andrew Close, can’t take anything for granted as he goes for his sixth victory.
It’s a Cope double with young brother Luke back in action, aiming for his fifth pro win against Jake Osgood.
The Natural Progression Boxing Academy talent’s last bout was a cracker at Newcastle back in April against Lee Connelly. Luke is pictured far right with boxing brothers Joe, Peter, Adam and Daniel.
Another Jake provides the opposition for Sam Menzies, with the 6-0 South Shields prospect facing Bradford’s Jake Pollard.
Mal Gates-coached Menzies impressed on the Summer Rumble back in July and will be hoping for more ope the same here.
Nathan Forrest looked good on his debut at the end of August on the Jobes Boxing show and he fights for the second time here, meeting new Manchester pro Harley Marginson.
The Bishop Auckland boxer is under the tutelage of Neil Fannan in Hartlepool, where he trains alongside unbeaten number one-rated WBA featherweight Tommy Ward.
There is a debut on the event on Friday when former Bilton Hall ABC crowd-pleaser, Robbie Colman, the ‘Showman’ going in with Bolton’s Kieran McAfee.
Doors open at 6pm with boxing due to start around 7.30pm.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
