“T-T-Teessider” is always a welcome chant inside a boxing arena.
It was often heard days gone by, when Paul Truscott and Josh Leather were in their pomp, and, more recently, with Joe Maphosa, an English title challenger, Tom Hill and Michael Webster.
And it rang around the Utilita Arena, where Bobby Dalton completed a hat-trick of pro wins and his best yet, when he outpointed Joel Banderas in a four-round thriller of two new professionals.
The unbeaten Redcar boxer is motoring along nicely under trainer Craig Carney, the Middlesbrough coach who guided Troy Williamson to British championship and IBF European light-middleweight title success.
“Bobby’s opponent came to give it a go,” Craig told punch-lines.
“The way Bobby fights, he will always be in exciting contests.
“He comes to fight and he’s still only young, he’s only 23 so there is plenty of time.
“Bobby’s a good trainer and very dedicated so hopefully they’ll get him back out soon because he needs more bouts, more experience.
“There is a lot of talent there and he’s beginning to show it.”
The talent certainly is there and he has a great engine to go with it.
Both boxers went at it hammer and tongs in a breathless first three minutes with Dalton carrying on from where he left off in his Rainton successes over George Rogers and Kristaps Zulgis.
Banderas had not just turned up from Spain for the money in Newcastle, but Dalton seemed to relish that, scoring well.
The pace slowed in the third and the distance shortened but the entertainment remained high and during the close-quarter exchanges in the last Bobby delivered a couple of nice head combinations.
Banderas was rewarded for his contribution to the bout with a share of a round, but Dalton was a clear winner with judge Ron Kearney awarding him a 40-37 scoreline.
Stablemate Williamson lost hold of his British light-middleweight belt in the North-East derby with Kelly in the main event which was shown live on Channel 5.
‘Trojan’ is currently taking a well-earned break, but vows to be back, saying on social media: “It’s not over when you lose, it’s over when you quit.”
Well said Troy, the talent on Teesside is pretty special.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
