An old favourite and lots of new attractions. Just one way of summing up Saturday’s fight night at Rainton Arena – second promotion of 2024 from Jobes Boxing.
The old and punch-lines uses the word old as in long-standing is provided by Lawrence Osueke, who returns to the ring after a four and a half year hiatus.
Osueke faces a familiar name and face at the Houghton venue when he meets Edgars Sniedze over six rounds with the Latvian getting through UK ropes for the 53 rd time.
Lawrence has not fought since losing to Dan Azeez for the vacant English light-heavyweight title in Brentwood. The 35-year-old, now representiong Jobes Boxing, resumes with a 9-1-1 fight log and it will be nice to watch the quality ex-GB Boxing fighter back at work.
The new bit is provided by Sunderland’s newest pro Eduard Georgiev, who makes his professional debut.
From Bulgaria, via Cyprus, the 24-year-old is now happily based in an SR postcode and seems to have built quite a following who will get to see him on Saturday night against Honduras boxer Jayro Fernando Duran, now based in Spain.
Georgiev is managed by the king of Wearside Phil Jeffries and trained by Craig Kent and Stan Williamson.
Still on the new theme, four boxers fight for just the second time.
Darlington’s Josh Babb, who made an impressive debut in Middlesbrough in February, is up against Nicaragua’s Marvin Solano, while Dan English resumes after a violent opener last October, when he floored a brave John Spencer twice. The Consett super-bantam faces Jake Pollard, from Bradford. Both are six-rounders.
Joe Miller and Billy Wade both made winning debuts on the last Jobes event in March.
Miller, from Seaham, tackles Brentwood’s Jack England, a winner last time out, over four rounds, while Newton Aycliffe super-middle Wade faces Genadij Krajevskij over six.
Redcar’s Bobby Dalton, who clinched his first inside-the-distance success on the most recent Jobes show, is matched with ‘Pitbull’ Connor Meanwell, from Newark, over six rounds.
Jarrow’s ‘Showman’ Robbie Colman, also a winner on the March promotion, is matched with the Nicaraguan known as ‘The Gas’ Eliecer Quezada. Cue quips about turning ‘The Gas’ off.
Like Osueke, undefeated South Shields star Sam Menzies is also chasing his 10th pro win, facing Batley’s Nabil Ahmed.
Click here to read an interview with Forest Hall’s ‘Pocket Rocket’.
The show opens at 7pm.
Words: Roy Kelly
