Going to war in Walker. That is the assignment for some of the North-East’s up-and-coming fighters.
Josh Blenkiron is the headline act this Saturday when the Walker Dome hosts pro boxing for the first time since 2017.
Sky Sports were in Toon then for a Matchroom show starring some of their Team GB-stars-turned-professionals like Josh Kelly, Anthony Fowler and Natasha Jonas, who all won rather early,. while there was quite an array of regional talent like Warren Baister, Stuart Hall, Bradley Saunders and Simon Vallily.
It would be the last time boxing fans got to see Baister and Saunders, while Hall’s six-round decision over Jose Aguilar proved to be the last of win of a magnificent career.
But this weekend’s action is all about boxers making their way in the sport.
Blenkiron is a case in point. The Sunniside 23-year-old is chasing his fifth straight win as he faces Sheffield’s Owen Durnan, who has won two of his five pro appearances.
Former Dunston ABC boxer Blenka (pictured) has impressed in his winning run against Rustem Fatkhullin, Michael Mooney, Harley Marginson and Jake Osgood, the latter being this first outing over six rounds.
Ferryhill’s Callum Walton will be looking to join his fellow Co Durham boxer on 5-0 when he meets the man known as there ‘Freedom Fighter’, Manchester-based Iranian Bahadur Karami.
Walton thumped Zdenko Bule to a second-round defeat on debut before reeling off wins over Patryk Polasik, Tom Ramsden and Victor Edagha.
Former Birtley ABC star Ben Rees is another unbeaten boxer worth keeping a close watch on.
The highly-decorated Newbiggin southpaw, also unbeaten in four outings, is up against Tanzania’s Hussein Itaba.
It is nice to see Ryton’s Sophie Rogers back in action after tasting defeat for the first time in April when she was outpointed by Inna Statkevych at Eston. Sophie takes on Kira Carter at the Walker Dome.
Wallsend’s Anth Ornsby gets to fight around the corner when he steps into the ring for the 11th time as a professional. The popular 8-2 boxer is up against Rotherham southpaw Nathan Darby.
Newcastle’s Irish Centre might be a few regulars down on Saturday night given FIVE boxers from the island of Ireland are in action at Walker.
Armagh duo, James Freeman (2-0) and Lee Gormley (2-1) are up against Jake Osgood and Naeem Ali, while Limerick’s Myles Casey tackles ‘Batley Bulldog’ Nabil Ahmed, who boxed well against Lee Rogers at Rainton Arena last month. Unbeaten Coleraine fighter Matthew ‘Bam Bam’ Boreland takes on another familiar English figure in Jake Pollard.
There is a debut for Sligo’s Thomas Myers, who is up against evergreen Yorkshireman Harry Matthews. Thomas, who is managed by the event’s promoter Jack Gladman, is a former All Ireland champion in the amateur game.
It is one of two debuts on the card. Jamal Sadek, who is part of promoter Mark ‘Mo’ Prior’s stable, faces Tewkesbury’s Shane Smith.
Words: Roy Kelly
