After a lull following a busy weekend in June, it’s nice to be able to look forward to some action this weekend.
Punch-lines recommends the Shamrock Promotions show at Rainton Arena to any sports fans at a loose end this Saturday, purely to get a look at two exciting 1-0 prospects from our neck of the woods.
Both Jade Pearce and Joe Tyers were outstanding amateur boxers, who have gone down the professional road.
The gifted Tyers, from Trimdon, won silver medals at the 2024 Sheffield World Boxing Cup, at the Leszek Drogosz Memorial in Poland, and at the Tammer Tournament in Finland.
Joe, who boxes out of Billingham Boxing Academy, joined the paid ranks this year, making a successful debut in Nottingham in May when he outpointed Mario Valenzuela.
Here, the 24-year-old takes on one of boxing’s warhorses Michael ‘Mad Man’ Mooney, who is having his tenth fight having retired, supposedly, 12 months ago after losing to Connor Samms at the Houghton venue.
Jade has international opposition in Argentina’s Naila Abigail Peloso, who is six fights into a UK tour.
She has a win along the way too against Jess Woolfenden in Bolton. The Stockport boxer also went into the bout at 1-0 so Jade will need to be on her guard, as we sure she will be.
The Middlesbrough girl, who is the daughter of Boro middleweight great John, gave one of the best professional debuts this writer has reported on when she hammered a very experienced Iceland boxer Valgerdur Gudsteindottir at Eston Leisure Centre last month.
Her third-round stoppage (celebrated in the above picture) success stole the show at the Shamrock event and it will be great to see the all-action 28-year-old in the ring again this weekend.
Sunniside’s Josh Blenkiron (6-0) who impressed a couple of fights back when he topped the bill at Walker Dome where he beat Owen Durnan, goes over old ground against Jake Osgood, from Carlisle.
Sunderland’s Beau Smith takes his first steps over six rounds when he tackles Birmingham’s Lewis Varley. The 21-year-old, part of the Tenacity gym of Anth Kelly and John Stubbs, has yet to drop a round in his five prop contests.
Also boxing over six rounds is Hartlepool’s ‘Engine’ Jason Cumming (4-0) who meets Nicaragua’s Eliecier Quesada, who gained a draw against Sunderland’s Eduard Georgiev on his last visit to the North-East.
Like Jason, Liam Copping is taking part in his fifth paid appearance. Liam (3-0-1) is just one of a big group of Darlington professionals, and is trained by Pete Shepperson. Here he meets ‘Blackpool Rock’ Callum Howarth over four rounds.
Words: Roy Kelly
