North-East boxing is braced for another big championship derby at Rainton Arena.
Unbeaten Owen Rees will face Jordan Ellison for the Northern Area light-welterweighf title on Saturday, September 27.
It was only a couple of Saturdays ago that Troy Williamson produced a sensational ninth-round finish to stop Mark Dickinson to lift the English super-middleweight belt at the Houghton venue.
And this contest promises to be just as fiercely fought.
Rees (pictured) has chalked up six straight wins as a professional, following up stoppage victories in his first two bouts with four successes by points.
The 25-year-old, from Newbiggin, is part of the Jobes Gym, who promote the event.
It will be the first crack at a professional title for the former Birtley ABC product
However, it is familiar territory for Ellison who is involved in his FIFTH Northern Area title contest.
And the 29-year-old will be attempting to regain the belt he won in November 2021, when he outpointed the previously unbeaten Terence Wilkinson at the same venue.
Ellison has spent the majority of his career as a journeyman as his record of 15-57-5 would point heavily towards.
But in no way should the Seaham fighter be overlooked next Saturday, having taken Thomas Hodgson all the way when ‘The Hitman’ beat him 98-94 to win this very title at Rainton Arena back in April 2024.
Jobes have put together a stacked card which, at the time of writing, is scheduled for 10 bouts.
Hodgson (10-1) returns to action for the first time since a first career defeat back in March when he was stopped at the York Hall by Youssef Khoumari in a challenge for the vacant English Championship.
Since his fifth-round loss in London, the North Shields star has switched gyms to move to Forest Hall, where he will be coached by Davy Ritson and Owen Reay.
Hodgson is not the first boxer to make a change of trainer after a high-profile loss and won’t be the last and the chances are he will have been energised by the new surroundings and new regime.
Some notable unbeaten North-East names will be in action, including Ferryhill’s Callum Walton (7-0), Robbie Colman (6-0), from Jarrow, and Newcastle’s Lee Rogers (5-0).
There is also Darlington’s Hannah Robinson, who looks as an exciting prospect as the region has. The Pete Shepperson-trained former GB Boxzing star goes after a fifth paid win on the spin against Beccy ‘Firebomb’ Ferguson (6-14).
Swalwell heavyweight Steve Robinson, no relation, makes his first appearance since a brave display in a stoppage defeat at the 02 against Alen Babic last October, his third loss in nine outings.
Seaham’s Joe Miller (4-1) will too be in action over four rounds, as will Kai Richmond, with the Spennymoor boxer (4-2) resuming his career after losing in his challenge for the Northern Area lightweight title in March 2024.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
