Don’t be late. That is the message to fans of Lee Rogers who will be out in force in Newcastle this evening when he takes on Erick Omar Lopez .
The last time the 22-year-old boxed at the Utilita Arena, his noisy band of supporters had to wait until late in the evening to see him outpoint and outclass Charles Tondo back in June.
That night he was on the undercard of Josh Kelly’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it win over Flavius Biea on Channel 5 and he is on another Kelly event here.
This time though, Rogers is out of the traps early for his attractive six-rounder.
The dazzling Jobes Boxing talent is scheduled to be the second bout on the card which gets under way at 5pm.
It means Rogers will be boxing around the 5.15pm/ 5.30pm mark on the show which is screened on DAZN and whose highlight is Kelly’s attempt to dethrone IBF world light-middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Kelly v Murtazaliev is the first men’s world title fight in Newcastle since the summer of 2014 and Lee is thrilled to be a part of it.
“I’ll show on Saturday night what I’m about,” said Rogers when punch-lines caught up with him at the Glasshouse in Gateshead this week.
“It’s exciting to be on the show. The last time there was a world title fight on here in Newcastle I was only nine and I watched Stuey Hall against Paul Butler from ringside.
“It’s mad now that I’m fighting on the next one.
“I’m massively excited to be on such a big show, it’ll be nice to have more eyes on me and show people what I’m about.”
Rogers is a supremely gifted boxer, formerly of the renowned Birtley gym, which has produced champion after champion in the legendary days under Ronnie Rowe and then Graeme Rutherford.
Now Lee is strutting his stuff in the Jobes Boxing gym in the Toon, his home city.
Rogers has reeled off six wins on the spin and has two stoppages on his career, inflicting a rare early night on Yorkshire journeyman Lee Pollard and game Tanzanian Jemsi Kibazange, who had arrived at the Rainton Arena with a very fair record.
Boxing News have used words like breathtaking and dazzling to describe the ‘Pocket Rocket’ and a bigger dictionary might be needed for writers as this fellas career develops.
His speed, movement and accuracy are all a delight to watch.
“To hit and not get hit is the name of the game,” Lee told punch-lines.
“Six wins and two stoppages, yes, I’m happy so far. When you are boxing these tough journeymen, it is hard to get them out of there.
“It’s developing nicely. My coaches Matty and Henry are happy and I’ve got the right team around me.
“It’s about keep progressing every fight, keep getting better, keep moving up the ladder.”
There is, however, clear and present danger for Rogers here in Newcastle.
Lopez has earned a few pesos in his for turning up to give prospects such as Rogers a test in his 57-bout career, but he IS a threat.
The 31-year-old, from Guadalajara, has won three of his last five contests, beating three home fighters, two via stoppage, so he is a man not to be messed with.
“He’s Mexican,” said Lee. “That says everything you need to know, he’s tough, game and strong.
“He’s knocked out a few prospects so it’s a bit of an acid test really, but I know I’ll come through with flying colours.”
But it’s going to be early, so don’t miss it.
Words: Roy Kelly PIcture: Jennifer Charlton
