Not quite the fare Mervyn Turner had hoped though Saturday’s Shamrock Promotions event in Newcastle does provide a full menu.
Two championship-class contests had been planned for the February 28 date at the Walker Dome – a long-anticipated climb onto the title ladder for Alex Farrell and an all-Wearside Northern Area showdown.
Alas, as we all know in boxing, it does not always go to plan so Farrell’s English title eliminator with Amir Abubaker went the journey when the 10-1 Coventry boxer withdrew due to injury.
Sadly too, the Northern Area Championship match between Sunderland’s Eduard Georgiev and Joe Miller, from Seaham, also fell by the wayside. Shame. As Josh Blenkiron and Robbie Colman proved in Newcastle in January, Northern Area scraps rarely disappoint.
Farrell, thankfully, retains his place at the top of the card, with six rounds with East London’s Mykhailo Sovtus.
Some North-East boxing fans with good memories may recall the Ukrainian getting a draw against debutant Aaron Peet back in July 2023, but the 33-year-old is unlikely to extend the gifted Greek-Geordie in any way.
Given the ‘Black Diamond’ has not fought since dominating Romania’s Octavian Gratii last summer at Eston Leisure Centre that Shamrock can get him into another title eliminator soon.
The other two six threes look equally straight forward for two former Birtley ABC talents.
Thomas Hodgson boxes for the second time under the guidance of David Ritson and Owen Reay when he faces Sheffield’s Karl Sampson, who gave it his all in his previous visit to the region last year, when he fought Josh Blenkiron.
Hodgson, who made an unsuccessful attempt at the English lightweight title 11 months ago, boxed superbly behind his jab and double jab when he made his Forest Hall debut in outpointing Brazil’s Jonatas de Oliveira last September.
Gateshead’s Shaun Huddart looked equally dominant last time out when he measured his shots to perfection to take his fight log to 3-0 and you’d hope his six-rounder at the Walker Dome against Fernando Valdez is a stepping stone to something more meaningful.
Given his ability and pedigree you feel he could make serious progression.
Looking lower down the card, one boxer punch-lines very much likes the look of is the ‘Birdman of Ryhope’
Aaron Peter Bird will be looking to celebrate his birthday by excelling against Kent’s Ricky Leach.
There are a couple of matches on the undercard which could be competitive affairs.
In the only female bout, Kerry Haley, who impressed last time out, is up against Erica Alvarez, an Argentine who has lost on visits to the North-East against the late, great Georgia O’Connor, April Hunter, Hannah Robinson and Jordan Barker Porter. Erica looked heartbroken when the decision against JBP went the other way, so could attend here with fire in her belly.
Anth Ornsby, boxing in his own back yard, might have his hands full against Grimsby mover Tom Ramsden, an impressive winner from the away corner last summer in the Shamrock show at Eston.
Stockton middleweight Ste Raybould, a very notable kickboxer in his day, comes up against one of the UK’s most adept journeyman Dale Arrowsmith, who will be collecting a pay cheque for the 159th occasion.
One occasional treat of these shows is that we get to witness the first professional ringsteps of a boxer transferring from the amateur game to the professional scene.
Rhys Barber, a Tyne, Tees & Wear Senior Elite belt winner while with Forest Hall ABC, makes his pro debut, taking on Dorset’s Stefan Vincent.
A Shamrock show would not be a Shamrock show without an Irish flavour. It comes from Cormac Dillon, who is being managed by North-East fight figure Jack Gladman, is from Eglinton, just east of Derry or Londonderry depending on your point of view. He meets Yorkshire’s Nabil Ahmed.
So nine bouts scheduled. Doors open at half six with the first bout at seven.
Words: Roy Kelly
