Robbie Colman put-on a masterclass to add a second belt to a growing collection.
The 28-year-old dominated Liverpool’s James Francis in their clash for the vacant Commonwealth Silver super-featherweight crown to bring Boss Boxing’s championship show in Newcastle to an incredible climax.
His 99-91 points success clinched him back-to-back glory after taking the Northern Area lightweight title from Notrh-East neighbour and rival Josh Blenkiron in April.
Saturday night’s triumph in front of his adoring fans at the Vertu Motors Arena has opened bigger opportunities for this crowd favourite.
He has earned himself a shot at the Commonwealth title, currently the property of Royston Barney-Smith, while it was also an eliminator for undefeated Birmingham boxer ibraheem Sulaimaan’s English belt.
Where the Jarrow star goes from here will be something for Colman, coaches Dean Laing and Ross Wilkinson, and promoter Danny Inskip to discuss.
However, one thing not open to debate is the fact that ‘The Showman’ belongs on the big stage.
Assessing Saturday evening’s main fare ahead of Fright Night was not easy – it was difficult to judge just how good Francis might be.
There was no doubting the 25-year-old’s ambition or heart and the man from a proud fighting city gave his all.
But Colman was always one step, one punch (and more) ahead of him.
Robbie was accuracy personified in the opening rounds, while James missed with as much as he landed,
Colman jabbed and double-jabbed smoothly while his right was just as effective, scoring continuously with combinations.
Francis stuck at it and despite losing his gum shield in round eight, it would prove the tightest session and when he stung Coleman with the final punch it was enough to get him on the scoreboard.
But Robbie responded in the ninth and after both tired warriors fought to the final bell, referee Ron Kearney raised the right arm of the ‘The Showman’.
Gemma Richardson made it a championship double on the Boss Boxing event with her first professional title. Surely the first of many.
Highly decorated as an amateur, including a Commonwealth Games silver medal, the 25-year-old here comprehensively outpointed Canada’s Carolyn Redmond to clinch the WBO international light welterweight belt.
Or super-lightweight if you prefer. What is not the subject of debate is the star quality of the girl managed by Steve Wood at VIP and coached by Tenacity’s John Stubbs, who was making only her sixth appearance.
What you see with Gemma is what you get. Bright and bubbly outside the ropes, her personality shines just as strongly in the ring.
Even what would be described as a wardrobe malfunction in round four, when her uniform required adjusting in her corner, it did not put her off her stride. She laughed it off and set about raining in punches to her opponent.
Richardson was brilliant to watch from round one to 10. Unless you were Redmond or her team.
The boxer is intrinsically linked to the steel towns of Scunthorpe and Hartlepool – Scunny is home while she is now an adopted Poolie, boxing out of the Headland gym made famous by Savannah Marshall.
Gemma fans from both places were out in force and were soon cheering her every punch.
Little was known about Redmond, a respected amateur at domestic level in Canada, who had lost three of her 12 pro bouts, with her last two wins taking place in Spain earlier this year.
The 35-year-old was not shy in coming forward in Newcastle, but for every punch she threw, she’d get three, four or five back from the energetic Richardson.
Gemma’s combination work stood out and even when Carolyn tried to up the aggression levels in rounds five to eight, Richardson picked her off brilliantly.
At no point did the Scunthorpe and Hartlepool boxer ease her foot off the gas and a 100-90 shut-out was the inevitable scoreline from all three judges, Jose Ignacio Martinez, Ron Kearney and Darren Sarginson.
It completed a special championship double for two special North-East talents, with more glory to come.
Words: Roy Kelly
