Impressive display of local talent coming through

STEVE Wraith celebrated his sixyear anniversary as a professional boxing promoter in style last Saturday as he copromoted a cracking show at the Lancastrian Suite. Wraith promoted the eight-bout bill alongside Phil Jeffries, who missed a great night of action in Dunston to be ringside as Lewis Ritson (under his management) continued his fairytale rise in the sport with another victory in Birmingham ahead of the October 13 big homecoming.

One thing this show on Tyneside displayed was the impressive amount of talent coming through in the region.

Lawrence Osueke is a fine example and he recorded his first stoppage victory on the card against Poland’s Kamil Kulczyk to remain unbeaten.

Ex-mixed martial artist Kyle Redfearn got the evening’s other stoppage win, ending things with Jindrich Velecky in the second round after a powerful display. The MTK-signed fighter moved to 7(5)-0.

Fellow MTK fighter Jay Hughes was also victorious in one of two all-North East clashes on the bill. It’s always encouraging to see fighters willing to risk their unbeaten status in order to put on a good fight for fans and Jay Hughes and Kris Pilkington should be commended for the action they provided. It was always an entertaining scrap that ultimately went Hughes’ way by scorecard of 39-37.

The third MTK fighter on the bill also remained unbeaten, although he had to settle for a draw. Darren Reay admitted it was an off night for him as he tired against Russian Boris Shikunov with referee Ron Kearney scoring 57-57.

In the evening’s other North East dery, Newcastle’s Zaki Shirzad made an explosive start to his professional debut, only to run out of gas and lose on points to Adam Hutchinson.

Rounding up the action, prospects Joe Hill and Chad Ellis both remained unbeaten, while Manchester-based Geordie Dean Laing also won in his homecoming.