WARREN EXCITED BY BIG NORTH EAST BILL
FOOT AND WARD LAND SPOTS ON TELEVISED SHOW AT NEWCASTLE’S METRO RADIO ARENA
Frank Warren has announced the entire card for his Newcastle blockbuster which stars two of the area’s top boxers, writes Roy Kelly.
West Rainton’s Tommy Ward will make the maiden defence of his British superbantamweight title at the Metro Radio Arena on Saturday, November 11.
And Sunderland welterweight Glenn Foot will be having a crack at the IBF European championship, currently in the hands of unbeaten Guisborough talent Josh Leather.
Those two shoot-outs provide the chief support to the showdown between the Liams, Smith and Williams, in a WBO world title eliminator.
Warren is excited with the line-up on his first promotion in the North-East since June 2014, in an event which will be shown on BT Sport.
“I like Tommy, he’s done it the hard way, now he’s starting to get some recognition,” said Warren.
“He’s got a tough fight with Sean Davis, that will be a really good fight.
“As for Josh Leather against Glenn Foot, what more do you need in a fight?
“It’s a derby, it’s for a title and I believe the winner will go on to be a star up there.
“It’s great being back in the North East, the people up there love their sport and love their boxing.
“We’ve brought Calzaghe, Hatton, Khan up there, the Contender series and the fans have loved it.”
One of the main matches down the undercard features an intriguing British lightwelterweight title eliminator between two undefeated prospects.
Sedgefield’s Jeff Saunders, younger brother of former Olympian and exWarren fighter, Bradley, takes on Liverpool’s Steven Lewis, who has three more wins with 14 straight victories to his credit.
“There are a lot of undefeated guys fighting undefeated guys on the card,” said Warren. “Jeff is 11 and 0 and Steven is 14 and 0, that’s a cracking fight .”
There is an explosive super-middleweight battle between Mark Heffron (Oldham, 16-0), one of Ricky Hatton’s excellent young stable of fighters, against Lewis Taylor (19-4-1).
A number of North East prospects complete the lineup, Troy Williamson (Darlington, 3-0), Kalam Leather (Guisborough, 2-0), Joe Maphosa (Thornaby, 1-0) and debutant Michael Watson, from Sedgefield,
“There are some good young guys from the North East on the card, it’s a cracking card.
“At the top of the bill , Liam Smith and Liam Williams are having a re-match on neutral territory, which is what they wanted, and the North East fans will be the winners.”