Triumphant return to ring for ‘Horden Hitman’
ANTH HARDY returned to the ring for the first time in 14 months at Hardwick Hall, putting on a composed winning performance.
Prior to his enforced hiatus the ‘Horden Hitman’ had travelled to Bath to challenge Joe Hughes for the English welterweight title, eventually succumbing to a split-decision reverse. Shortly afterwards, medical examinations showed a problem in his eyes which required surgery.
Thousands of pounds and a testing operation later, Hardy repaid the faith of those around him by continuing under the guidance of Peter Cope Snr and Alan Temple at the Gus Robinsons Gym in Hartlepool.
The 25-year-old welterweight defeated Andrej Cepur over four rounds on points on the undercard of Billy Snaith, winning the Northern Area title from Daniel Cope.
He said: “I was itching to get back in there and back to winning ways after the setbacks I have had.
“I don’t think I took a punch, just a few grazes. I went in there to enjoy myself which is what I did.” Hardy was one of seven fights on the Steve Wraith promotion.
He was joined on the winners’ card by Fighting Chance’s Kyle Redfearn, Hetton-le-Hole’s Jordan King (who donated his fight purse to the Bradley Lowery campaign) and Wraith’s trio of Neil Hepper plus the two title winners Jeff Saunders, who stopped Chris Truman in the fifth round for the British Challenge Belt, and Billy Snaith, who won the Northern Area title on points.