OLD BOY WARD BRINGS BELT BACK TO BIRTLEY
BIRTLEY’S Thomas Hodgson claimed the silver medal when England’s Elite men and women competed against Wales and Scotland in the GB Three Nations tournament hosted by Welsh Boxing at the Sport Wales National Boxing Centre.
Hodgson beat Wales No.2 Kalleem Skhane on unanimous points in his semi-final at 60kg but then lost to the Welsh No.1 Micky McDonagh 5-0 in the final though the bout was closer than the score line suggests.
Sunderland’s Kiaran Macdonald lost to Ashley Williams (Wales) 2-3 in his 49kg semi-final. Kiaran boxed well on the back foot, scoring with solid hooks, but Williams clinched the victory.
Calum French of Birtley is fighting in the WSB against Uzbekistan at the quarter-final stage on Friday.
Birtley’s Lee Rodgers and Jack Dryden won through to the Schoolboy semi-finals at the Doncaster Dome when they triumphed in their home gym. TOP London promoter Eddie Hearn is keeping his promise to return to Tyneside putting a parade of North East talent on a Sky television show at the Walker Dome next month.
His star-studded bill will see the likes of former IBF world bantamweight champion Stuart Hall, Sedgefield bomber Bradley Saunders, who has overcome persistent hand problems, Olympian Josh Kelly, Birtley’s Tom Whitfield, and Josh Leather parade their talents on the home front.
Friday June 23 is when Hearn’s Matchroom are supported by local promoters Lewis Pendleton of Fighting Chance and Steve Wraith.
Hall and Saunders are on the comeback trail looking for late title chances while the others represent the North East young guns.
Sunderland middleweight and Matchroom’s latest protégé, Josh ‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly, is to actually head up the bill.
Kelly, who has made an impressive start to his pro career following his journey last NORTH EAST boxing produced a major breakthrough on Frank Warren’s show in Leeds with former Birtley amateur Tommy Ward leading the way by becoming British super bantamweight champion.
He did so by retaining his unbeaten record in defeating Jazza Dickens and in the process exorcised the demons of elder brother Marty’s loss to the same fighter last year.
Ward celebrated by going back to his roots taking his Lonsdale Belt to Birtley’s gym. year to the Rio Olympics, blitzed Tony Vina at the weekend in Birmingham. Scheduled to appear over eight rounds, Kelly said: “I can’t wait for my chance on a home show. I’m excited more than nervous. I know what I have in the tank and it’s another step for me to take.” Darlington’s
“It was great to see him,” said Birtley head coach Graeme Rutherford. “We were over the moon for him as he is one of the nicest people we have had in the club. Tom boxed for us until he turned senior and has gone a long way up the ladder.”
Guisborough’s Josh Leather brought home the gold following an exhilarating contest with Phillip Sutcliffe Jnr, while his stablemates in Stockton, twin brothers Kalam and Joe Maphosa did likewise.
Ward’s contest finished in controversy when, following an Stuart Hall heads up what promises to be a strong undercard featuring Darren Reay, Krisy Pilkington, Kyle Redfearn and more.
Hall, who lost his last outing against Lee Haskins for the IBF strap, is looking to get back into the mix and have another run at world glory.
“It’s going to be great fighting in the region again on what is looking like a talented card,” said Hall.
“It’s been frustrating for me on the accidental clash of heads in the ninth, he suffered a cut above his left eye.
The decision then went to the cards, Ward getting the nod with all three judges having the Durham lad ahead.
Josh Leather, meanwhile, claimed the IBF Inter-continental super lightweight strap following his sixth round stoppage.
Twin brother Kalam defeated tough journeyman Youseff Al Hamidi and stablemate Maphosa impressed on his debut with a win over Gary Reeve. sidelines since the Haskins loss so I’m going out there next month to get the win and make a statement, then I’m going for Haskins or Burnett anywhere.”
Wraith, who put the undercard together for the last Matchroom show at the Newcastle Arena more than two years ago, said: “A lot of people thought Eddie Hearn wouldn’t keep his promised to return to the North East but he is proving everybody wrong.”