Bad decision and bad luck costs Birtley boys
DARLINGTON fighter Chrissy Wood is to challenge Paul ‘G-Dog’ Gidney for the super bantamweight Challenge belt next month.
Wood will be fighting in his second consecutive title bout after a ten-round war with Tynesider Jamie Humble for the Area title ended in a draw.
When Wood returned to boxing in September, the Mal Gatestrained Gidney was still enduring a tough spell out while his daughter Poppy underwent chemotherapy.
Wood took his comeback in his stride, enjoyed a win at St James’ Park, then battled Humble.
Gidney was also supposed to fight in Darlington show but saw his bout pulled at the last minute.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I get my fight pulled and they go and draw in front of me and there’s talk of a rematch. I was disappointed not to get out there and get a win under my belt.
“I don’t feel as though I deserve a shot at a title in my first fight back – I expected at least a couple of outings before challenging.
“However this could work out better for me. It’s a big step up but I’m happy the fight is going ahead and it won’t be for nothing.”
That draw between Wood and Humble was a bitter pill for both camps, with both believing their fighter had done enough to win.
“I did think on the night I might have nicked it but, having watched it back Humble was hardly hitting me with clean shots, more hitting glove than anything,” added Wood.
“I definitely took the last three rounds, as well as a few of the earlier ones and this game is about hitting and not getting hit.”
Looking towards his fight at the Lancastrian Suite, Wood admitted: “Gidney will be fit, training hard, and wanting to make a statement but I need to stop that happening and make a statement myself.
“We’ll have a good scrap though and I’m confident that belt will be coming back with me.”
Gidney was impressed by his opponent’s display in that Area title fight and feels their similar styles will make for a good clash.
“I’m looking forward to facing him and I’m confident I can win the belt,” said Gidney.
“We are both similar fighters, more than me and Humble if I’m honest, but I’m hoping that it won’t be another draw.”
Tickets for the Sunday Showdown, at the Lancastrian Suite in Dunston on February 25, are available now from www. proboxingnewcastlegateshead. com. THE Big Man is coming back to town and I’m gearing up with chair and whip to try and control proceedings.
I survived working with unbeaten world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury last time he was in Newcastle and Steve Wraith is bringing him back for Sunday lunch at Dunston’s Lancastrain Suite on March 18.
Fury is certainly value for money and with him about to return to the ring – he’s calling out Anthony Joshua and anyone else who cares to listen – it should be an eventful rather than peaceful Sunday afternoon.
Everything kicks off at 12 noon with a 5pm finish and tickets range from £50 for entry only to £200 VVIP which includes signed glove, photo, front row seat, food and table service.
In between it’s standard at £100 for food only, and £150 VIP.
Tickets are available from www. newcastlelegends.com or by phoning 0191 2299632.
IT was good to do a talk-in with former world cruiser champion Glenn McCrory at the Black Horse pub in Monkseaton, now being run by my old mate Danny Cox. Lovely to see Danny’s dad Tommy who helped run British darts for many a year as well as managing superstars like Jocky Wilson and Phil Taylor. BIRTLEY received a double hammer blow at the England against USA show in Blackpool.
First Ben Rees was forced to withdraw from the England No 1 v No 2 box-offs through injury, and then Joe Laws found himself on the wrong end of a controversial split points decision.
Rees, who was cut in his NABC championship final win last month, suffered the misfortune of the cut reopening in sparring.
Laws went in with Elliot Whales from Nemesis ABC in London, who had been beaten in the semi-finals of the Elites last year by Birtley stable mate Luke McCormack. It was Joe’s first bout at the new weight of 64kg. “The opener was a barnstorming round, with Whales, who is also a southpaw and normally a back-foot elusive fighter, trying to push Laws back,” said Birtley head coach Graeme Rutherford, “but Joe started to get the better of the exchanges, landing repeatedly with left hooks, right hands and single back hands which at one point had Whales in trouble.
“The second round saw Whales again start fast but Joe retaliated, which sent Whales into normal mode circling the ring.
“Joe then started cutting the ring down and working the body on the ropes as Whales looked to hold him.
“The third was a tale of the hunter and the hunted – Joe was punishing Whales with big left hooks to the body and right uppercuts. Whales did have success with his straight shots as Laws closed the space but Joe always looked in control. I was honestly dumbfounded, as were everyone else in attendance, including England head coach Mickey Driscoll, when Joe lost the fight on a split decision. He landed the better shots and was in control of the bout and worked harder.
“We will get the chance to put the record right at the Elites in April but judging is about opinions, which is why it is so controversial at times. It’s the game we’re in.”
Birtley have their five GB lads – Luke and Pat McCormack, Calum French, Cyrus Pattison, and Tommy Hodgson, who has impressed in his short time with the Podium squad – off to Colorado in the USA to get ready for the WSB matches which start in the last week of January.
It is a mixed training camp with the USA and Poland and, of course, Pat McCormack and Calum French are boxing against Croatia at the Gateshead Leisure Centre on February 16.