Best boxer tag for Gateshead
HOME fighter Del Nderi was voted Best Boxer on Gateshead Victoria’s show at the Lancastrian Suite.
His unanimous points victory over North Star’s AJ Owulade was also deservedly awarded the Best Bout accolade.
Vaughan Potter was another home victor, on a split against Tom Greenwood of Border City.
High Fell produced two winners in Liam Eagan and Scott Thompson on their neighbour’s show. TOP Birtley amateur Joe Laws has turned pro with Phil Jeffries’ stable of boxers.
Laws is joining up with Lewis Ritson and Glenn Foot, two of the North East’s finest.
However he will stay training with Birtley and their head coach Graeme Rutherford.
“Joe was offered other deals but decided it would be better for him and his fans to base themselves in the North East rather than travelling around the country on shows far and wide risking the fan base needed to sell the tickets not being able to afford it,” explained Rutherford.
“We also felt that Phil Jeffries has proved himself able with Ritson and Foot to manoeuvre and guide fighters to the top level and the allimportant big domestic fights.
“Joe will make his debut at the Stadium of Light show on July 1 over four rounds with his sizeable following hopefully turning out in force.
“He will remain with me and the club and we hope over the next two to three years to see the pro stable at the gym grow as lads come to the end of their GB contracts after the Tokyo Olympics.
“However we don’t want any of the younger lads to turn over – we see 25 as a ideal age for a fighter to make his way into the pro game.
“Laws has represented England numerous times as well as being a Senior Elite semi-finalist and has nothing left to prove in the amateurs. “He hasn’t had the luxury of taking part in the fiveround WSB fights so we feel the time is right to make the move and start getting used to the duration of the rounds.” Birtley saw Johnty Wright get edged out by Muhammad Ali in the Schools Championships quarter-finals at Newbiggin. “Unfortunately Leon Huddart at 28kg has suffered the misfortune of no-one in the country being in his weight class,” said Rutherford, “while our two girls Anuska Freeman and Ruby Atkinson have both been given byes to the finals.” Rutherford went on: “Johnty was up against a good lad with a good record at 46kg in Class 3 and after a cagey start the fight came to life with both landing clean back hand shots. However the strength of punch was with Ali. “The second saw a great round by Johnty with fine right hand, left hooks catching the target to win the round but in the last the more mature Ali started to come forward knowing the bout was close and despite a good show from Johnty it was the more mature Ali who got the nod. “We have high hopes for Johnty but Ali is very mature for his age and although Johnty had the skills there was nothing you could do about the strength factor.” Birtley have Calum French boxing against defending champions Kazakhstan away in two week’s time in the WSB semi-final second leg. The home leg is in Sheffield on Thursday when Cyrus Pattison has the distinction of boxing in the decisive bout if the tie is level at 5-5.