Plenty to be thankful for in great 12 months
CRAIG JOHNS BREAKS THE FIRST RULE
I’D like to start this week’s column by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and thanking you all for reading in 2018.
This time of year is always a good time to reflect on the past year and it’s fair to say that we have plenty to be thankful for as North East boxing fans in the past 12 months.
Two big shows at the arena have been accompanied by many great small hall shows too, and our region’s boxing scene is thriving.
So before I look ahead to 2019 next week, for my penultimate column of the year I’d like to reflect and honour a few who made it possible.
Fighter of the Year – Lewis Ritson Lewis might have lost his last fight to Francesco Patera, but his contribution to boxing this year cannot go unnoticed.
The Forest Hall warrior fought five times in 2018, won a British title outright and was the main factor behind two huge shows coming to Newcastle with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. Not only was that a huge stage for him, it also gave countless opportunities to other boxers from this region to box on such a show.
He may have suffered the shock defeat to Patera in October but there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind he will be back better for the experience in 2019.
Promoter of the Year – Phil Jeffries
Phil Jeffries has been a mainstay in North East boxing for many years and it’s been largely his shows that have created the platform for our boxers to go on to bigger stages and showcase their skills.
From Glenn Foot to Thomas Ward, Phil has managed and promoted some of the best fighters this region has produced in recent years.
And of course he got his big rewards with Ritson who he showed faith in and signed after he decided to return to the North East after a short stint in Glasgow with Billy Nelson.
To further strengthen the shows Phil puts on, he and Steve Wraith are now working together, which is great to see. Together the pair have been the driving force of North East boxing and both deserve enormous credit for the success and big shows we’ve enjoyed in 2018. By working together the smaller shows they put on and proving better quality for the fans too, which is never a bad thing.
Fight of the Year – Glenn Foot beats Jason Easton
The career of Prizefighter champion Glenn Foot has been topsy-turvy to say the least. After ending 2017 with a controversial defeat to Josh Leather, the Sunderland fighter flirted with retirement. Talked out of it by Jeffries and coach David Binns, he accepted what looked a tough assignment back in March in Glasgow against Barry Mcguigan-backed Jason Easton. Easton was unbeaten 11 fights and heavily favoured but Foot was his usual gritty self and broke Easton down, finishing him in the 11th round. Easton clearly had talent, but Foot loves a war and he dragged Easton into the trenches and got a huge victory. Sadly, Foot lost to Robbie Davies Jr in October with the British title on the line and it looks like it might be the last we see of him, unless a big opportunity comes his way. If he never does fight again he should be commended for his thrilling and always entertaining career.
Knockout of the Year – Darren Surtees beats Kane Baker
What a year it’s been for Darren Surtees, fighting out of David Binns’ East Durham gym.
It was a slow start, not getting under way until July when he crossed paths with durable William Warburton at the Summer Rumble Stadium of Light show.
But it was after that fight that he signed a deal with Sauerland Promotions who have been behind the popular World Boxing Super Series.
And Surtees started under his new promoters in style, knocking out Kane Baker in Saudi Arabia on the undercard of the George Groves-callum Smith final.
With the TV cameras watching, dynamite-fisted Surtees covered well in the second as Baker looked to pepper him with some shots and then he unleashed a venomous left hook that landed flush and put Baker down.
He survived that one but ruthless finisher Surtees went for it and landed again with another huge left. A naughty right where Baker fell can be put down to momentum and this time as Baker rose his legs failed him, causing the referee to stop it.
Another two wins to wrap up the year (both stoppages) against Troy James and Oscar Amador sends the Durham bighitter into 2019 on a real high.
Prospect of the Year – Joe Laws There’s a lot of bright prospects in the North East and a lot of names who can go on to do big things in 2019. Names like Troy Williamson, Thomas Ward and the aforementioned Surtees are sure to be looking for big things in the new year. But after a brilliant debut year that saw him win three from three and all of those early stoppages, my prospect of the year has to go to the Benwell Bomber Joe Laws. Laws (pictured left) stepped up to the big stage in style in October and thrilled the Metro Radio Arena after selling around 1,000 tickets. With his entertaining ring-walk, vocal fans, intriguing personality and then exciting style in the ring, the former Birtley amateur has all the tools at his disposal to go far.