SECONDSOUT West End gym puts Toon’s talent on show

JOBES’ GYM in Benwell returns to top level boxing in late November with an all-West End fight card at Gosforth Social Club.

Headlined by James “Boom Boom” Barnes having his second contest at light heavyweight, manager Matty Jobes has put an impressive undercard from his gym alongside.

“We’ve got five bouts of which two are professional debuts,” said Jobes, whose show is promoted under Steve Wraith’s banner.

“Not only is this the first time we’ve had professional boxing in the West End for something like 50-plus years, but we’re also looking at showcasing the talent we have in Newcastle, making it an all-Toon show.”

Tom Walsh and Mark Taylor will both look to remain unbeaten in the pro ranks. They will be joined by two debutants in Connor Somerville and Chrissy Atkinson.

The show takes place in the Montagu Suite at Gosforth Social Club on November 24 and tickets are available from Jobes’ Gym on 0770 139 4066, priced at £40 entry and £60 VIP. BIRTLEY’S Mark Dickinson has been crowned European Youth champion at 69kg to gain England’s only gold medal of the tournament in Turkey.

Dickinson gave the Russian world No.2 Osman Aliev a boxing lesson in his final to claim yet another international honour for the Tyneside club.

Indeed their standing has soared, with three of their boxers now holding top 10 world rankings.

The international boxing body AIBA have just released their latest world rankings, which see Pat McCormack at No 3 in the welterweight division, his twin Luke No 7 at light welter, and Calum French also seven at lightweight.

“Mark demonstrated a high workrate throughout his final against a solid-punching Russian,” said England team boss Martin Webb. “Neat back hands found their mark all too often to edge the English boxer ahead in his fifth contest of the championships.

“With 24 boxers in his category this was a hard-earned yet deserved gold.”

Birtley head coach Graeme Rutherford said: “Obviously it’s fantastic news. Mark gave the World No.2 a lesson.

“It bodes so well for his future at international level. He obviously has the confidence he had sometimes lacked after some rough decisions at the previous Europeans two years ago and of course the Worlds last year.

“Mark has become the fourth member of our gym to win a European title along with Tommy Ward and Pat and Luke McCormack.

“For a kid who walked into our gym at eight years old, overweight and with chronic asthma, he has certainly turned his life around.

“Hopefully this will see him gain a place on the GB programme for 2024.”

Dickinson had gained unanimous 5-0 decisions over Pablo Coy Bernal (Spain) and Ismail Kurt (Sweden) before beating Saif Islam Madiev (Georgia) 5-0 in the quarter-finals and Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) 3-2 in the semis.

On the three world rankings Rutherford added: “Not bad for three kids from Birtley, is it? In two year’s time they will be mature, fitter, and technically better and wiser so we could end up having three No.1’s which would be sensational.”

Even for a club which has dominated English amateur boxing, such a trio of high rankers is sensational.