WHAT does Stuart Hall have in common with Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, Rihanna, Alicia Keys and Elton John? By the end of this evening, they’ll all have performed in Monte Carlo’s Salle des Etoiles.

Opened in 1974, the celebrated venue at the heart of Monte Carlo boasts huge glass windows that open on to the Monaco seafront and a retractable roof to enable summer concerts to be held in the open air.

The hall’s Sporting Summer Festival is an annual music and entertainment event that features a series of shows in front of an audience of up to 2,000, with this summer’s event having been headlined by Celine Dion, Lionel Richie and The Who.

Boxing shows are rarer, but this evening’s bill is being interpreted in sporting circles as further proof of Monte Carlo’s desire to rival American powerhouses such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City as a world centre for the biggest fights.

The Salle des Etoiles is at the heart of Monte Carlo’s boxing aspirations, and one of its former performers set the tone perfectly for tonight’s event. As Elton might well have sung in the same room Hall will enter at around 8.30pm, ‘Saturday night’s alright for fighting’.

The Northern Echo: elton john steve44SGwk24 e.jpg

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THE marketing for this evening’s show is certainly impressive, with giant posters lurking around every corner at Nice Airport, as well as being positioned outside the venue in Monte Carlo.

Nice is around ten miles from Monte Carlo, and the majority of the 60-or-so Stuart Hall supporters to have travelled over from Darlington have based themselves in the city. A couple have already promised to smuggle home a giant poster to plant outside the Dolphin Centre next week.

The Northern Echo:

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AS the North-East’s only other world champion, Glenn McCrory has always been a staunch supporter of Stuart Hall.

He helped lead him into the ring ahead of last December’s victory over Vusi Malinga and also watched his two title defences against Martin Ward and Paul Butler, however alternative boxing commitments mean he will not be in Monaco this evening.

The Northern Echo: Guest speaker: Glenn McCrory

“Needs must, and I have to work,” said McCrory, who was unable to reclaim his own world title after losing it in the 1980s. “I have to be elsewhere, but at least I’ll be covering a decent-looking show in Hull featuring a couple of rising stars from that city.

“Stuey will understand. He travelled over nice and early to begin his preparations, and he knows the thoughts of me and the whole North-East boxing community will be with him.”