Boxing writer Peter Mann rounds up the latest news on the North-East fight scene

THE NEW YEAR looks like it is going to be a big one for North-East boxing, and the top promoters in the area - Sunderland’s Phil Jeffries and Newcastle’s Steve Wraith - are vying for supremacy.

On Wearside, Jeffries is looking to put at least a dozen bouts on his March 8 show at the Rainton Meadows Arena as he builds towards his annual Summer Rumble.

Of the fighters he has announced over the festive period there is room for the Ward’s (Martin and Tommy), Tynesider Dougie Curran, the recently-crowned Northern Area champion, Lee Mould and the Frank Warren pairing of Isaac MacLeod and Josh Leather. 

Speaking of his early moves to create a March spectacular, Jeffries said: “This is looking at being a big and busy show.

“I’m getting the biggest buzz from this one more than any of the others that I’ve done previously and have plenty of other lads knocking on my door, messaging me and so on for what seems daily of late.”

With a couple of title offerings set to be played out - and a Jeffries show just isn’t quite the same without one - he added: “I’ve made a Northern Area title fight at super featherweight for Curran, who’s one of my latest signings, as well as, quite possibly, a few others.

“Then you’ve got (Thomas) Essomba who’ll step up again, this time to eight rounds and against a Commonwealth-ranked fighter we are bringing over. Young Tommy Ward is also going to be stepping up to eight rounds for this show as I build them towards my Summer Rumble.”

Elsewhere, the amateur scene is always important to the progression of any sport, and the co-owners of new Tyneside company, Relentless Promotions, recognise the fact as we head into what promises to be a busy 2015.

Over the past 12 months, several fighters from the amateur scene have turned professional. The most recent are those coming from Darlington’s DBMA in John Green, and at the nearby Fitness Centre with Steven Cooper.

With Green looking like being on Jeffries’ show in March, and Cooper joining the likes of Andrew Buchanan, Gary Reeve, Tom Whitfield and Paul O’Hagan in Gateshead, the name ‘Rising Stars’ is more than apt.

The progress into the pro ranks has given ‘Relentless’ food for thought and co-owner, Steve Wraith, is making a gesture of goodwill to the region's amateur clubs.

 “We thought that, with the new company being made official on Christmas Eve, which was a great present for Danny Cox and I, that we would spread that festive joy into the region's amateur fight scene,” said Wraith.

The offer, which is open to any boxing club around the region, sees 20 tickets per club (maximum of 200 combined) for the organisation's first show available at £20 per ticket and will see each club receive half of each ticket they receive to go back into the club.

“We feel that doing something like this encourages the younger generations to come and experience firsthand what a professional show is like,” continued Steve.

“The offer will be for our Rising Stars show at the Gateshead Leisure Centre on February 7 and we will be out and about during the upcoming year at the amateur shows to see what the talent is like, to source those up and coming stars of the future.”

To take up the offer, interested clubs should Email Steve Wraith on info@wraithpromotions.com with ‘Boxing Ticket’ as the subject header before the end of January.