TWO County Durham amateur boxers travelled to Sunderland and picked up deserved victories at the Stadium of Light on the Lambton Street charity dinner show, writes PETER MANN.

Opposing Lambton Street fighters Tootill Boxing Club’s Daniel Pettler (against Anth Austin), and Brandon Boxing Club’s Peter Hardman (against Rafal Benka) showed skill, poise, determination and class to emerge from the proverbial lion’s den successful.

It would be mixed emotions for the pair as well – Pettler was stepping up a level and facing an opponent with more than twice the experience as well as taking the bout with just 24 hours’ notice, a bold statement from Tootill coaches David and Michelle Cook.

Pettler was ready and proved it to his coaches by staying fit and active over what was a tough time for the club.

18 ago at a GB camp and we knew he (Dan) could do something when they finally met,” explained David.

“We were already looking at the likes of Anth, Sam (Menzies) and Dan (English) as potential opponents this year and when that call came on Friday night we knew that out lad was ready for it and that he would not be disgraced going in there.

“The performance in which he put on though was an impressive one. Granted he started slowly but he was sizing Anth up more than anything. Dan though is like a robot and does exactly as we plan it to happen, he listens to what we say and is the perfect fighter. All in all, it was a cracking contest between him and Anth and Dan’s fitness shone through in the end for he’s always training, no matter where he’s at.”

Not only was it a short-notice fight for Pettler, he was opposing a southpaw for the first time a challenge that, although ultimately he was up to, he did find a tricky prospect. However, he is also aware of what the implications of beating the experienced Austin will bring, pushing him up the ladder and into title contention.

“It was a bit of an unusual, different experience boxing against a southpaw but I knew that I was ready and I needed to get back out there,” added Daniel. “Anth was one of the names we (along with coaches David and Michelle) discussed as opponents this year and I’m delighted we’ve managed to get the fight, and the win, straight away. It was a tough fight and I had to take the back foot at the start in order to size him up; after that though I just put into effect the game-plan we had.

“I couldn’t have done this without David and Michelle as they’ve helped me quietly go about getting experience over the past three or four years. I’m developing more now and very much looking at moving on this year, maybe start challenging for the new Area and English titles.”

Brandon’s Hardman was more than happy to take a rematch with Lambton Street’s Benka, looking to avenge last year’s reverse when his opponent was at Houghton & District. The clash couldn’t have come at a better time for Hardman either, the BBC fighter unbeaten this season and looking to progress, even though there was a first round scare, for both fighters.

“It was a good show to be on and I’m certainly over the moon to get the result I wanted,” said Peter after a hard-fought victory. “I’ve improved enough (since I last fought Benka) and had more than enough on the night although the accidental clash of heads in the first worried me a little. I did feel that I won all three rounds though and just wanted to put pressure on him from the start which seemed to work.”

Although a Level One coach Peter leaves that side to Alex and Adam Oliver, Simon Patterson, Paddy O’Connor and Paul Bainbridge, preferring the actual boxing itself adding: “I’m looking at getting out again in April at North Shields.

“That’s another rematch as well, this time with Chris Barton, but I’ll be looking at keeping my undefeated streak going.”

Elsewhere on the card Ryan Daley lost to the visiting Jay Hulme and Gina Jefferson was edged out against Heather Nicol; there were successes for Jordan Rought, Jimmy Stevens, Reece Green and Billy Jenkins on a night of mixed results for the home club watched ringside by guests Billy Hardy, who provided an after-dinner talk, and ex-Sunderland goalkeeper and 1973 FA Cup Final hero, Jim Montgomery.