Former world boxing champion Savannah Marshall was in attendance at a County Durham amateur boxing event where she presented a young boxer with his championship belt after his victory.
Kalim Stuart lifted the North of England Elite 57 kilo belt at West Auckland Amateur Boxing Club's debut show after a victory which was watched by former WBO female middleweight champion, 'The Silent Assassin' Savannah Marshall.
Marshall, from Hartlepool, lost her first professional bout in October after earning a formidable record which included 10 wins by knockout and another two by unanimous decision.
The fight against American Claressa Shields at the O2 Arena in London headlined the first ever all-female boxing card in the UK, and was the first time two women have headlined a boxing event at a major venue in the UK.
Kalim, from Bishop Auckland, won his and his club's first title in October, and was presented with his belt by Marshall after his victory over Stockton-based boxer Adam Mackintosh.
Marshall wasn't the only former professional champion at the sell-out event - she was joined by Darlington's former IBF bantamweight champion Stuart Hall, former WBC and IBO super-middleweight champion Robin Reid, and former Commonwealth middleweight champion Michael Watson MBE.
Marshall was a late replacement for boxing legend John Conteh MBE, who pulled out due to illness. He has promised to attend the club's next home show.
Boxers representing clubs from across the North East, Yorkshire and the Isle of Man were in competition at the event, with the hosts winning four of the ten bouts on the card.
The other three fighters representing the village who won their bouts were: Hayden Wells (70 kilos); Dave Mawdsley (80 kilos) and John Carrigan (40 kilos - junior)
West Auckland Amateur Boxing Club was established in the spring of 2020, during the first Covid lockdown, by head coach Ernest Spowart and local entrepreneur Stephen Nicholson, as a way to give something back to the area.
Stephen, who is managing director of Bishop Auckland-based painting and decorating firm S Nicholson & Sons and is also a boxing coach, dedicated the evening to the memory of his father Thomas, who hailed from West Auckland, and who died 22 years ago to the day.
Stephen said: “West Auckland Amateur Boxing Club really came of age by hosting what was an absolutely fantastic home show, and in the presence of real boxing greats.
“It was a shame that John Conteh was unable to attend, but all our members were buzzing when Savanah Marshall agreed to step in. Both she and Stuart Hall are legends in the North East.
“West Auckland is a former pit village and tonight this club and our members helped put it on the boxing map by hosting such a fantastic and successful event.”
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