Boxing is back in the Nort East of England as Eddie Hearn and Matchroom bring an interesting fight card to Newcastle headlined by young talent.
Hearn seems to be truly excited to step away from the usual big cities and deliver a solid show that has already gotten him praises from the locals.
“London is a big place. There is a lot going on. In London you don’t do a show at the O2 and get people walking up to you going ‘I just wanna say thanks for bringing boxing back to London.’ Here there is a genuine feeling that people are excited. People are pleased that you are bringing boxing here. That feels good, maybe that’s just an ego thing, but it feels good as a promoter,” told Hearn exclusively to Boxing Social.
The show is headlined by the two biggest active local names – Josh Kelly and Lewis Ritson. If they do deliver the same way in the ring as in ticket sales, the North East could become Matchroom Boxing territory for good.
“When you are selling seven or eight thousand [tickets] to essentially watch two emerging talents that tells me the potential of boxing in the North East and the potential of what people like Lewis Ritson and Josh Kelly can do up here,” stated the promoter.
Enter Sandman and Pretty Boy
Kelly (6-0, 4 KO’s) is one of the most exciting rising young talents in the whole of British boxing. ‘Pretty Boy’ shined on Anthony Joshua’s big stage earlier this year when he took on an experienced former world champion in Carlos Molina in March and won the vacant WBA International welterweight title with ease in front of a packed Principality Stadium.
The 24-year-old Sunderland native is known for his charming good looks and flashy style but apparently, it is all only to mask what truly lies within according to trainer Adam Booth.
“He’s [Kelly] extremely tough. He can fight. He can give it and take it but his skills stop him having to,” commented the trainer.
This weekend Kelly will be challenging Australian Kris George (14-1, 8 KO’s) for the Commonwealth title, yet another tough challenge despite it being only Kelly’s seventh professional fight
“I can’t wait. The trajectory is right at the moment. I’ve got belief in myself. He [George] seems quite confident. If they are coming all the way from Australia anyone would be confident but I’ve got a little edge about this and I can’t wait to put on a show on Saturday,” said Kelly.
British champion Ritson (15-0, 9 KO’s) will put his lightweight title on the line against Paul Hyland (18-0) of Northern Ireland in the co-main event of the night. Newcastle’s own nicknamed ‘Sandman’ has been on a roll with six consecutive stoppage wins in a row and he has the opportunity to win the Lonsdale belt outright this Saturday.
“Hopefully it’s going to be a good explosive performance. Keep the fans on their toes and bring excitement. Hyland is a tough lad. We’ve got a hard job to do but we think we can do it,” told Ritson.
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Also keep an eye for Charlie Edwards (12-1, 5 KO’s) and Anthony Nelson (12-1, 2 KO’s) who will go to battle for the vacant WBA Continental super flyweight title.
And don’t forget to catch former world champion Ricky Burns (41-7-1) in his 50th professional career fight as he takes on Ivan Njegac.