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Northern vs Southern Area champions collide
Cope ready to bounce back into the title mix
(Images courtesy of Sainsbury Photography)
Now, as we head to the end of November that professional scene will give you not one, but two shows in very quick succession. On top of that one of the areas bright prospects, Hartlepool’s Peter Cope, who has won ten of his eleven outings to date, travels to where it all began, the Doncaster Dome. When he and his famed Barmy Army get there Copey will oppose the currently undefeated Southern Area champion, Andrew Townend, on the same night as the ‘Resurrection’ show back North in Gateshead.
For Cope, the Northern Area champion, it is a chance for redemption and a return to the English title scene, a one in which he fell just short of succeeding in a matter of months ago. That was against Mitchell Smith who faces Zoltan Kovacs for the vacant WBO European super featherweight strap in London on the same night.
Speaking ahead of his date with destiny the 23 year old fighter said: “This is the perfect route back for me to get into the title mix and, when I hopefully beat Townend on Saturday night, it puts me back to face whoever is next.
“I don’t want to be, or even see myself as being just an Area champion and, although I give my last opponent (when he defeated John Green for the Northern Area title) credit for stepping in there, he did spoil it a bit but it was good to be able to get some more rounds in as well.
“Now, as I have been for a while at least, I feel fit and focussed and we’re all glad that we have the buzz back in Robinson’s Gym – I’m definitely aiming for a win here, then get that English title, and push on to bigger and better things in the New Year.”
Not only that but, with the support of Gus Robinson’s Gym the Cope camp recently added a new element to their fighters camp with a new, and rather unfamiliar face. Dan Robinson explained about the camps’ new strength coach: “Cope’s win against (John) Green was the perfect way for him to get over the Smith loss and get back in the saddle.
“As for the implementation of S & C with our fighters, we’ve had a secret weapon in Marie Ratch who has been dealing with both that and the lads’ nutritional programmes for the past eighteen months or so which has surprised a lot of people. With her there with us then we have use of her Functional Sports business with our lads in the gym on a regular basis.”
Winner Takes It All – Fight Card
‘WINNER TAKES IT ALL’ promoted by Steve Wraith and Wraith Promotions in association with Precision Sports Management at the Temple Park Leisure Centre, South Shields; Doors open at 12 noon and first fight scheduled for 130pm.
Tickets will be made available on the door priced at £30 standard entry.
RUNNING ORDER
Bout One
Thomas Patrick Ward; County Durham (9-0; 1KO) vs. Jamie ‘Devil Child’ Quinn; Stockport (1-2): Super featherweight -4 x 3
Bout Two
Anthony ‘Hitman’ Hardy; Horden (5-0) vs. Jason Nesbitt; Birmingham (10-180-4; 7KO): Welterweight – 6 x 2
Bout Three
Lee ‘Mackem Mexican’ Mould; Sunderland (5-0-1; 2KO) vs. Matt Seawright; Tamworth (5-97-5): Light welterweight – 4 x 3
Bout Four
Lynden Watt; Darlington (1-0) vs. Deveidas Sajauka; Lithuania (3-5; 1KO): Light Heavyweight –
4 x 3
Bout Five
Tom Whitfield; Birtley (1-0) vs. Jason ‘Rooney’ McArdle; Rochdale (2-9; 1KO): Welterweight – 4 x 3
INTERVAL
Bout Six
Daniel Cope; Hartlepool (1-0) vs. Jamie ‘Zaz’ Zaszlos; Barnsley (1-14): Welterweight – 4 x 3
Bout Seven
James Barnes; Newcastle (Debut) vs. Radek Varek ; Czech Republic (1-0): Heavyweight – 4 x 3
Bout Eight
Anthony ‘Nella’ Nelson; South Shields (8-0; 1KO) vs. Terry Broadbent; Leeds (7-2; 2KO): English super flyweight title -10 x 3 (Main Event)
Bout Nine
Peter Cope; Hartlepool (9-1) vs. John Green (Middlesbrough, 2-0-1; 1KO): Northern Area lightweight title – 10 x 3 (Chief Support)
Wraith ready for Temple Park showcase
Wraith ready for his best show yet
On the eve of what is quite clearly his biggest show to date Tyneside boxing promoter and CEO of Wraith Promotions, Steve Wraith, took time out of his ever busy schedule to discuss ‘Winner takes it All.’
Headlined with not one, but two title fights, an English super featherweight and Northern Area lightweight clash, Wraith is proving those doubters wrong and showing that, even when the chips are down and backs are against the wall, he is still here.
“How do I start now, I mean really, even Frankie Hutchinson was nervous for me earlier today (at the weigh-in) with regards my getting a big title fight on,” he began.
“I’ve now got two on tomorrow though and I’m really looking forward to both as I’ve had some close calls regarding title fights in the past so I’m pleased these two have stayed the distance.
“Now though, with both these fights, then we’ve got four great lads even if it is going to be a big step up for (John) Green, and, if I’m honest, both bouts really are going to be a close call.”
Wraith’s main event will see the home-town favourite, Anthony ‘Babyface’ Nelson, square off with Leeds’ Terry Broadbent over ten threes for that English strap. Not only will the bout be in Nella’s home town but also a homecoming for the promoter as he takes professional boxing back home for the first time in over six years.
“I’m definitely looking forward to this one,” continued Wraith.
“Probably more so than any of the other shows even though being able to give someone like Bradley Saunders his homecoming, now that was special.”
Going into the show Mr Wraith was full of high praise for those around him and concluded by saying that: “You reap what you sow and I really do believe in karma.
“In any game you need to be honest both to yourself and other people so, when you’re working with someone like Mal Gates, then there’s very few better than him in this game.”
Wraith Promotions, in association with Precision Sports Management brings an afternoon of professional boxing to Temple Park, South Shields. With two title fights, and nine bouts in total, the doors will open at 12 noon and the first bout around 130pm. Tickets will be on sale on the door priced at £50 for ringside and £30 standard.
Area title clash to light up Shields undercard
(Cope, above, at his recent English title weigh-in; and Green, below, at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough)
Regional duo aiming to light up Shields undercard with Area clash
Northern Area title fights have been few and far between in recent times throughout the north east, in fact there have only been four in the past four years. Prior to that then you have to go back to 2004 for Ryan Kerr’s seventh round stoppage of Gary Dixon, at the Federation Brewery, for one.
Come the afternoon of October 12 in South Shields, Temple Park will bear witness to a different affair as seasoned veteran, Hartlepool’s Peter Cope, 9-1, challenges for the lightweight strap against unbeaten Middlesbrough lad, John Green, 2-0-1(1). It’s looking like it could be a one not to be missed.
Dating back to the thirties when Leeds’ Jim Learoyd, 96-26-15(24), contested five in succession (winning three) the lightweight strap has been a title of enigma and intrigue. The thirties was its heyday but, if you jump to a night in 1990 then a certain Paul Charters claimed the strap with a ten round success over Martin P. Gray in Northampton (Charters would go on to challenge for the EBU European strap later the following year). More recently and the strap was again contested in Hartlepool as Gary Fox defeated Neil Hepper with a fifth round stoppage from what a classic bout for the neutrals.
Now though it is the turn of either Cope or Green to write themselves into the annals of boxing history.
For Cope it will be a first step back up the ladder having given heart and soul in his English title loss to Mitchell Smith in July. During the fight with Smith the Hartlepool favourite was put on the canvas for only the second time in the paid ranks and he’ll be looking at righting a few wrongs when he takes on Green.
Elated that another opportunity has come along so soon after the last, more so when you consider what had transpired for him and his camp over the previous twelve months or so the title challenger said: “I’ve already won the International Masters so it’ll be great to add the Northern Area strap to my collection.
“There are no real excuses for what happened but I hadn’t been in the ring as much as I’d have liked but I gave everything I had and I promise that I will get back to where I was straight away. I’ve had a few weeks off afterwards then got back in the gym and been ticking over, waiting for this so I’ll sure be fit and ready for it.
“I am looking at being a lot better, sharper, and I’m enjoying myself again, enjoying the sport and that make a big difference. Now, after all that’s happened, I’ve got motivation, the incentive, to push on. It’s all mapped out for me to have a good finish to the year and I can’t wait.”
With the experience that is Cope, the flip side of the coin you could well say is John Green.
Having only debuted a few months ago the Teessider, who trains with Paul Hamilton at the DBMA Darlington gym, could be forgiven for those thinking he has jumped the gun a little. The opportunity, although catching Green and his camp by surprise, is one they couldn’t afford to reject and one they cannot really lose.
“I was actually training for an eight rounder on the George Groves undercard anyway but my opponent pulled out just before,” admitted Green
“Yes I may have not been in action for a few years but I’ve been in the gym and got a few quick outing under my belt already. I won the Novices as an amateur in 2008 but needed to get out of there, seeing Josh (Leather) turn over and do what he inspired me to do so as well.
“I’m looking forward to this as we really didn’t see it coming but I’ll tell you now, it will be a good fight and I hope to cause an upset on the night.”
Cope vs. Green is chief support for the ‘Winner takes it All’ undercard which will take place at Temple Park, South Shields on the afternoon of Sunday October 12. Tickets are on sale now and are priced at £50 ringside and £30 standard and from the usual outlets, all fighters on the card and from the Wraith Promotions website.
Temple Park Official Preview
(All photos used with permission of respective photographers)
Preview for Temple Park’ Winner takes it All
The days and hours are slowly being counted down as we head into this weekend’s Wraith Promotions offering at Temple Park in South Shields.
In a sport that is fraught with changes promoter Steve Wraith’s well-coined phrase of “it’s the nature of the beast” can be used in some small part here as well.
Changes have been made, when aren’t they, but ultimately they have been for the better.
Anthony Nelson, 8-0(1) will challenge Terry Broadbent, 7-2(2) for that English super flyweight title and in front of his own friends, family and neighbours as the sport returns to the town for the first time in a number of years.
The chief support though has changed with the addition of a Northern Area title scrap being added to the undercard. That in itself throws some intrigue into the mix as Hartlepool’s English title challenger at super featherweight, Peter Cope, 9-1, is opposing a relative unknown in the shape of Middlesbrough’s not only unbeaten, but a recent debutant, John Green, 2-0-1(1). The duo will now collide for the Northern Area lightweight title.
Regional superstar protégé, Durham’s undefeated Tommy Ward, 9-0(1) will face ‘The Devil Child’ Jamie Quinn, 1-2, who himself has only had three bouts. The three welterweights on the undercard have also had their opponents named – Mal Gates’ recent addition to the pro ranks, Tom Whitfield, 1-0, will oppose Jason McArdle 2-9(1); Horden’s ‘Hitman’ Anthony Hardy, 5-0, gets another outing as he aims to stretch his unbeaten start in the pro game to six when he faces the vastly experienced Jason Nesbitt, 10-180-4(7); and another recent debutant, Daniel Cope, 1-0 (brother of Peter) gets the chance to build on his Summer Rumble debut when he faces Jamie Zaszlos, 1-14.
A further four regional fighters make up the ‘Winner takes it All’ bill as Newcastle heavyweight James Barnes finally gets the chance to make his professional debut, Darlington-based Lynden Watt, 1-0, joins stable-mate John Green for the first time on a professional billing when opposing Lithuanian Deividas Sajauka, 3-5(1) someone who is not afraid to both travel and contest; and Gates’ third fighter on the show is none other than the ‘Mackem Mexican,’ unbeaten Lee Mould, 5-0-1(2) against the ever-durable, Matt Seawright, 5-97-5 for what will be the visitors 108th professional outing as well as another Wearside-based fighter. Cameroonian flyweight Thomas Essomba, 1-0, also getting a run out on the ten bout fight card.
With Mould then we all know what happened when he appeared on the last regional card and he’s definitely not afraid to come forward and show the power in his arsenal. At the July Summer Rumble he took care of Newcastle’s John Watson with relative ease with an early second round stoppage, another statement made this Sunday and he’ll surely be knocking on a title door in the not too distant future.
The same can be said of Tommy Ward who, unbeaten in nine, was hoping to make an impression against Esham Pickering but that prospect has since fallen by the wayside and he, like others in the area, continue to bide their time awaiting that big opportunity.
‘Winner takes it All’ will take place at Temple Park, South Shields on the afternoon of Sunday 12 October with the doors opening from noon. The first bout of the afternoon will be at 130pm and tickets are on sale now priced at £50 ringside and £30 standard and from the usual outlets, all fighters on the card and from the Wraith Promotions website.
Winner Takes It All Fight Card (correct as of 09/10/14)
Anthony Nelson vs. Terry Broadbent English super flyweight 10 x 3
Peter Cope vs. John Green Northern Area lightweight 10 x 3
Daniel Cope vs. Jamie Zaszlos Welterweight 4 x 3
Thomas Ward vs. Jamie Quinn Super featherweight 4 x 3
Tom Whitfield vs. Jason McArdle Welterweight 4 x 3
Lynden Watt vs. Deveidas Sajauka Light Heavyweight 4 x 3
Lee Mould vs. Matt Seawright Light welterweight 4 x 3
Anthony Hardy vs. Jason Nesbitt Welterweight 6 x 2
(Opponents TBA for James Barnes and Thomas Essomba both of whom will be fighting over 4 x 3)
Winner Takes It All Public Weigh In
Title Weigh In Announced
Having faced off at the recent press conference title combatants Anthony Nelson and Terry Broadbent will get the chance to do it all again this Saturday ahead of Sunday’s collision.
Nelson, 8-0(1) and Broadbent, 7-2(2) meet for the vacant English super flyweight strap in Nella’s home town of South Shields.
The Wraith Promotions event entitled ‘Winner Takes It All’ also sees a regional title fight as Hartlepool’s Peter Cope and Middlesbrough’s John Green get the chance to face-off for the first time ahead of their bout.
Cope, 9-1 and Green 2-0-1 will clash for the Northern Area lightweight title and, with both bouts scheduled for ten threes, fans are in for treat.
At Temple Park, South Shields the day before the fight you, the regions press and fight fans, will get the opportunity to see them face-off at their respective weigh ins at 12 noon on Saturday 11 October.
Public Title Weigh In
Temple Park Leisure Centre, South Shields
12 Noon
Saturday 11 October
Attendees – Anthony Nelson, Terry Broadbent, Peter Cope, John Green as well as Steve Wraith, Mal Gates and BBBoC Officials
Media and Fans ALL WELCOME
‘Winner takes it All’ will take place at Temple Park, South Shields on the afternoon of Sunday 12 October with the doors opening from noon. The first bout of the afternoon will be at 130pm.
Tickets are still on sale priced at £50 ringside and £30 standard and from the usual outlets; all fighters on the card and from the Wraith Promotions Website.
To date, ‘Winner takes it All’ is sponsored by Ideala, Wescott Coatings & Training Services, DMI Retail Services, Kev Pascoe, Richmond Taxis, Trimmers Arms Public House and East Side Fibreglass.
Title Eliminator for Fishburn’s Finest
Opportunity to good to miss for Fishburn’s Fox
Originally scheduled to be appearing on the ‘Friday Fright Fight Night’ in Dunston, Tyne & Wear on the night of 13th September, Fishburn’s Lightweight pugilist, Gary Fox (11-1; 2KO’s) has been handed a massive opportunity to make the step up that both himself and Neil Fannan have been angling for some time to occur. Not only that but the fight fans in and around the north east have been clamouring for something similar as well. Now it is very much about to happen.
“This chance could not have come at a more perfect time for me,” claimed the 27 year old Fox.
“I know I can handle myself against the bigger, tougher opponents and there is no better place to do it than at the famous York Hall. I know of my opponent anyway so that will make things that little easier for me. We were hoping it was going to be for a title but a Commonwealth eliminator is good enough for now.”
Fox’s opponent will not really come much tougher in the current climate as he will oppose the undefeated Ghanaian, Richard Commey (16-0; 16KO’s) over ten threes on the night of September 7th. Fishburn’s Lightweight pugilist though is unfazed by the challenge this presents to him, in fact it spurs him on even more and he stated that “I don’t look at records; they don’t bother me at all. It’s how we face each other in the ring.
“If he wants to come in and have a war with me then great, let’s do it as I know I can handle it. I know he stopped all sixteen opponents, but they are not me.”
(Fox celebrating claiming the Northern Area Lightweight title after a blistering fifth round stoppage of Darlington’s Neil Hepper at the Hartlepool Borough Hall in September 2012)
Having blasted his way through the tough Mark McKray (TKO1 after 83 seconds) in February this year he then eased his way past Jason Carr (PTS4) two months later in April. Both of those outings were at the Rainton Meadows Arena, and Fox has been chomping at the bit to get back into the ring since, as he looks to move his way up the rankings and in against some of the best fighters in the business. It is a Lightweight division that consists some stellar names, including Teesside’s Paul Truscott, and is a division which Fox hopes to crack, sooner rather than later.
In an interview in May 2013, Fox stated that “Someone like (Anthony) Crolla or (Kevin) Mitchell would be ideal for me.
“Anyone in that top ten though but with me travelling there. I want to fight somewhere that’s not in the north east for something different as I believe I would get myself noticed a little more in doing so. Fight someone in their backyard for a change, which would be ideal.”
Should Fox overcome this seemingly insurmountable hurdle and claim a Commonwealth, then he will be looking very much at the outcome of the battle between Derry Mathews and Curtis Woodhouse later in the month. That bout in itself is an eagerly anticipated battle and the holder, Mathews, whom defeated Tommy Coyle (TKO10) for the strap not so long ago, and is the one whom the region have been calling to give Fox a shot.
What happens next is down to Fox though, who, having sparred regularly with Teessider Paul Truscott over the past few months in his own build-up to a defeat to Commey (Commey won TKO8), will continue to do so. It’s very much a hand fitting in the glove scenario for the Fishburn Lightweight and, barring victory against Commey it couldn’t really get any more perfect for Fox right now. And with the training regime presented by Fannan and company, he will be more than ready come the night of 7th September.
A stacked card, consisting of some sixteen bouts and is promoted by Goodwin Main Events sees Lee Markham oppose Andrei Salahutdzinau for the vacant British Masters Super Middleweight title, Menay Edwards takes on JJ Ojuediere for the Southern Area Cruiserweight strap as well as the likes of Tom Dallas, Tony Conquest and James Ancliff amongst many others.
Fox Has Lightweights In Crosshairs
Fox Looking at the Top Ten, and the Titles
According the latest BoxRec rankings the Lightweight division is relatively quiet over the next couple of months. Of their ranked twenty top fighters on the home front, some thirteen of them find themselves inactive. It is a list that includes the undefeated trio of Scott Cardle (11-0; 2KO’s), the WBO European champion, Liam Walsh (14-0; 10KO’s) and Terry Flannigan (20-0; 6KO’s).
Amongst those distinguished fighters is Fishburn’s own, the Northern Area Lightweight champion, Gary Fox (11-1; 2KO’s), and he finds himself calling out anyway who cares to listen to his call to war. Speaking of the inactivity, with which he finds himself, more than half of the top ten have nothing mentioned as being lined up for the foreseeable. Fox has stated he will face them, on their patch, if he needs to as he wants to keep active himself also, so understands their frustrations.
Of the top twenty, two will be opposing each other at the Manchester Arena in June. It will be a clash of the experienced duo of Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla (25-4-1; 9KO’s) and Gavin ‘The Rock’ Rees (37-2-1; 18KO’s). Both of these fighters Fox can see himself facing and stated himself that “none of those two (Crolla and Rees) have the power to face me.
“Yes, they have a pretty good work rate but that’s about it really. It will though be a fight I will be watching intently. It is fighters like those that I am waiting to take notice of me and maybe think they can take a chance on me.”
Of those that are inactive in the top ten, of which there are six, Fox believes he can face any, and is more than willing to travel to begin proving his point if the opposition so desires. He continued by saying “I really want to keep myself active, stay in the gym more. That’s what I want. Maybe see if anyone wants me to defend my title against them in the area if needs be.
“There are a lot of lads in this Lightweight Division that don’t have anything lined and that’s not right, they should be. Of them I rate Flannigan the highest as he is a good, tidy boxer, but I think it’s too early, just, for me to oppose him. But the others, I say bring them on. I’m ready now to step up into the mix and be counted.”
Fox has been mooted as being on the Pro Boxing North East Summer Rumble at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in early July, but he is aching, aching to have a fight elsewhere in the country. “I’m looking forward to fighting on the Rumble card again,” continued Fox, “but I’m hoping that I can get out again beforehand if possible as well.
“Someone like (Anthony) Crolla or (Kevin) Mitchell would be ideal for me. Anyone in that top ten though but with me travelling there. I want to fight somewhere that’s not in the north east for something different as I believe I would get myself noticed a little more in doing so. Fight someone in their backyard for a change, which would be ideal.
“In the meantime I will be having a good chat with my trainer, Neil Fannan, early next week and see if there’s anything concrete on the horizon for me at all.”
So, if any of those inactive fighters in the top ten, or even twenty, in the British Lightweight Division, a list comprising of Stephen Jennings, Scott Harrison, Tony Owen, Craig Woodruff, Scott Cardle, Chris Goodwin, Paul Truscott, Tommy Coyle, Derry Mathews, Liam Walsh, Terry Flannigan, and Kevin Mitchell; then Fishburn’s Gary Fox is looking at lining any of them up in the crosshairs for an outing, sometime soon, and at a venue of their choosing if necessary.
Fox Looking At More Title Success
Fox Looking At More Title Success
“I do feel as though I can mix it with those in the top ten and that is where I want to be so will hopefully be looking there.”
Fishburn’s Gary Fox (9-1; 1KO) is on a mission, a mission that will see him taste more championship success having won the Northern Area Lightweight strap against Neil Hepper in his last outing. That was the second meeting between the two combatants but, in Fox’s eyes, something that will not happen again. Well, not yet anyway.
“The last meeting with Hepper was just another stepping stone for me,” said Fox.
“I won that in order to take that next step and my opponent at Rainton Meadows is a step up in class and ranking and that is what I want now. There are plenty of belts about to be won now and I am looking at facing someone in the top ten somewhere in the next twelve months or so.”
That top ten includes the likes of Derry Matthews, Anthony Crolla, Martin Gethin, Gavin Rees and Ricky Burns, amongst numerous others. Of those, the Welshman, Rees is due to go to war on the world stage when he faces Adrien Broner for the WBC Lightweight title in New Jersey on the 16th. Then there is the Scotsman, Burns, who goes in against Miguel Vazquez for the WBO and IBF Lightweight straps in London in mid-March. They are the top of the pile for Fishburn’s Fox.
In saying that Hepper was a stepping stone Fox, who defeated Hepper with a fifth round TKO in their last meeting, insisted, with reason, why they will not meet anytime soon when saying “I’ve fought him twice now and that’s it.
“Fighting Hepper again in the near future would be a backward step for me and that is not what I want. Yes, it could happen somewhere down the line but he needs to move up the rankings for it to happen.”
Now though, Fox’s sights are firmly set on what he describes as “being my toughest challenge yet,” when he faces Light Welterweight pugilist, Mark McKray (4-17-1; 3KO’s) on the Supremacy undercard at Rainton Meadows on the night of February 15th. Although McKray comes in with seventeen losses on his record he is not to be taken lightly, a factor in which the 27 year old Fox is well aware of.
The Jamaican-born, Londoner, McKray, although suffering a few losses, has taken the likes of Tim Witherspoon Jnr, Carl Johanesson, Sam Matkin, Shayne Singleton and Ricky Boylan the distance during that unlucky losing streak. His last two outing, in December and January, have both seen victories come McKray’s way, defeating the previously undefeated Tom Shaw with a TKO1 in mid-January.
“Both of us have been and are talking about title shots this year. A few of those he has fought have been done at some very short notice including Johanesson and he’s had plenty of time to train for this one. He’ll definitely be coming to win and he will be looking at gaining another stoppage success.
“I would have gone into this over six or eight rounds but the plan was always for a four rounder in order to blow off any cobwebs from the last outing. This opponent is tough though and it will be my hardest test yet.”
Fox though has been keeping good company in his build-up to facing McKray as his sparring has seen him go toe-to-toe with Middlesbrough’s Paul Truscott. The experienced Super Featherweight will be fighting in Crawley for the WBO European strap against Ben Jones the night after Fox’s next outing and Fox finished by saying that “I’ve been sparring eight rounders and at a good pace with Truscott and that has given me a great confidence booster for me and Truscott has said as much.”
Tickets for the show are priced at £75 (Ringside) and £35 (Standard) and can be purchased from the boxers themselves, North East Boxing on 07747 611020 or buy online at frankmaloney.com, and for any additional information contact Phil Jeffries on 07747 611020 or James Russell on 07877 433317.
Peter Mann - Media & PR 