BoxRec

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2010/north- ... a-mackem-0

Tony Jeffries has confirmed the news that any sensible British boxing fan has known for some time now - the north-east has overtaken Sheffield, London and Manchester as the capital of British boxing.

The big ticket selling Sunderland warrior (7-0) helped revive boxing in the area by winning an Olympic bronze medal in 2008. And he’ll be set for his first professional crown if he defeats Pole Michael Banbula (10-25-3) at Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday (23 July).

Banbula recently caused one of the biggest upsets of 2010, by defeating former British light-heavyweight champion Tony Oakey. Jeffries said: “The number of fighters emerging from the north-east is incredible and people will see how much talent we have on Friday.

“When we had the press conference every lad on the bill was someone I had boxed with from the amateurs apart from Nigel Wright who was in the England squad before I came through.

“The talent is there because this is the main place to be for boxing in England.”

Promoter and honorary Mackem Frank Maloney believes it is only a matter of time before the north-east is celebrating another world champion and believes that will be Jeffries.

Maloney added: “I have been in that area when Glenn McCrory and Billy Hardy fought for world titles and the atmosphere was incredible.

“Those are the sort of nights I want up there again.”

Heading the bill being televised by Sky Sports is another rising star, from the area's true capital, Darlington - Stuey Hall (8-0-1) who makes the first defence of his British bantamweight title against former holder Martin Power (21-5) The pair first waged war last September when Hall stopped the Londoner in the eighth round of a thrilling battle.

Crook’s Wright (21-6) who conquered former world champion Alex Arthur in his last battle contests the vacant English light-welterweight crown against Wolverhampton’s Dean Harrison (16-3).

Further, as Maloney has realised the north east of England isn't the most prosperous area of the country, the 'Mental Mackem Midget' is offering a discount on tickets for next season's world title showdown between Steve Molitor and Jason Booth to all those who attend this Friday's bill.

The Saturday September 11th undercard will feature the cream of north-east boxing including Jeffries. Fans who attend Friday's show will be able to buy £95 ringside tickets for just £85. £35 tickets will be available for just £28.

The offer will only be available to customers attending this week's show and the special offer tickets for the world title bill will be sold inside the arena. Maloney said: “Money is tight especially during August when kids are off school and it is the holiday season so I think this is way of appreciating north-east fans who are being asked to fork out twice inside a few weeks for big time boxing.

“The discount is competitive and I am sure there will be plenty of people taking up the chance to save a few quid on Friday.

Tickets for Friday's big night of action, price £30 and £70 are available from 0871 226 1508 or http://www.frankmaloney.com

Chris W 1982 wrote: Fans who attend Friday's show will be able to buy £95 ringside tickets for just £85.

"just".... £85.

Been up there watching my mate Rendall Munroe at crowtree........... The supporters up there were very friendly and are nuts on jeffreys could well be the place for pro boxing,just Hope the pressure dose not get to jeffreys boxing in front of his mad daft mackems supporters : all the time TU: Frank might be on a winner there.

It is not just the capital of boxing. It is the cradle of humanity. Proven fact.

Put this up to provoke debate as I think our Bronze medallist is way off the mark.

I still regard Manchester or Liverpool as boxing's hotbed at the moment with the latter due to pull ahead in the coming years.

Our amateurs are close to regaining the spotlight they accomplished during the middle of last decade as we enjoyed a solid ABA campaign, had Callum Smith and Tom Stalker do superb in International competition, and also enjoyed decent Schoolboy and Junior campaigns.

Paul Smith is closing in on global honours, younger brother Stephen could join Martin Murray and Tony Bellew as Commonwealth kings this autumn, and the remaining pool of talent has envious opportunities.

Joe Selkirk, Ste Jennings, Nathan Brough, Nick MacDonald, Paul Edwards, John Watson, David Price, Liam Smith, Gary Davies, Paul Edwards, John Donnelly, Tony Quigley and Derry Mathews are just a number of boxers who can be hopeful of being positioned in title clashes within the next 18 months.

I'm picking Liverpool as capital of UK boxing, lets hear other peoples thoughts.

I went to Newcastle for "Contender" match ups and Crowtree for Jamie Moore Euro defence, and whilst its good to see the North East "on the up" I think they are a few steps behind the North West in terms of being the capital of boxing. Venues like the MEN, Echo, Bolton Arena and the number of shows held in the NW over the last 2 years have it some way ahead of other areas at the moment.

Im surprised more shows aren't put on up that way TBH.

G0mez wrote:Im surprised more shows aren't put on up that way TBH.

For such a sporting region, we've had very few decent pro boxers over the years. It's hard to explain to people from outside of the area but football was (and perhaps still is) the be all and end all.

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:

G0mez wrote:Im surprised more shows aren't put on up that way TBH.

For such a sporting region, we've had very few decent pro boxers over the years. It's hard to explain to people from outside of the area but football was (and perhaps still is) the be all and end all.

I honestly believe Promoters should take a punt at putting on more shows up here - literally hundreds of people in the various towns go to "white collar" shows so at the very least there is a desire there to see a scrap!!!

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:

G0mez wrote:Im surprised more shows aren't put on up that way TBH.

For such a sporting region, we've had very few decent pro boxers over the years. It's hard to explain to people from outside of the area but football was (and perhaps still is) the be all and end all.

I can understand that being from Liverpool, but boxing has always had a great following in this city. A few world champions in our history and some cracking prospects means that merseyside is still a boom town for boxing.

The North East has some good prospects, but I was in the area on the weekend that Hatton v Pac was on. It took me forever to find a venue to watch it. Ended up in a casino watching it with about 30 odd people. Thought it strange that for one of the biggest British fights in recent years there was only a few people that made the effort to watch it. Unless it's a culture thing and people just watched it at home rather than in town etc.

I do think though that Liverpool or London is the home of boxing at the moment. It was Manchester at one point but the well seems to have all but dried up from that end of the M62.

The only 'weakness' to Liverpool's claim is the lack of pro shows which are held in the city. We've got some really good venues, the arena is the obvious one but then there's a few smaller venues dotted around the city which could get a real good crowd in for a decent pro show.

Thought we've been behind the Mancs in the last decade or so, which is surprising because we've been at the front at amateur level.

Judging the pros these days, could probably say we're on par with Manchester, with lots of talent set to shine.

I don't think Newcastle is anywhere near being the 'home of boxing'.

Jeffries is a decent prospect, I can't see him going much above British level though. Wright has found his level also, it seems, and David Dolan is around british title level ability. Stuey Hall is a British champ, and there was also Paul Truscott who seemed a very game and able fighter, but hasn't really done much recently.

Other than that, who else is there at the moment from the NE to keep an eye on? (I've probably missed someone obvious!)

jBacca wrote: I don't think Newcastle is anywhere near being the 'home of boxing'.

There is more to the North East than Newcastle!!

whicker wrote:

jBacca wrote: I don't think Newcastle is anywhere near being the 'home of boxing'.

There is more to the North East than Newcastle!!

Yep, weren't thinking thoroughly.

The North East isn't the home of boxing.

Can't compete with the NW.

Spud wrote:

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:

G0mez wrote:Im surprised more shows aren't put on up that way TBH.

For such a sporting region, we've had very few decent pro boxers over the years. It's hard to explain to people from outside of the area but football was (and perhaps still is) the be all and end all.

I honestly believe Promoters should take a punt at putting on more shows up here - literally hundreds of people in the various towns go to "white collar" shows so at the very least there is a desire there to see a scrap!!!

I was at a 'White Collar' event at the Fed Brewery in Gateshead a couple of weeks ago and the place was full, it was a great afternoon with nine 3x2mins bouts and two 4x2mins bouts.

The next one is on September 18th at the same venue, this one is a charity do with 6 womens bouts (all models) and then 6 mens white collar fights, tickets are priced at £30. Drop me a PM if anyone is interested.

My m8 also organizes gangster nights the next one is on September 26th and features Carlton Leach and Cass Pennant, they are a good laugh, the last one we had on Howard Marks and Dave Courtney.

Hagler2002 wrote:6 womens bouts (all models) .

Real boxing, or "cosmetic" boxing??

Hagler2002 wrote:

Spud wrote:

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote: For such a sporting region, we've had very few decent pro boxers over the years. It's hard to explain to people from outside of the area but football was (and perhaps still is) the be all and end all.

I honestly believe Promoters should take a punt at putting on more shows up here - literally hundreds of people in the various towns go to "white collar" shows so at the very least there is a desire there to see a scrap!!!

I was at a 'White Collar' event at the Fed Brewery in Gateshead a couple of weeks ago and the place was full, it was a great afternoon with nine 3x2mins bouts and two 4x2mins bouts.

The next one is on September 18th at the same venue, this one is a charity do with 6 womens bouts (all models) and then 6 mens white collar fights, tickets are priced at £30. Drop me a PM if anyone is interested.

My m8 also organizes gangster nights the next one is on September 26th and features Carlton Leach and Cass Pennant, they are a good laugh, the last one we had on Howard Marks and Dave Courtney.

Absolutely!!!!

All of those shows are a massive success up here - the problem I have as a boxing fan is that people go away from those nights thinking their pal is going to be an amazing success in the professional ranks - they are a world champion in the town they live in - it is for this reason why I would love to see more professional shows up here so people can see some proper fights. However - to contradict that - some lads I speak to say the professional shows they have been to have sh*t predictable fights where as the white collar fights have 2 blokes getting in the ring genuinally wanting to have a fight - I hope a happy medium is found!!!!

Hagler2002 wrote:

Spud wrote:

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote: For such a sporting region, we've had very few decent pro boxers over the years. It's hard to explain to people from outside of the area but football was (and perhaps still is) the be all and end all.

I honestly believe Promoters should take a punt at putting on more shows up here - literally hundreds of people in the various towns go to "white collar" shows so at the very least there is a desire there to see a scrap!!!

I was at a 'White Collar' event at the Fed Brewery in Gateshead a couple of weeks ago and the place was full, it was a great afternoon with nine 3x2mins bouts and two 4x2mins bouts.

The next one is on September 18th at the same venue, this one is a charity do with 6 womens bouts (all models) and then 6 mens white collar fights, tickets are priced at £30. Drop me a PM if anyone is interested.

My m8 also organizes gangster nights the next one is on September 26th and features Carlton Leach and Cass Pennant, they are a good laugh, the last one we had on Howard Marks and Dave Courtney.

Is this not a boxing forum so why are we trying to sell none boxing shows on here please tell me how you can call a white collar event a boxing show

FtmPress wrote: Is this not a boxing forum so why are we trying to sell none boxing shows on here please tell me how you can call a white collar event a boxing show

Unless I'm missing something here, "White Collar" is a type of boxing????????

Two people fighting with gloves etc- trying to win, thats boxing, no?

That said, the females bouts "all models" might not be an actual attempt to fight.

Don't think it's fair to compare the North East with Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester etc as the they are cities and the North East is an area made up of several cities and towns. The North East doesn't compete at all with the North West for boxing.

To be clear, I'm not saying all white collar boxing is necessarily any good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhSM4mpeaSI

The phrase "pub car park" springs to mind...

FtmPress wrote:

Hagler2002 wrote:

Spud wrote: I honestly believe Promoters should take a punt at putting on more shows up here - literally hundreds of people in the various towns go to "white collar" shows so at the very least there is a desire there to see a scrap!!!

I was at a 'White Collar' event at the Fed Brewery in Gateshead a couple of weeks ago and the place was full, it was a great afternoon with nine 3x2mins bouts and two 4x2mins bouts.

The next one is on September 18th at the same venue, this one is a charity do with 6 womens bouts (all models) and then 6 mens white collar fights, tickets are priced at £30. Drop me a PM if anyone is interested.

My m8 also organizes gangster nights the next one is on September 26th and features Carlton Leach and Cass Pennant, they are a good laugh, the last one we had on Howard Marks and Dave Courtney.

Is this not a boxing forum so why are we trying to sell none boxing shows on here please tell me how you can call a white collar event a boxing show

FTM,

There is also perfectly valid point being made here - that is gangster dinner night themes and white collar boxing is more to the fore in the North East than professional shows due to the matchmaking that goes on in the professional circuit.

For the record - I note Maloney Promotions have done more shows in recent times than the majority of promoters and for that you need to be applauded - just surprised I have not had an invite - and before you say - you are welcome if you pay for the ticket - fallen on hard times

Spud wrote:There is also perfectly valid point being made here - that is gangster dinner night themes and white collar boxing is more to the fore in the North East than professional shows due to the matchmaking that goes on in the professional circuit.

Same could be said of professional wrestling.

(Just kidding)

whicker wrote:

Hagler2002 wrote:6 womens bouts (all models) .

Real boxing, or "cosmetic" boxing??

As I said it was a charity event, these 12 women are fighting for a good cause

jBacca wrote:
I don't think Newcastle is anywhere near being the 'home of boxing'.

Who the f*ck said Newcastle? Not me! You won't get me (or Jaffa) lauding those Geordie bastards! 8)