The bulk of the North of England team at the airport yesterday morning. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0539995)
WE’RE here to win.
That was message from the North of England Select team after they touched down at the airport yesterday ahead of tonight’s sell-out open show at Beau Sejour.
‘We’ve got a strong team and we’ve lost the last two times,’ said the visitors’ head coach, Steve Walshaw.
‘We’re here to win this time.’
The only boxer not on the 10.40am Manchester flight was Matt Jennings’ opponent Sonny Jury.
The top-of-the-bill clash that has been dubbed the ‘Brawl in the Hall’, sees the island’s number one take on former national junior champion Jury in a rematch from their fight at the December dinner boxing show. Jennings beat the Thames Valley ABC boxer on points that time.
Being based elsewhere, Jury is flying in from Southampton this morning.
There are also two changes to the card.
Alderney’s Adam Rose is now fighting Daniel Roberts, the light-heavyweight Warrington boxer having stepped in to replace Darren Wilson.
Also, Wayne Calladine’s scheduled opponent Michael Foster has not made the trip over.
Calladine, a Guernsey based Scot, has beaten Foster twice before, but his replacement opponent, Rob Bordon, looks set to be more of a handful.
The 19-year-old Leigh ABC fighter faced Calladine when they topped the bill at last April’s dinner boxing show.
And Bordon was awarded the bout after three close rounds, much to the dismay of the home crowd and Calladine, who said at the time that he would love to fight Bordon again.
He has now got his wish but Bordon reckons he will make it two out of two over Calladine.
‘I feel great,’ he said.
‘I feel confident I’m going to beat him. I’m just going to enjoy the weekend.
‘I’ve come here to box but it’s a good weekend as well.’
Another North of England fighter glad to be back in the island is Andrew Kremner.
The 15-year-old light-welterweight is taking on Gage Demoor for the second time.
He defeated the Sarnian at the December show and he was not afraid to get rough.
Kremner twice threw the local lad to the canvas during the bout.
He’s looking forward to the rematch but admitted that he will feel nervous walking out in front of an audience of 800.
‘I always get nervous but nerves keep you on the edge. I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.
‘It should be good.’
Kremner is also a highly rated prospect on the football pitch and Manchester United have reportedly been watching his progress.
But his mind is fixed on only one thing at the moment.
The Guernsey coach, Graham Guilbert, said the preparations for the night had been going to plan and he was glad to see all the boxers turn up.
‘All the boxers have arrived – I was concerned about that,’ he said.
‘We’ll have a full programme of 16 bouts. Our boys are all looking very fit. It’s going to be great.’
Loading ...
Share this article:
What are these?