Clash of the Titans is on the horizon

Wearside boxing promoter, Phil Jeffries' next event is now very much on the horizon with just two weeks to go until the fighters step out at the Hartlepool Borough Hall.

Headlined by Martin Ward's bantamweight title bout, the mouth most definitely waters at the prospect of this one.

Sunday 30^th September is the date NE fight fans need to keep in both their diaries and minds. Not only for the headline bout but also the mouth-watering undercard presented as well.

That main headline bout will see Martin Ward challenge Jason '2 Smooth' Booth for the English bantamweight title.

It will be a return to the region for Booth who fought on Jeffries' Summer Rumble bill, losing to Willie Casey for the WBA European title.

"Booth and Ward are both stylish, classy boxers and this fight is going to be a great spectacle. It's a really even fight too and if Martin does win then he really will have arrived on the British stage," said Phil Jeffries.

"Peter Cope will be fighting in front of his home fans after a great victory last time out against Gavin Reid.

"We've also got Gary Fox and Neil Hepper fighting for the Northern Area light-welterweight title, and if it's anything like their first fight then it will be toe to toe all the way."

Peter Cope (6-0), having successfully claimed the International Masters super -bantamweight title at the Summer Rumble against Redcar's Gavin Reid (6-15-1, 3KO's), will face Michael Stupart (1-5-1, 1 KO) who resides in Hayes, Middlesex but is Scottish-born.

Stupart already has another two potential bouts lined up in October against Paul Economides and Daniel McShane, but will first provide Cope with a challenge over six rounds. 

The second of the two title fights that are scheduled to take place will see that of Fishburn's Gary Fox (8-1) oppose Darlington's Neil Hepper (3-1) for the vacant Northern Area light-welterweight title over ten rounds. 

Then there is Horden's Greg O'Neil (2-0) whom has been paired with the Scunthorpe journeyman, Steve Spence (2-24-4, 1KO) who would be remembered to the regions fight fans for his defeat to Mark Clauzel at the Summer Rumble on points.

There are three further bouts on Jeffries' undercard with an opponent for Teesside's bantamweight, Mohammad Waqas (2-0). At lightweight level Hartlepool's Callum Martin follows up his shock debut draw at the Rumble against Steve Martin (1-4-1, 1KO) with a bout, over four rounds, against Mansfield's Rob Sharpe (2-3, 1KO).  Sharpe is also no stranger to the regions fight fans having opposed South Shields' David Lake in his debut.

Finally, there is that of the undefeated Gateshead fighter, Rob Ismay (6-0, 2KO's) as he faces Sheffield's Lee Duncan (4-7-2). Duncan, who has fought twice in Edinburgh, Scotland, has appeared mainly in Southern regions and will be his first trip to the north-east. Ismay though is far from being a pushover and his two KO's have both been in the first round. The first came against Matt Inman in Peterlee and the second was at Blackpool's Winter Gardens against experienced journeyman, Jody Meikle (3-25), in March this year.  

The last three bouts will be contested over four rounds, Izzy and Waqas will bring with them a sizeable, vociferous support from Tyneside and Teesside respectively.