John “Fireball” Fewkes, one of the premier light welterweight prospects in Britain, will see action this Friday on a Frank Maloney promotion at The Dome in Doncaster, England, as chief support for the greatly awaited confrontation between British super feather champion Carl Johanneson and fiery ex-titlist Michael Gomez..
The sharply skilled 21 year old will come to grips with former Commonwealth and English title challenger Gary Reid in a crossroads eight round contest that will determine if the young Sheffield man can advance further into the hotly competitive UK 140 pound division.
Having advanced unscathed through a detachment of journeymen for his first 12 bouts, Fewkes proved to be more than just another prospect in his next two campaigns, turning in glittering performances while defeating the promising pair of Scott Haywood and Craig Watson.
Fewkes then dropped down to lightweight against hardened former European super feather champion Tontcho Tontchev in July and delivered a career best effort, peppering the Bulgarian with strafing combinations to both head and body while setting a furious pace that the well versed Balkan sharpshooter strained to match.
But the lethal Tontchev refused to go quietly, managing to rock Fewkes several times in the late rounds with bracing left hook counters that the steel chinned Midlander took with great composure before assaulting his antagonist with a transfixing body attack that had one of Europe’s most experienced lightweights on the run by the end of the fight.
This Friday at the Doncaster Dome, Fewkes, 15-0 (2), will return to the light welter division and receive the full attention of Stoke based strongman Gary Reid, who promises to welcome the aspirant by turning the ring into a whirlpool of punishment and frustration.
On paper, Reid’s record of 13-17-1 (8), won’t win any awards but the numbers are tempered by a resume packed with European, Commonwealth and British champions such as Bradley Pryce, Ted Bami, Jason Cook, Willie Limond, Kevin Bennett, Ajose Olusegun, Young Muttley and Barry Morrison.
Of particular caution for Fewkes, Reid has forcibly tarnished the once promising careers of fighters such as Kevin McIntyre, Oscar Hall, Dean Hickman, Leo O’Reilly and Sammy Smith, stopping each with unquestionably barbaric levels of pressure that the short, powerfully built Staffordshire man is known for.
This session of hostilities between Fewkes and Reid cannot fail to evolve into the type of thrilling, winner take all duel that characterizes the fight cards of Frank Maloney and the London based promoter has already stated that Fewkes cannot afford a single mistake against the marauding Reid if he is to one day wear the belt of a true champion around his waist.
A full undercard supports the main events at the Doncaster Dome and will feature exciting light heavyweight prospect Tony Salem meeting recent former Commonwealth champion Ovill McKenzie.
Rounding out the card, light middle Danny Reynolds squares off with Latvian upset artist Gatis Skuja, lightweight Gary Sykes confronts Dwayne Hill, featherweight Danny Wallace opposes Youssef Al Hamidi, bantamweight Ross Burkinshaw faces Shaun Docherty, lightweight Steffy Bull goes against Christian Laight, heavyweight Dean O’Loughlin contends with Howard Daley, cruiserweight Billy Boyle settles differences with John Anthony and super middle Ryan Rowlinson quarrels with Lee Nicholson.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Nowhere 2 Run, Nowhere 2 Hide” headlined by the Super Featherweight Championship of Britain between reigning titlist Carl Johanneson and challenger Michael Gomez at the Doncaster Dome in Doncaster, England on Friday, October 19 with a live televised broadcast by Sky TV.
Tickets are priced at £75 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508. For any further press information please call 02086914165.