STUEY HALL has revealed how he transformed from scraping a living in Ibiza to becoming an unlikely professional boxing champion. The Darlington boxer, 30, makes the first defence of his British bantamweight title when he faces old rival Martin Power (21-5) at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-Le-Spring on Friday (July 23).
A few years ago, Hall (8-0-1) quit boxing after getting disillusioned with the amateur code and moved to the lager louts playground working in bars and giving out leaflets to tourists..
But when Hall moved back home, well overweight, he re-kindled his love of boxing and the hard work paid off last month when he stunned Ian Napa to win the Lonsdale belt.
The roofer said: “I had a few knock-backs as an amateur, packed it in and went to Ibiza for five years. I was ducking and diving, anything to makes ends meet.
“It was brilliant. I was away from home and I went for it – clubbing, drinking, you name it. It was only when I came back to England that I realised how much I’d let myself go.
“For the first time in my life I really stuck at it. I went to Leeds for sparring sessions and my career really took off.
“I turned pro and spoke about a Lonsdale belt. That became the target and nothing else mattered. My trainer/manager Mike Marsden was able to give me one-to-one attention and so much of my success is down to him.”
Hall and Power first waged war last September when the north-east fighter stopped the Londoner in the eighth round of a thrilling battle.
On the same bill Crook’s Nigel 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).
Olympic bronze medallist Jeffries (7-0) continues his march to the top when he steps up to eight round class and meets Staines based Pole Michael Banbula (10-25-3).
Tickets for the big night of action, price £30 and £70 are available from 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com
NORTH EAST IS BRIT BOXING CAPITAL
TONY JEFFRIES believes the north-east has overtaken 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 and WBU 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 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 Sport is another rising star from the region Darlington’s 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).
Tickets for the big night of action, price £30 and £70 are available from 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com
MARTIN GETS HIS POWER IN FINLAND
MARTIN POWER has been holed up in northern Europe preparing for his make or break fight against Stuey Hall.
The Londoner bids for revenge when he challenges for Hall’s (8-0-1) British bantamweight title at Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday (July 23).
Former champion Power (21-5) was stopped in eight rounds when he met the Darlington roofer last September and taken nothing to chance.
Promoter Frank Maloney said: “Martin will not get another chance so he and trainer CJ Hussein trained in Finland for this fight. This is the last chance saloon.
“There were no distractions and Martin is in his best shape since defeating Ian Napa five years ago.
“CJ is a hard line trainer and Martin will not have been able to kid his way through this training camp.”
Power also believes Hall struggles to boil down to 8st 6lb and Maloney added: “Martin reckons that will tell as the fight wears on.
“When they met first time, Stuey had trouble making the weight and needed to get on the scales a couple of times.”
Power, 30, first became British in May 2005 when he beat Dale Robinson and made two successful defences before losing a return against Napa.
Hall will be making the first defence of the crown he won last month by forcing Napa to quit on his stool after eight rounds.
In a second title fight, Nigel 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).
Sunderland’s Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries (7-0) steps up to eight round class and meets Staines based Pole Michael Banbula (10-25-3), the recent conqueror of former British and WBU light-heavyweight champion Tony Oakey.
Tickets for the big night of action, priced at £30 and £70 are available from 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com