FOOT CLAIMS VICTORY IN NORTH EAST CLASSIC / PEEP MAGAZINE by Phil Lindsay

Glenn Foot came through an all action classic against fellow Sunderland boxer, Kirk Goodings in what was an electric atmosphere at The Lancastrian Suite, Dunston. Phil Jeffries' latest promotion was always going to be a sell out, especially after the bout between the Wearside pair was added.

Both men were coming off the back of a defeat and it was Foot who called out the region's local fighters at welterweight and Goodings duly answered the call, stepping up two weights for the bout. As soon as the fight was added to the 'Impact: Fighters Will Fall' show, the whole region's boxing community was on red alert. There have been some big local derby match ups in recent times but this was surely the most hotly anticipated.

Foot started off well from the opening bell, using an educated jab to pressure Goodings and it wasn't long before he started landing solid right hands. As the first round progressed, Goodings began to get into things and the touch paper was lit for what was to follow.

Foot continued his good work in the second round but Goodings also continued to improve and both men were landing telling shots in some great exchanges. Goodings was out early for the third round and he must have known that he needed to pick things up. That's exactly what he did. As well as showing more urgency, Goodings also switched to southpaw at times and he clearly won the session. 

Things were beginning to get heated and there was a need for a strong referee. Tempers continued to flare in the 4th with Goodings up and ready early before the bell. Once again, there were some great exchanges but Foot was more considered with his pressure and wasn't taking as many in return. Foot was guilty of using his head inside and the naughties continued with Goodings landing a right hand after the bell had sounded.

The pace showed no signs of slowing in the 5th as both men continued to go at it. Foot was always doing the pressing and it looked like one of them would have to give at some stage, such was the intensity of the action. The packed crowd were totally gripped and with both men landing to body and head, it was the extra power in Foot's shots which were shading the close rounds.

It was much of the same in the 6th, however, Goodings came back well in the 7th and the pace had slowed a little for the first time. This allowed Goodings to be more effective with his movement and although it wasn't as clear as the 3rd round, Goodings did enough to edge it.

It was hard to split the pair in the 8th as the momentum swayed to and fro. It was Foot who started better but Goodings did well in the middle of the round before Foot managed to raise himself again towards the end. Local derby fights are as intense as it gets and it often draws more out of the boxers and this was no exception. 

After so much gruelling action, the Sunderland pair managed to produce what must go down as the round of the year so far for the region. It was Foot who started the better and he rocked Goodings with a huge right hand and he followed up with more telling shots but somehow Goodings managed to hold and spoil just enough to allow him to recover. He then somehow turned the action in his favour and was literally spitting defiance at his local rival. It was still another round for Foot and although it was fiercely competitive throughout, Goodings needed a big finish in the last round.

Goodings came out to do just that in the 10th and he was met in the centre of the ring by an equally determined foe and both men gave it their all in the final session. The only break in the action was when the gum shield came out of Foot's mouth and had to be replaced. In the final few seconds both men just kept swinging and when the final bell sounded, the rivals embraced and the bad blood was over.

With the fight going to points, referee Andrew Wright gave it to Foot by 97 – 94 and the crowd knew they had witnessed a battle that will be remembered for many a year. Both warriors deserve so much credit for their conditioning and commitment and Foot will be looking to build on his successful return, picking up the British Promoters Association Classic welterweight belt in the process.

Goodings has talked of retirement afterwards and although nobody has the right to persuade somebody into the ring, it would be a shame if he did call it a day as he showed that he has so much still to give and he would most likely be even more effective at light welterweight.

Promoter Phil Jeffries was questioned in the build up for putting two of his own fighters in against each other but he was proven right in the end and afterwards he beamed “That was the best fight there has ever been on one of my shows. I couldn't be more proud of both men, that was an amazing fight. The fans have definitely got their money's worth there and there's a lot more to come this season.”

Jeffries' next show is 20th November at Rainton Meadows where West Rainton's Martin Ward takes on Liverpool's James 'Jazza' Dickens for the British super bantamweight belt. Ward warmed up nicely for his title shot with a third round stoppage of Elvis Guilan.

Full report of 'Impact: Fighters Will Fall' to follow.

































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