Frank Warren reckons Bradley Saunders will become the next big thing from the region after seeing him sparkle at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena
Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren has backed Bradley Saunders to follow Stuart Hall’s lead and become the North-east’s next world champion.
Darlington’s Hall lost his IBF bantamweight title on a split decision to Paul Butler at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena in his second defence.
But Warren reckons Saunders will become the next big thing from the region after seeing him sparkle on the undercard.
The Sedgefield ace took just over a minute to cut Finland’s Ville Piispanen in half with a demonic left hand to the body.
In doing so he captured the WBO Intercontinental light-welterweight title, his first as a professional and definitely not his last according to Warren.
“I’ve been saying for quite a while now that Bradley Saunders is a tremendous talent,” said the Queensbury Promotions boss.
“He has had hand injuries, but I really do believe that providing he stays focused and keeps doing what he is doing, I think he could definitely be the next world champion.
“He is a quality fighter and is a young 28. And being 28, he has matured mentally.
“All you need to know about him is what other fighters think.
“I offered Curtis Woodhouse (British champion) his biggest purse for this fight and I offered Willie Limond (Commonwealth champion) and they didn’t want anything to do with him.
“That tells you you’ve got a good fighter up here.”
Warren said North-east boxing also remains in good health as a whole, with Dennis Hobson-promoted Hall vowing to climb to the top of the mountain again and Warren holding out a lot of hope for Josh Leather who he promotes alongside Saunders.
Guisborough’s Leather was also victorious on the Newcastle bill, improving to 5-0 with a hard-fought six rounds points win over strong Liverpool southpaw Tommy Carus.
“People in the North-east love their sport and their boxing, and what they need is some success,” Warren said.
“They have had some success already and there is definitely more to come.
“There is no doubt about that - the region has been a little bit of a sleeping giant and Stuart has woken it up.
“Now what we have got to do as promoters is make sure we bring the talent through and make sure we get some regular shows going.
“There is young Josh Leather, and the name of the game is to build them.”
Leather had to stay on his bike as once-beaten Carus planted himself in the centre of the ring and kept marching forward.
The former ABA champion, 22, was knocked off balance in the early going, but landed fast eye-catching combinations from the fourth round onwards to emerge a 58-56 winner.
Warren said: “Josh had a tough fight and got some good rounds, and these are the fights that will stand him in good stead.
“He had to really think about what he was doing and use his jab and feet and he will learn from that. The fact that I’m involved with him shows I believe in him, and the main thing is he keeps learning.”
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