Josh Leather / “There’s only so much punishment foot can take with those little eight ounce gloves on!”

Gifted Guisborough super-lightweight Josh Leather refuses to be intimidated by Glenn Foot’s ‘hard man’ rep ahead of their north-east knuckle at Newcastle’s Metro Arena on Saturday.

The Sunderland man, five years older and entering with almost double the number of pro gigs on his slate, was once convicted of assaulting a nightclub bouncer and almost had his career curtailed after his right arm was mangled in a machete attack.

But 25 year old Josh, a former ABA champion, insists that class will prevail over crass when the regional rivals collide between the ropes this weekend.

 ‘Foot’s been shouting his mouth off a bit that I’m inexperienced and have only fought bums’  states Leather who has won 12 straight and is ranked 14^th in the world by the IBF after thrashing Dublin’s Phil Sutcliffe inside six rounds last May.

‘Though we’re same weight, same region, Glenn and me have never sparred so we’ll see on fight night. I’m going to have to show him what’s what. He’s not just getting beaten, he’s getting what (Phil) Sutcliffe got, being put on his back.

‘On paper, Glenn’s probably my toughest test but I honestly don’t expect it to turn out that way. He’s quite strong and we expect he’ll steam forward and try to rough me up. But my footwork’s too good and I’m far faster and sharper. I just have to be wary of taking daft shots.

‘Foot walks onto way too many shots and there’s only so much punishment a face and body can take when the opponents got those little eight ounce gloves on. He’ll feel every shot. I intend to box him, pick my shots and the power will come through naturally.’

The elegant but increasingly malicious 25 year old – five successive stoppage wins – has only boxed 55 pro rounds and is yet to do more than six in one hit as he heads into Saturday’s scheduled 12 rounder for the vacant IBF East/West European gong. But he is unperturbed.

‘I’ve not changed anything,’ he insists.

‘I’ve had another 10 week camp and I always train like I’m the underdog. I’ve been sparring (Dublin’s ex WBO European lightweight king) Stephen Ormond, a very strong lad with a similar ‘come forward’ manner to Glenn’s. Style wise, the Sutcliffe fight was a perfect tune up for this though I expect Glenn to be a bit tougher. I’m in great shape. I’m ready to go now.’

And Leather insists he’s primed to administer another tanning when he bumps beaks with his fellow England amateur captain live on BT Sport and BoxNation this weekend. It is a quality match-up that has gripped the region; silk versus steel, exuberance versus experience.

‘There’s always a lot of rivalry between Sunderland and Middlesbrough and that’ll be intensified because Sunderland lost to the ’Boro at football at the weekend,’  says the native Teesider.

‘But fights like this are great for north-east boxing and it’s the kind of match-up that’ll take me to the next level.

‘If Glenn decides to go toe-to-toe, I’ll take him on and it’ll be painful for him. If he tries to box, I win even easier.

‘I’m never out of the gym, Foot’s always out of the gym. I’m a better fighter, far better boxer, far hungrier. He’s been beaten twice before so he knows how it feels. On November 11^th, he’s gonna experience that ‘losing feeling’ again!’

Main event on a huge evening of boxing in Newcastle sees former WBO Super-Welterweight World Champion Liam Smith (25-1-1) rematch with bitter rival and current British Champion Liam Williams (16-1-1)

Country Durham’s Thomas Patrick Ward (20-0) defends his British Super-Bantamweight Championship against Brimingham’s Sean Davis (13-1-0)

In addition, local prospects Troy Williamson (Darlington, 3-0) Kalam Leather (Guisborough, 2-0) Joe Maphosa (Thornaby, 1-0) and Michael Watson (Sedgefield, Pro debut) will all appear on the bill.

Tickets for Smith v Williams 2 priced at £40, £50, £70, £100, £150 and £250 are available from:

Eventim
0844 249 1000
www.eventim.co.uk