TONIGHT'S the night the North-East's very own boxing world champion defends his title.
Craig Richardson, 16, of Lanchester, County Durham, will top the bill in a showpiece event devoted to kick-boxing at the Belle View Leisure Centre, in Consett.
But his trainer Goff Bates will have another reason to bite his nails, apart from watching his world class charges in action.
The 45-year-old father of two, from Annfield Plain, says he is still about £4,000 short of the £6,000 needed to stage the event, for which 1,000 spectators are expected to descend on Consett.
He has paid for junior and adult fighters to fly in from Italy and Russia for the event.
Yesterday he remained philosophical about the situation as he concentrated on the condition of Craig and others of his fighters, including Billy Soul, 36, who will fight Italian Marco Costagutta for another world title belt.
He said: "All our lads are very confident. We are all just concentrating on this now. I'll just have to pick up the pieces afterwards as regards the finances. I could be in real trouble depending on ticket sales."
A few tickets are expected to be available at the centre tonight. Craig Richardson will face Russian 16-year-old Ivan Silantiev.
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