Boxing writer Peter Mann casts his eye over the North-East fight scene

HE'S been a professional boxing promoter for less than three years and, as of seven days ago, is now bringing British boxing’s biggest promoter to the region - and often.

Alongside his business partner and long-time friend, Daniel Cox (Precision Sports), Steve Wraith is steadily making waves in and around the UK fight scene.  

Last Monday’s big announcement of Bradley Saunders signing for Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sports was coupled with the news that the Hearn bandwagon will roll into the region several times a year from 2015 onwards. Their first coverage will see a Matchroom ‘Fight Pass’ showing of the Wraith-Cox February production at a venue to be announced in December.

The deal, between Hearn, Wraith and Cox is one that has been in the making for the past 12 months or so and the Tyneside promoter was the first to pay tribute on his business partner's detailed involvement.

He said:  “Danny played a major part in all this and is something that has been going on and building up for a good 12 months.

“Then, lo and behold, Eddie phones us up on Friday about Bradley and asking if we can get a press conference together on the Monday. Eddie has already stated as to how much he enjoyed his visit to the region and the warm welcome he received as well as being able to work with us in the future.

“Not only that but he was impressed by and very receptive to what the people that were there had to say and took some very good points on board. This is definitely something that we are all serious about, so much so that Danny Cox and I will continue working as a partnership and will be launching a joint business venture early in the New Year.”

Cox's Precision Sports Management company has been involved in the darts scene for a number of years courtesy of Tommy Cox, Danny’s father.

That’s where the connection to the Hearns arose with Cox and Hearn Snr working together on the PDC scene.

Tommy Cox was the founder of the PDC in 1992 and Barry Hearn became the chairman in 2002, so it was a natural progression that Cox and Hearn Jnrs would combine on something somewhere down the line.  

Speaking of his role Cox said: “I’ve worked in partnership with Steve Wraith on the boxing since the very first pro show and it was always our desire to work with Eddie and Matchroom.

“I've known Eddie for several years through my involvement with professional darts and he was gracious enough to spend some time with Steve and I in London, it was there we presented our blueprint for North-East boxing.

"In the time since that meeting we have steadily built a solid infrastructure which is a solid foundation for all of our shows. Our fighters can have 100 per cent trust in us which allows themselves and their teams to focus on the important things -winning fights!

“I’d always be sending Eddie texts and emails giving him updates and when Bradley came to the end of his commitment with Frank Warren the decision for Matchroom to introduce themselves to the North-East was made easy for two main reasons - Brad's phenomenal talent being the main reason and secondly our own hard work over the last few years has shown the appetite.”  

Next weekend will see Steve and Danny make the trip to the sold out Liverpool Echo Arena where Saunders will make his eagerly anticipated Matchroom Sports debut on what is an excitingly stacked fight card. During this they will also be meeting up with Hearn to further discuss the paths which 2015 will take.

Before those February and April dates, in what is the dawn of a new era for North-East boxing, the event management duo has the small matter of consecutive David Haye talks to contend with.

On November 21, fight fans can see the heavyweight legend at the Grosvenor Casino in Newcastle, then, the following day, the Haye bandwagon will be at Customs House in South Shields from 10am. Tickets are still available from www.wraithpromotions.com and www.customshouse.co.uk respectively.