TOP BOXING PROMOTER FRANK MALONEY SAYS HE IS DELIGHTED TO BE STAGING NIGEL WRIGHT’S ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE.

FTM Promotions are staging the Nigel Wright v Dean Harrison match for the English light-welterweight title on a bumper bill at Houghton-le-Spring on Friday, July 23.

Maloney has been a regular visitor to the region over the last three years following his signing of Tony Jeffries after the Sunderland boxer won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.

And the chirpy cockney boxing figure is happy to be promoting the Wright fight and working with Gus Robinson.

“I started off up here in 2007 with Tony Jeffries’ home-coming fight,” said Frank.

“I only had two local fighters on that night in Sunderland and they were both Tommy Conroy boxers.

“From that night it’s grown and we’ve got 11 local lads on one side of the bill which is tremendous. And they are all keen.

“Nigel’s a good fighter who I’ve worked with before. I like Nigel.

“I’ve worked with Gus before and he’s someone I’ve got a lot of time and respect for.

“I like it up here in the North-East. This is the only part of the country where you can do a deal over the telephone and they don’t worry about you sending a written contract straight away.

“It’s the way I was brought up in boxing but it now only happens in the North-East.

“I like working with the boys up here.”