World heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist, Anthony Joshua, head to Newcastle this June for a special date at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House.
The Victory Tour, promoted by Gold Star Promotions, see the heavyweight bandwagon roll into Toon on June 15 with Steve Wraith (Newcastle Legends) and Daniel Cox (Relentless Promotions) working in association with Gold Star to bring the legend back ‘home.’
It’s not the first time the now world champion has appeared in the region, in fact we’ve had the honour of his presence three times in the past, including a special evening at Close House Golf Club with the legendary Newcastle United striker, Alan Shearer, present.
Then you’ve got April 2015, the night AJ wowed the Geordie Nation at the Metro Radio Arena, stopping American challenger, Jason Gavern, after eighty-one seconds of the third round, on the undercard of Anthony ‘Babyface’ Nelson’s Commonwealth title success over Jamie Wilson.
Anthony’s stock came to prominence in the summer of 2012, wowing the nation on his way to Olympic Gold in the nation’s capital, London. Shortly afterwards the Queen bestowed upon him an MBE for his services to boxing and he repaid that honour by turning professional with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom just six months later, making his debut in the October at the O2 Arena.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride for fight fans everywhere, many saying he’d not been tested –well, April this year, against the Ukrainian powerhouse, Dr Steelhammer, Wladimir Klitschko, AJ recovered from a sixth round knock-down, having put Klitschko on the canvas minutes earlier, to claim an equally impressive stoppage win in the eleventh to claim the WBA Super, IBO and IBF World titles.
A victory tour was somewhat expected, even before the fight, AJ already on course to becoming the greatest British athlete of all time. Now, immediately after his win, dates were released as AJ takes in London (O2 Arena), Manchester, Bolton, Leicester, Doncaster, London (Palladium), Bristol, Leeds, Warrington, Hull, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Ayrshire (Scotland) between May 11 and June 16.
Gold Star Promotions said of the Victory Tour: “We are delighted to be putting on such a magnificent tour with a fantastic athlete.
“Coming straight after we brought The Money Team to the UK, we believe this is one fight fans will take to, and put their hearts into. AJ is the man of the moment and he’s looking forward to doing this tour just as much as we are.
“It’s also amazing that so many different cities are putting dates on, including Steve and Danny up here in Newcastle – it’s because of that we know it can be a success.”
Steve Wraith of Newcastle Legends, someone who has brought many a boxing, and sporting legend to the region over the years, is understandably delighted to be adding another AJ event to his resume never mind AJ – World Champion.
He said: “The proudest moment in my role as a boxing promoter was working with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom at Geordie Roar.
“To get someone of AJ’s calibre back to the region, for what is the fourth time in just two years, is immense. I hope people realise that this could be the least time they see him here as America’s bright lights beckon for the shining star.
“That fight (with Klitschko) was certainly AJ’s hardest, and it was a fight that I, and everyone else, was glued to with immense pride and pleasure; we look forward to welcoming him back to Tyneside.”
Daniel Cox adding: “We’re delighted to welcome Anthony Joshua to Newcastle so soon after his huge victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
“That huge win catapults Joshua to being the number one heavyweight in the world and we look forward to hearing stories from his career to date, as well as hear his plans for the future.”
Come & Join us for an historic night at an historic, the oldest, working theatre in the country – and what a beautiful place she is….