That refreshing - two unbeaten ‘starters’ clash at Holiday Inn

Todd Tompkins…a test early on in his pro journey

NICE little contest between two unbeaten novices on Tommy Owens’ Saturday show at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport.

Eastside gym’s Todd Tompkins tries to register his third win at the expense of Sheffield super-middle Jay Castledine who has had one outing.

It’s not a headline-making encounter, but, for this writer, that’s what small hall boxing should be about: two beginners facing each other at the very start of their journeys.

They’ll both bring ambition and fight hard for victory.

Sadly, such encounters have become something of a rarity. In today’s game, apprentice pros are fed journeyman who know all about surviving to the final bell without upsetting the applecart.

It doesn’t make for outstanding entertainment.

The journeyman syndrome has gathered momentum partly because of a near paranoia that now prevails over protecting unblemished records. Today, there’s a bizarre tendency to write-off boxers who slip-up early on.

It’s a nonsense.

Barring a chilling KO, neither Tompkins’ or Castledine’s reputations will be severely dented by defeat at the weekend. The risks are pretty minimal.

Both will benefit from being in a real scrap.

I like Tompkins, a 27-year-old from Rushden, Northamptonshire, who has both feet firmly on the ground.

He said: “I haven’t set any goals. As long as I’m keeping going, I’m happy. I’ll go as far as I can go – boxing is my life.”

On Saturday night, all eyes will be on hulking cruiserweight Traie Duberry, the Birmingham banger being tipped for big things.

In the six round main event, Traie, now managed by Spencer McCracken Snr and unbeaten in three, faces Victor Chvarkou from Belarus (5-17).

But fans should also run their eye over flashy Eastside super-middle Omar Davis, a showman down to his bootlaces.

His ringwalks are certainly something to behold. Last time out, Omar entered the ring dressed as Hannibal Lecter.

For fight number three Omar faces 106 bout veteran Victor Edagha. The Londoner has lost many more than he’s won, but has only been stopped four times.

Birmingham welter Elliott Sowe, with one loss in eight, takes part in his first six rounder. In the opposite corner will be Sheffield’s Owen Durnan.

After suffering shock stoppage defeat in his second pro outing, Redditch light-welter looks to get back to winning ways against well-travelled Paul Scaife, also from Sheffield.