Coach happy to see Sunderland boxing hero Glenn Foot in right division

David Binns did not quite say 'I told you so' but feels a certain degree of vidication after seeing Glenn Foot close in on another major title shot.
Glenn Foot takes on Lee ConnellyGlenn Foot takes on Lee Connelly
Glenn Foot takes on Lee Connelly

Binns was a proud, and thrilled, man in the home corner at the Stadium of Light on Sunday when Foot thumped his way to victory in his first bout as a light-welterweight.

The brave Lee Connelly withstood the barrage of the Sunderland crowd hero and lasted the full six rounds.

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But Foot’s display proved the 10-stone division is the route to glory.

Twelve months ago, the 28-year-old from Marley Pots surrendered his unbeaten mantle when losing in a tilt at the British and Commonwealth belts against Sam Eggington.

While Foot was beaten by a bad cut, there is no doubting the better man won and, crucially, the bigger man.

There is no questioning the fighting heart of Foot, or his aggression, but he is now in a division more suited to his physique.

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“You can’t look at Glenn now and see him in with full welters again, can you?” said Binns. “I’ve been telling him for years that he’s a light-welter.

“The fact of the matter is he comfortably makes light-welter and look what he can do.”

Manager Phil Jeffries will be contacting the British Board of Control to push the claims of his boxer to be put into the English and British title equations.

The English belt is currently vacant with Tyrone Nurse the holder of the Lonsdale Belt.

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Foot was at his exhilarating best at the Summer Rumble with vicious assaults to the head and body of Connelly. “Glenn was superb,” said Binns. “The tempo he set on Sunday, he could have done 10, 12 rounds – and that’s not talking daft.

“I heard Lee’s corner say early in the fight ‘he’ll tire himself out’ but there was no way that would happen.”

Binns paid tribute to Connelly who showed tremendous resilience.

He was down once after a body blitz from Foot, though he complained he had been caught low, but he fought his way through to the final bell.

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“Lee’s a lovely kid,” said Binns. “I went in to congratulate him on how he fought and he was in bits.

“He had to be didn’t he? Everyone said ‘by, he can take a shot’ and he did, but you can’t absorb all that without any effects.”