Mackem Mexican Lee Mould ready for action after ferocious gym work

Mal Gates has had to hold Lee Mould back in the gym

The Sunderland fighter is facing overseas import Michal Vosyka in Gateshead.

It is his first bout since suffering defeat at the hands of Adam Little in Blackpool last July for the vacant English welterweight championship.

Mould is an exciting fighter at the best of times – he never takes a step back.

But trainer Mal Gates has kept the 26-year-old ‘Mackem Mexican’ firmly on the leash, deliberately, ahead of this bout.

Mould has not sparred extensively, ironically, the exception being a gym tear-up with his former title rival Little.

“Everyone in the gym applauded at the end of the spar, it was that good,” said Gates.

“The thing with Lee is he spars like he fights and that is not necessarily good for the longevity of his career.

“I’ve done a lot in the ring with Lee but it’s been on the pads and technical work.

“He will be ready for this fight.”

It could prove a feisty affair, after his opponent almost derailed the Isaac Macleod bandwagon at Houghton on the undercard ofTommy Ward ‘s British super bantamweight title win over Robbie Turley.

The 32-year-old Czech put the undefeated Sunderland prospect down in the last round so Mould faces a test at the Lancastrian Suite.

Gates is looking for Mould to get 12 good minutes under his belt to dust off the ring-rust ahead of a Northern Area title derby with Hartlepool’s Anth Hardy in May.

“Lee needs the rounds,” said Gates. “He’s got big fights coming up so this is an important bout for him.”

There are two fighters from Gates’s Harton & Westoe Miners Welfare gym on the card in Dunston.

Paul Gidney makes his second pro appearance against Lancashire’s Phil Hervey, who has lost both his paid fights to date.

The 28-year-old boxed as an amateur for Boldon ABC, before joining the paid ranks last summer.

Gidney has an experienced amateur career, which included fights against Peter Cope, Mark White, John Green and Jason Cunningham.