LATE tonight, Newcastle’s O2 Academy will play host to Propaganda, “the UK’s biggest indie night”.

What between 5pm and 8.30pm precedes it requires no such baseless sales pitch. Propaganda? ‘Farewell to Fergie’ – promoter Steve Wraith’s second professional boxing night – sells itself.

Topping the bill, Newcastle heavyweight David Ferguson insists he is both “honoured and emotional” to be ending his pro career on home soil – against, provisionally, Hungarian Sandor Balogh – and determined to “go out in style”.

Yet were that not enough, among the undercard’s other attractions is a richly-anticipated local cruiserweight derby between the city’s Akash Hussein, with a “point to prove” in his second comeback since laser eye surgery, and Felling pro debutant Paul O’Hagan, who admits he is “diving in at the deep end”.

“It’s going to be a cracking show,” said Wraith, whose ‘dream’ is to put Newcastle on the boxing map then, ultimately, uncover a world champion. “The last show was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it myself, despite people saying it wouldn’t work in Newcastle.

“It’s going to be hard work but I’m someone who is in this really to progress the sport, to put the sport back on the map in Newcastle.

“I think the first show did that with the likes of Akash putting in a decent performance, and the amount of media attention that the show got shows that there’s a thirst for the sport in the region.

“The ambition is, and will always be, to discover not only a British titleholder in the North East, but a world titleholder. It’s a possibility and that dream can become a reality as long as everyone gives it 100% support.”

On the occasion of a thoroughly-deserved send-off for himself, Ferguson is magnanimously obliging on that score. “It’s an honour to have my last fight in Newcastle, it’ll be emotional but I want to go out in style,” he said.

“I sparred with Akash about three years ago, and in preparation for this fight. He’s come on a lot and I definitely think he can go places.

“It’s going to be an interesting fight with Paul.

“I haven’t really seen much of him but it’s going to be a hell of a fight between them.”

That much is clear from the boxers themselves.

“The point I’ve got to prove is that in my last fight I was a light heavyweight, and all my life I’ve been a cruiserweight,” said Hussein.

“Last time I wasn’t totally satisfied with my performance. I believe I can bring more to the table. I’m at a weight now that I’ve been all my life.

“As an amateur I won an Amateur Boxing Assocation (national title), represented England and now I’m at a cruiserweight, which I’m feeling good about, and I’m excited.”

O’Hagan added: “I came to the last show and saw Akash on, and I thought he did well.

“I’m a real light-heavyweight but I knew he was too small for his frame last time, that he’d bulk up and be a good cruiser. Instead of taking, not an easier fight, but a fight with someone like a journeyman or someone like that, I thought it would be good.

“He’s a local lad, a big strong kid, good defence, big long arms. It’s a good test, you know, diving in to the deep end, it’s sink or swim. It’ll be a good one.”

The whole show should be. Elsewhere on the undercard: Sunderland light middleweight Lee Mould fights Ryan McNicol; light welterweight Anthony ‘Baby Face’ Nelson, of North Shields, faces Anwar Alfadi; and Hartlepool’s Tommy Ward, brother of English bantamweight title holder Martin, takes on Delroy Spencer.

Weigh-in is 3pm. Tickets are available from www.wraithpromotions.com