The great fight hope

Dec 19 2006 By John Gibson, The Evening Chronicle

Jinxed Geordie David Ferguson will be desperately hoping it's third time lucky in the New Year.

Because his pro debut for Tommy Conroy has TWICE been postponed - the first time because Ferguson was suffering from food poisoning and the second because of an injured opponent.

"Dave was destroyed not to fight on my Christmas show," Conroy told me.

"Once Dave Ingleby pulled out with a rib injury, I scoured the country for the right heavyweight but couldn't find one at such short notice.

"Ferguson had sold 40 tickets himself for his debut so I got him an exhibition which went well.

"Now I'll fight him against Ingleby on my next dinner show at the Roker Hotel on February 16. The lad deserves a bit of luck."

Shaun Farmer also missed out because of the flu but on Sunday he went down to Bolton and fought the unbeaten Craig Bunn.

"Farmer took the fight at three days' notice but still forced Bunn to go the distance," said Conroy. "And he won the last round!

"Shaun's attitude is spot-on. He wants to fight even though he's 30 and he'll win more than he loses."