A CHARITY boxing night had to be abandoned after fights broke out between drunken yobs in the crowd.
The sell-out event at Temple Park Centre in South Shields, South Tyneside, descended into chaos with three bouts to go. As stewards stepped in to separate warring gangs &mdash believed to be from the Whiteleas and Horsley Hill areas &mdash the show was stopped just as two young fighters stood in the ring ready to box. Boxing club coach Steve Lamb said he was bitterly disappointed by the outcome of Friday night’s event and condemned those responsible. He said: “The night was fantastic up until a fight broke out. It’s just disgusting. “Everyone has worked really hard to put this night on and it’s the minority, once again, who have spoiled it . . they are just lunatics.” The event, organised by coaches Mr Lamb, of Perth Green, Alex Barr, of Hedfit, both Jarrow, and Steve Winter, of Horsley Hill, is thought to have raised around &pound7000 for charity.
The cash was being split between St Clare’s Hospice in Jarrow and the Glen Corner Trust, named after the Harton boy stabbed to death on his 16th birthday in 2006.