Eastside pair get call for Garden title fight

Jon Pegg…he and Louie Counihan are off to the Big Apple

FOR Jon Pegg and Louie Counihan of Birmingham’s Eastside gym, not only the Big Apple, but the spiritual home of our sport awaits.

The pair are to work their magic at Madison Square Garden, New York, as key members of female boxing legend Savannah Marshall’s team for her forthcoming world title bid.

They fly out on Friday, the Hartlepool boxer’s world super-middleweight clash with Shadasia Green takes place on July 11.

Being in the corner at boxing’s most famous venue is a fight fantasy come true.

And Pegg, a man with a well-known phobia of planes, admitted: “It’s the only reason I’m stepping on a plane. I haven’t flown for nine years and it was nine years before that. If Madison Square Garden doesn’t motivate you, nothing will.”

Marshall, former Olympian and two weight world champ, has strong links with Eastside. She trains at the Birmingham sweat-shop once a week, her list of sparring partners including Sam Eggington.

So, the gym’s backroom staff were first choice for her trainer Peter Fury when selecting a team to travel with the star. “He said he wouldn’t trust anyone else in the corner, which I thought was nice,” Pegg said.

For Marshall, aged 34, it’s a return to the squared ring after dabbling in mixed martial arts. She last fought in July, 2023, becoming undisputed world super-middle champ with a majority decision over Franchon Crews-Dezurn.

Her only defeat in 14 bouts came against Claressa Shields for the world middleweight title belts.

Of the chance to appear at the Garden, trainer Louie Counihan said: “It’s what you go in the game for!

“I’ve been going to Peter Fury’s gym to help and Savannah has been coming to ours, so I’ve got to know her really well over the last three months.”

He’s a little less enthusiastic about sitting next to a nervous Jon Pegg during the flights.

“It’s going to be tough,” he laughed. “I’m not sure how I’m going to handle that one.”