Marriage was the only thing on the mind of Chad Ellis throughout the summer.

After a busy few months, the newly-married North East star will hear some different bells when he returns on Saturday’s huge #MTKFightNight in Newcastle.

Unbeaten Ellis (7-0) fights on the massive card at the Eagles Community Arena, live on iFL TV. It is his first bout since his wedding in the summer, and he’s looking forward to stepping back in the ring with even more motivation.

Ellis said: “After a very hectic summer of getting married and having the summer out, all of my drive and dedication is focused on getting back in the ring.

“This has been the best camp of my career yet and I’ve had some top class sparring all over the country which has been a brilliant experience.

“The Eagles Community Arena is the best venue I have ever boxed in and the atmosphere that was created at the last show was next to none, so I can’t wait for it to be bigger and better this time.”

A huge card in Newcastle also features world-ranked Thomas Patrick Ward, flyweight star Andrew Selby, heavyweight Simon Valily, the always-exciting Joe Laws, unbeaten duo Darren Reay and Adam Gair, plus many more.

Mikey Sakyi and Lewis Benson have been named as the reserve fighters for the super-lightweight #GoldenContract tournament.

Londoner Sakyi (8-2, 4 KOs) and Scotland’s Benson (12-2, 2 KOs) will collide on the long-awaited bill at York Hall on November 22 – unless there’s a withdrawal that will see one of the two hopefuls enter the competition proper.

Should one of the eight confirmed entrants for the event be unable to compete, a coin toss will be held to decide whether ‘Kid Caramel’ or Sakyi is handed the life-changing opportunity.

Former amateur standout Benson has recently recorded back-to-back victories over Zoltan Szabo and Renald Garrido while Sakyi was last seen defending his Southern Area crown with a first-round demolition of Idris Hill.

As it stands, the eight fighters competing in the 140lb #GoldenContract – broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK in association with Matchroom and on ESPN+ in the US in association with Top Rank - are Ohara Davies, Tyrone McKenna, Zhankosh Turarov, Akeem Ennis Brown, Mohamed Mimoune, Darren Surtees, Anthony Yigit and Logan Yoon.

Promising London middleweight Donovan Mortlock has already been confirmed on the bill.

The first divisional quarter-finals take place on October 4 – also at York Hall – when featherweights Ryan Walsh, Jazza Dickens, Leigh Wood, Davey Oliver Joyce, Tyrone McCullagh, Carlos Araujo, Carlos Ramos and Hairon Socarras bid to progress.

World No. 4 Thomas Patrick Ward is a world champion in-waiting.

The Durham super-bantamweight (27-0, 4 KOs), who is co-promoted by Salita Promotions, is preparing to serve up a reminder of his undoubted class on Saturday’s #MTKFightNight at Newcastle’s Eagles Community Arena – live on iFL TV.

Back in front of home fans, Ward is eager to take the next step towards global glory and will bid to become just the second man to halt tough Nicaraguan Yesner Talavera (15-10-1, 4 KOs).

Ward said: “I’m ready for any of the world champions. I’d fight any of them any time, any place.

“All those world champions would be good fights for me but I’m really close with the WBO now at No. 4 so we’ll see what happens.

“I’m really looking forward to this show on Saturday night as there are some really good fighters and some really good fighters on the bill.

“The north-east has always had some really good talent. There’ve been some big nights in boxing up here and it’s only going to get better and better.”

Joining Ward on a bustling bill at the home of the Newcastle Eagles is Welsh sensation Andrew Selby (12-1, 7 KOs), who steps up in grade against Fadhili Majiha (24-13-4, 11 KOs), while former Team GB star Simon Vallily (15-2-1, 6 KOs) continues his promising heavyweight journey against Belgium’s Erik Nazaryan (27-22-4, 20 KOs).

There are also slots for the ever-popular Joseph Laws, Chad Ellis, Adam Gair, Blane Hyland, Darren Reay, Lawrence Osueke and many more.