Haringey Box Cup gold medallist Danny Barrett has signed professional contracts with JE Promotions
The Kent-based promotional outfit, headed by Joe Elfidh, snapped up the talented welterweight from Medway after a successful amateur career that saw him grab a gold medal at the prestigious Haringey Box Cup tournament in 2016.
The 25-year-old from All Hallows Way in Kent, trains out of the Paul Wiffen Academy in Rochester, where he first started his journey in combat before his teens.
“I started kick boxing aged 12 to about 17,” Barrett said. “My dad found a nearby gym and took me there just to keep fit, but I probably had around five competitive bouts in that time.
His style as a kick-boxer was mostly boxing-led, he explains, “The style I was doing was very boxing based and I didn’t kick much, so there wasn’t much of a transition for me to make into amateur boxing.
“I took some time out when I was around 17 to concentrate on my apprenticeship as a thermal insulation engineer, then I went into amateur boxing and won the Haringey Box Cup in 2016.”
Now 25, Barrett boxed for St Marys ABC in Chatham from the age of 20. He defeated Sevenoaks ABC’s Keith English in an all-Kent final in the revered London tournament, and reached the finals of the ABA Under-20’s Novices, as well as bagging the Southern Counties belt in a successful amateur career.
He described his decision in turning over, “I got to the ABA Elite Southern Counties round and lost, so it was either hanging around for another year or turn over, so I thought I might as well give it a shot. It’s always been the dream to turn pro.”
The connection with Elfidh, a former pro known as “The Moroccan Machine”, came through his old amateur stablemate and sparring partner Louis Greene – the current Southern Area welterweight champion – and his dad.
“I was chatting to my old trainer, John Greene, and he arranged a meeting with Joe [Elfidh] and it went from there.
“I’ve seen a lot of people signing with Joe and he’s a genuine bloke. The shows are very local to me and what I like about Joe is that he promotes you and gets you out there.”
JE Promotions are gearing up for their next event at Mote Park on February 24, their sixth show at the site since resurrecting pro boxing in Maidstone for the first time in 16-years.
“Speaking to Joe, the plan was to debut around the end of April / beginning of May at the next show at Mote Park. I’m looking to fight four or five times a year, hopefully.”
Barrett will combine his working career with his boxing profession and believes that he has the balance just right.
“I’ll do my runs before work in the morning, then gym in the evening. I live with my girlfriend in Stoke, she’s very supportive of my career; we’ve been together since 14, so she’s always been there and known that’s what I do.”
Danny is the first professional boxer to come out of his Medway village in Stoke, and also the only pro in his boxing gym. His success as an amateur has built a fan-base that are keen to follow him in the paid ranks.
“I’ve got a good following already and lots of people keep asking me about when I’ll be fighting next.
“I’m the only pro around here, the closest boxer to my area is Adam Dingsdale, [former Southern Area lightweight champion] from Hoo, which is about five miles away. We went to the same secondary school together.”
The amateur champion still has to go up in front of the British Boxing Board of Control to apply for his license, but it will just be a formality given his pedigree.
Despite being a standout amateur, Barrett is keeping his feet firmly on the ground when it comes to his ambitions as a paid puncher, he said, “I haven’t set myself a target yet, I just want to see where I go first. I’ve just to keep going, keep winning, and go far as I can go.”
For tickets to the next show, visit https://www.facebook.com/JEsportsnetwork/ or call 07883 943994