Joe’s Jab – Issue 10
JE Boxing is the only professional boxing platform in Kent, owned by ‘The Moroccan Machine’ – Joe Elfidh.
As a fighter, Joe was a two-weight Central Area title contender, defeated a future England champion, and shared the ring with British, Commonwealth and World champions.
As a promoter, he is single-handedly bringing big-time boxing back to The Garden of England and his hometown of Worksop.
Welcome to his weekly column – exclusive to BBN.
JE Promotions Awards 2016
As we are approaching the end of 2016, I decided to sit down and reflect on the successful year by dishing out my own awards to everyone involved in the JE Promotions family.
Every award was incredibly hard to allocate and I wrote down and crossed out names more than once! To me, every single one of my fighters deserves an award for all their hard work and dedication this year. I’m proud of them all but here is the list of the awards, each one of them thoroughly deserved.
JE Promotions’ Awards Ceremony 2016
Boxer of the Year – Grant Dennis (7-0) Southern Area middleweight champion
“JE Promotions’ first ever Area champion and went to an away corner to get the win. There’s bigger things to come from him in 2017.”
Young Boxer of the Year – Chris Matthews (5-0) Unbeaten super-featherweight
“A lot of people judged him before he even fought his first fight. He comes from an unlicensed boxing background and still so young but he’s reached 5-0 already. He trains with Johnny Armour and is improving with every fight”
Most Improved – Nathan Thomas (1-1) Super-middleweight
“He’s had two years out and now he’s back, training with Michael White, and got his first win on the last show at Worksop in November. He lost his first fight in 2013 but he’s improved and come back – he didn’t give up.”
Trainer of the Year – Ray Askew Invicta Gym, Sheppey
“Every Sunday, Ray has an open spar at the Invicta Gym in Sheppey. We get all kinds of fighters and levels turn up – Luke Gibbo, Oli Edwards, heavyweights, Spiros Demetriou and London boxers…it’s almost like a Kent v London training squad every week. Ray arranges it every week and never asks for any money.”
Show of the Year – New Kids on the Block North Notts Arena, Worksop on 26th March
“The reason why I chose this particular show is because Worksop is thriving now. There was never any professional boxing in the area until I came along. We’ve had three shows there this year in March, July and November. I remember on the last show there feeling really proud about how well it’s been built up, it’s thriving now! I want to mention Michael White from the Fighting Fit Gym and how much of a help he is.”
Fight of the Year – Martin Hillman (8-3) L PTS v Boy Jones (11-0-1) Brentwood Centre, Brentwood on 25th November for the vacant Southern Area Featherweight Title
“Martin may have lost the fight but all the boxing critics, they all thought Martin Hillman wasn’t going past three rounds, that’s what they all said. What they’ve done is not given him the credit he deserves because he showed real class in that fight.”
Away Fight of the Year – Ricky Leach (2-13-1) W PTS v Russ Midgeley (1-10-2) Leeds United Banqueting Suite, Elland Road on 2nd September
“Ricky is a great fighter who always goes on the road and gives it his all.”
KO of the Year (North) – Richard Thomas (4-1) TKO 3 v Grzegorz Semik (0-1-0) North Notts Arena, Worksop on 26th March
“Richard got the knockout when it was round apiece; he countered with a cracking right hand a few seconds into the third round.”
KO of the Year (South) – Oli Edwards (4-0) TKO 1 v Lazslo Kovacs II (9-5) Mote Park, Maidstone on 29th October
“It was over before it had even begun; Oli's first ever stoppage in just 24 seconds! Oli was too sharp and landed perfectly with a right hand over the top and then finished him off on the ropes.”
Upset of the Year – Tom Dallas (17-5) L TKO 2 v Igor Mihaljevic (2-6) Mote Park, Maidstone on 29th October
“I didn’t see that coming! It was Tom’s comeback fight from injury and if you watch that fight, he was winning and got the knockdown, and he just got caught going in for the kill.”
Master of Ceremonies of the Year – Dave Battersby
“He’s been very loyal to me and is a great MC.”
Prospect of the Year – Chris Reyes Debutant
“Chris is an amazing flyweight, this guy is special! Charlie Edwards and all those other guys had better watch for him because he’ll be knocking on their doors soon! He’s ex-army and I’ve been watching him spar, and he is very, very good. His debut wil be March 25th in Worksop. Within five fights, he’ll be knocking on the door for the English title!”
One to Watch – Kyle Fox Debutant
“Kyle is a Yorkshire boxing champion and will do very well in the pro game.”
Special Mentions – Tony Withams; Jamie Lerpiniere; Stephanie Diaper – she does all of the accounts, Oscar Smooch – helps to make the shows a success; Mike Lerpiniere; Justine Pullen who is always on the door working hard; Tim Rickson of TR Sports Agency who does all the PR
“They are always there at every show, working hard behind the scenes and deserve a special mention. Without having them, it wouldn’t be a success.”
For tickets to the next show, visit https://www.facebook.com/JEsportsnetwork/ or call 07883 943994
JE Promotions would like to thank Kent Trade Frames – Campbell Nutrition – Invicta Gym – Fighting Fit Gym – Roofdec – 1ClickPrint and PR Manager Tim Rickson