Joe's Jab
JE Boxing is the only professional boxing platform in Kent, owned by Joe ‘The Moroccan Machine’ Elfidh – a two-weight Central Area title contender who shared the ring with English, 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 take to the air
I have agreed to air the next show in Kent on brand new freeview channel KMTV.
KMTV will screen the first JE Promotions’ Kent show on October 7th in Mote Park, Maidstone with a view to agreeing a long-term TV deal.
As with anything, we are going to test the water with my ‘Judgement Day’ show then we will take it from there. Fingers crossed that it works out well for everyone and that we can agree a deal going forward.
I’ve been into the studio already and the facilities are great. I was there for the launch on July 10th, there were a few of us on the sofa talking about sport in Kent.
The KMTV channel officially launched on July 10th and is a unique partnership between KM Media Group and the University of Kent.
The KM editorial team consists of close to 100 journalists across the county of Kent while the university contains state-of-the-art facilities and television expertise.
KMTV broadcasts from a purpose-built studio at the university’s Medway campus with programmes published online and televised on freeview channels 7 and Virgin 159.
The new channel have been awarded a terrestrial television licence by Ofcom for the Maidstone and Tonbridge area.
Boxing in Kent is booming and showcasing it to a larger audience on TV is only going to give it the credit it deserves and hopefully increase the audience further.
It works out well because this next show is set to be the biggest one yet! Southern Area middleweight champion Grant Dennis will be back; Chatham’s Charlie Shane, unbeaten in four, will fight for the Challenge belt in his first ever eight-rounder; unbeaten heavyweight Dave Jones, who has already won the International Challenge Belt, will be in his eighth fight looking for the Southern Area title next; Maidstone’s Chris Matthews is seven fights undefeated and improving all the time and still only 22; Team GB boxer Luke Gibb is back in action in his third pro bout; Sidcup’s Martin Hillman, who is always in exciting fights, will be back with a bang; and there’s a brand new, exciting heavyweight prospect making his debut on the night.
Tickets start from just £35, doors open at 5:30pm with the boxing starting from 7pm.
Grant Dennis extends contract with JE Promotions
Southern Area middleweight champion Grant ‘Go-Getter’ Dennis (8-0) has extended his contract with JE Promotions for a further year.
Grant, 33-years-old, first signed with me over three years ago and debuted in July 2014 at the York Hall in London, beating Bulgarian light-heavyweight Tzvetozar Iliev 40-36 on points.
He then doubled his win tally with a third-round stoppage in November over Lithuanian Sergej Drob, again at the York Hall.
His next three fights, all taking place in 2015, were held at Medway Park in Gillingham, culminating in an eight-round points win in November over respected Central Area champion Wayne Reed to win his first title – the British Challenge middleweight belt.
In June the following year, the Chatham boxer climbed off the canvas to defeat Czech Republic’s Jan Balog to claim his next title – the International Challenge middleweight belt.
The pinnacle of his career came next in November 2016 as he went into the lion’s den to rip away Nicky Jenman’s Southern Area middleweight title in front of his home fans in Brighton. It was his first fight in the away corner and the occasion did not faze him in the slightest as he took the decision comfortably at 97-95 points.
An eighth pro win in February this year against another boxer I manage – Darren Snow – was designed to keep him active until his next fight, which has now been scheduled for September 9th at the York Hall, followed up swiftly with his 10th professional fight at Mote Park, Maidstone on October 7th.
Dennis was also a good amateur, he reached the ABA semi-finals in 2002 and shared the ring with former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price.
Boxing runs in his family as his younger brother Jordan, 26-years-old, has won both of his professional fights. Also a middleweight, Jordan is signed to Steve Goodwin and fights at the York Hall in Bethnal Green.
Grant used to train with me when I was a pro and he was an amateur and I told him to turn over with me when I got my manager’s license through. I said, “What you wasting your time as an amateur for?”
He’s easy to work with and always been approachable. He’s not someone who picks and chooses opponents, he’s not bothered who to fight.
I’ve worked closely with his trainer Vernon Quammie to choose the right routes for him and he wants to fight for the English title now but they don’t want it. We got told we could have the winner of Joe Mullender v Lee Markham [Mullender won on a split decision] but if they don’t want it then we’ll get mandatory status instead.
He has kept grounded and loyal and hasn’t changed a bit from day one, and could inspire young kids.
The Heavyweights – Class of 2017
Hayemaker Ringstar have just signed Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce – great signing for David Haye and I wish them both all the success; Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing has got Anthony Joshua (19-0); Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions has got Daniel Dubois (4-0), who just won his first title – the WBC Youth World heavyweight title – in just his fourth fight; Hennessy Sports has got the one and only Tyson Fury (26-0); Ricky Hatton has got Nathan Gorman (9-0); Scott Welch has got Nick Webb (11-0); and now, JE Promotions has joined the heavyweight titles race with the signing of Kurt Johnson!
I seriously do not know where this kid has been hiding! He has only had one amateur boxing fight and won by knockout, Prior to that, he did K1 and kick-boxing.
Regardless of pedigree, this lad is technically sound, sharp as a knife and hugely talented. His debut is set for October 7th and I believe that he will storm the heavyweight division, just at the right time when it’s buzzing again.
The heavyweights are back and JE Promotions have an exciting new prospect to throw into the mix!
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 Media Officer Tim Rickson