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.
New season news – Kent watch
I’ve had a nice holiday abroad with my family but now I’m back home and ready for the new season ahead!
Having a break from it all allows you to take stock and to start thinking ahead. I’m always working closely with my fighters and their teams anyway so that we are constantly planning the right paths and assessing what’s around the corner.
I am really optimistic about the future and this next season is going to be the best one yet for JE Promotions!
Here’s a list of my talented fighters and what’s in store for them in the forthcoming term:
Grant ‘Go-Getter’ Dennis (8-0)
“Grant is the current Southern Area middleweight champion and unbeaten in eight fights.
Winning the Southern Area in his seventh bout in the champion’s back yard – who had been on a run of eight straight wins – was a remarkable achievement.
He’s well ready for an English title crack against the current champion ‘Smokin’ Joe Mullender from Essex.
Grant was on standby if either Mullender or Markham pulled out of their last bout and was promised to fight the winner, but that either situation didn’t happen.
I’ve been on the phone pushing for that fight but they don’t seem to want to risk it so I’ll just do what I did for the Southern Area shot and get Grant into the mandatory position instead.
We are also eyeing the Commonwealth strap at 160lbs. The titleholder ‘Speedy’ Sam Sheedy and Liam ‘Cannonball’ Cameron are fighting for it soon – original fight date was postponed – and Grant wants the winner of that."
Charlie ‘D’Animal’ Shane (4-0)
Southpaw Shane is stepping up to eight-rounds next. The 26-year-old from Chatham is boxing for the Challenge belt at super-middleweight on October 7th and then we will step him up to an International title fight after that, before we start looking at the Southern Area shot.
He’s a talented boxer and very aggressive. Top coach, Charlie Rumbol, is bringing him forward nicely and at the right time by getting him longer rounds and harder fights to bring him up to Championship level.
Chris Mathews (7-0)
Chris will step up to his first six-rounder on October 7th in Maidstone.
Next, we’ll be looking at a Challenge belt in an eight-round bout by the end of year. He’s only 22, is improving in every fight and is really growing into professional boxing nicely. He’s got good backing from sponsors now and sells a good number of tickets to fights. His fans will be keen to seem in title contests real soon.
Dave Jones (8-0)
Heavyweight Dave Jones is ready for the next step now. We are definitely looking at the Southern Area belt and are in several talks right now.
He has been offered big fights already but where he’s had a year out through injury, we decided that it wasn’t right for him.
He’s been called out by Tom Little after he beat Tom Dallas so he’s on a few boxers’ radar right now and that shows he’s doing something right!
He’s ex-army so will fight anybody. He’s a naturally big lad, he hasn’t been to the gym or taken supplements to build up muscle, he’s just big! Despite his size, he’s got a good work rate and he’ll perform better against higher-level opponents – he raises his game. He’s well and truly off the leash now and looking at bigger opponents.
We’ll be watching the Nick Webb v Nathan Gorman fight for the English championship on October 28 closely.
Georgie Wright (4-3)
We are keeping Georgie busy in the new season ahead.
He’s managed by me but I work very closely with Victor Smith to plan his route. He needs to continue his learning and build the record up.
James Chericato (4-2-1)
Injury free now so going to get him back into the ring on October 7 and keep him as active as possible – he’ll be out every two months from then on.
Kurt Johnson (Debutant)
Brand new heavyweight who I personally think I’ll be fast-tracking because he’s a very good kid.
He took me completely by surprise when I watched him training for the first time. I was told he’d had one amateur bout and won, so I wasn’t expecting anything special but I was blown away!
It turns out he has always trained in boxing but competed in K1, MMA, even strong man competitions! He’s got a varied background in combat sports but he’s ready to shock everyone.
He’s 30-years-old from Greenhithe and he will explode onto the scene on October 7 and will be one to watch!
Luke Gibb (2-0)
Stepping Gibbo up to six-rounds in just his third pro fight. He’s ex-Team GB so he has an excellent schooling and will be fast-tracked to titles.
He’s 28 from Bexleyheath and used to train at Nemesis gym with Lewis Pettitt’s dad. He works in the biggest nightclub in Maidstone so he’s got a massive following behind him.
Next, we’ll be stepping him up to a Challenge belt contest and after that it’ll be Southern Area because he’s more than ready right now.
Martin Hillman (9-4)
Martin is ready to bounce back after his Southern Area title loss to Jamie Speight. He had a broken wrist from round three but he just gets on with it. He got stopped by the referee on a head injury in the last round but he was willing to fight on.
Six rounder next for the Sidcup man to ease him back in, then building up to Southern Area level again. He’s been involved in two Area contests now so his experience will bode well for him in his next challenge.
Oli Edwards (5-0)
He’s had his arm operation now and all fully recovered. We are going to get him back into a four-rounder on his first fight back to ease him back in.
Oli is only 22-years-old from Sheerness and got a bright future ahead of him. His last two outings have resulted in stoppages so his man strength is gradually building.
His next fight is at the York Hall against Dan Blackwell on September 23 on the undercard of the Miles Shinkwin v Chris Hobbs eliminator.
Ricky Leach (3-20-1)
Ricky, 27 from Margate, is great to work with. All we want is for him to stay safe on the road, make good money, and to get him on a home show before the year’s out to get another win on the record.
Fantastic fighter who will provide a tough test for any young prospect.
Spiros Demetriou (7-0)
Fighting in a 10-round eliminator against three-time Southern Area title challenger Danny Couzens on September 23.
His opponent is vastly experienced having fought twice for cruiserweight Southern Area and once for the light-heavyweight title. He’s also been involved in the Fight Cup that Steve Goodwin hosts at York Hall. He may have lost more bouts that he has won but being involved in six 10-rounders will give him the edge over SD.
However, I’m confident that SD will blast him out of there in within six rounds.
Tom McGinley (3-1)
I’ll be keeping this 30-year-old from Chelmsford as busy as possible to start with and to then start looking at stepping up to six rounds next.
He’s fighting on the October 7th show in Maidstone in a four-rounder.
Paul Brown (Debutant)
One of my newest signings from Margate – a 27-year-old super-middle known as the ‘Brown Bomber’.
Hopefully, the paperwork for Paul will be done soon and he’ll debut next February. He has another baby on the way so my next show in October wasn’t suitable for him to be fully focused on the fight.
I like that he is exacting patience and thinking like a professional already. He will do well in the paid ranks because he’s mature and sensible.
Tom Dallas (17-10)
Tom has been a joy to work with but I would like to formally say good luck to him in retirement.
At one time, he was in the top 5 heavyweights in the country but was always troubled with an elbow injury. He shared the ring with David Price and IBF world heavuweight champion Charles Martin. How many fighters can say they boxed at Madison Square Garden?!
I hope there’s life after boxing for him. He can definitely be a coach with his huge wealth of experience and help out with the future pro’s.
He can certainly look back on his career and be very, very proud.
Special thanks:
I’d like to also give thanks Ray Askew from Invicta Gym in Sheerness and to Charlie Rumbol from Kent Gloves in Gillingham. It’s great to be working with such top trainers from busy, local gyms. I’d only hope that more local gyms in Kent will come on board to work with JE Promotions.
Want to conclude by saying thanks to all the fighters for their hard work and loyalty. They have mostly renewed their contracts every time. Win, lose or draw you should always stay with the team.
Thanks to Kent Trade frames for sponsoring every show. Also to 1clickprint, Campbell Nutrition, RoofDec.
Thanks to Tim Rickson of TR Sports Agency for all of his PR work, thanks to Jamie and Mike, and Stephanie Diaper for sorting out tickets and admin for JE Promotions.
For tickets to the next show, visit https://www.facebook.com/JEsportsnetwork/ or call 07883 943994