Exclusive weekly column by promoter Joe Elfidh – Joe's Jab
Joe ‘The Moroccan Machine’ Elfidh – a two-weight Central Area title contender who shared the ring with English, British, Commonwealth and World champions – is now an emerging promoter with regular shows in Kent and Yorkshire with a talented roster of exciting fighters.
As a promoter, he is single-handedly bringing championship boxing back to the Garden of England and his hometown of Worksop.
He kindly takes time out every week to write an exclusive column to BBN.
2018
It’s been an eventful start to the year for JE Promotions; we have two shows on in Maidstone in February and Worksop in March, so I am busy match-making for these two shows.
At the end of last year, I gave out my annual JE Promotions awards, and here is a summary for anyone who missed it:
Boxer of the Year – Grant Dennis (10-1) Southern Area middleweight champion
Young Boxer of the Year – Chris Reyes (1-0) Unbeaten bantamweight
Most Improved – Chris Matthews (8-0) Super-featherweight
Trainer of the Year – Sam Latham Invicta Gym, Sheppey
Event of the Year – Judgement Day October 7th atMote Park, Maidstone
Fight of the Year – Dave Jones v Dorian Darch October 7th atMote Park, Maidstone
KO of the Year – Tom McGinley (0-1-0) Mote Park, Maidstone
Upset of the Year – Spiros Demetriou (7-1) L PTS Danny Couzens
One to Watch in 2018 – Luke Gibb (3-0) Unbeaten lightweight
See the full list here: JE Promotions Annual Awards 2017
JE Promotions Wish List for 2018
Protect and Patrol
I’ve signed a new deal two-year with Protect and Patrol to provide the security for all JE Promotions shows.
They’ve done all my shows since 2015 and I’ll be using them for the foreseeable future.
There has never been any trouble at any of my shows – 15 to date – so they’ve done a fantastic job.
They are very established in Kent, especially around Rochester and Maidstone, where they run the doors of a lot of busy bars and popular pubs.
These guys are great and I can recommend them to all other promoters in the UK.
Make or Break
Next show in Kent will be on February 24th at Mote Park, Maidstone.
There’s two 50-50 British Challenge belt fights topping the bill, and each one promises to be a barnstormer.
Two-time Southern Area title contender Martin Hillman (10-4) and Tom McGinley (4-1) battle it out for the vacant super-bantamweight strap, and Luke Gibb (3-0) takes on Northern Area title contender Jordan Ellison (8-12) for the vacant British Challenge lightweight belt.
Luke Gibb, I’ve got a lot of faith in because of his outstanding amateur background. He’s 27 now and doesn’t want to fight journeyman. He’s already had a six-rounder in his third bout and now he’s stepping up to eight-rounds in his fourth fight.
He’s up against a good kid who is known for upsetting unbeaten prospects. The 22-year-old from County Durham comes in off the back of a points win over an undefeated prospect in Colin Day, who was 4-0 before their fight last December.
He stunned an undefeated 8-0 American prospect, Jacob Wooley, 10-months prior to that, and of his eight victories, five have been shock wins over unbeaten fighters with a combined record of 30-0-1.
Ray Askew and I have put Luke in with him specifically because we believe in him to win.
I manage both Hillman and McGinley, so it’s risky for me to put them in together knowing that one has to lose.
They are both super talented and ambitious so it’s time for them to both step up and fight good fights, 50-50 bouts that mean something because they’re not novice pros anymore.
I’ve always liked the lighter weights because its so much more skilful and the fights can go to toe-to-toe. It’s too hard to say who wins, it can genuinely can go one way or the other.
Independent fans that aren’t specifically associated with either fighter have been saying it’s a cracking fight.
The winner will go on to the Southern Area title next and it’s a shame this fight isn’t for the Southern Area title itself because it’d be a worthy fight.
The undercard is just as exciting as the two headlining fights, it’s set to be the best show yet!
Heavyweight Dave Jones (8-0-1) returns after his epic draw with previous opponent Dorian Darch last October against another tough challenger in Central Area heavyweight title contender David Howe (14-6).
Five unbeaten prospects return to the ring in middleweight Oli Edwards (6-0); super-featherweight Chris Matthews (8-0); British Challenge belt super-middleweight champion Charlie Shane (5-0); Chatham’s Jordan Dennis (3-0); and newest JE Promotions recruit Jack Raines (4-0).
Rising Stars
My March 10th show in Worksop is getting matched up now.
Hatfield’s Kyle Fox (4-0) takes on Hyde’s Dale Arrowsmith in a six-rounder as we look to move him into contention for the Central Area title this year.
Heavyweight Mark Bennett (1-0); super-lightweight Sonny Price (1-0); and bantamweight Chris Reyes (1-0) will all be looking to double their win tallies as they look to build their winning records this year.
Popular Darren Snow (5-19-1) has never lost a fight at the North Notts Arena, and he brings a big crowd with him every time and always entertains.
Omari Grant (4-0); Sahib Mann (5-0); Jordan McLoughlin (2-1) are all also appearing on the show, courtesy of Scott Calow.