Issue 40 of Joe’s Jab reveals big plans for 2019
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 established promoter with regular shows in Kent and East Midlands with an ever-expanding roster of champions.
The head honcho of JE Promotions takes time out every week to write a column exclusive to BBN:
Going big in 2019
I have got some big shows planned this year, working in association with Scott Calow.
We have branched out to bring in more fighters from more places, so it’s not just Kent and East Midlands anymore. We will be looking to sign talent from all over the UK and will host shows in new areas to expand JE Promotions even further.
I will be going for a minimum of 12 shows this year, that will consist of four or five in Kent and regular shows in Nottingham and Worksop.
Eventually, I’ll be putting on a show a month in Kent because I’ve got that many lads in the area. Talented boxers are coming to me to turn over because of the success they are seeing all around them in the Kent gyms, where so many JE Promotions fighters are based.
I have got 25-30 fighters signed to JE in Kent, so far, and probably 40-45 in total overall, and we are adding more as we go; as our reputation builds, more are flocking to the banner.
The lads I’ve got are moving forward fast and making big improvements as they go. I always sit down with my lads before I sign them and explain just how the professional business works and how we will support them all the way, but they must dedicate themselves fully.
Some are experienced amateurs, some are from unlicensed backgrounds, but with the right team behind them, namely JE Promotions and a good trainer and gym, they can go far and improve day by day.
When I turned pro back in 2007, some people said I wouldn’t win a single fight, but I got with the right team and made big improvements. I got to 7-0 and beat an up-and-coming prospect in Joe Hughes, who was unbeaten at the time and went on to become English champion. Then I shared a ring with a two-time world champion and went the distance with him.
It just shows you what you can achieve if you have the right team around you and you dedicate yourself.
February 23 Unleashed
Unleashed on February 23 at Mote Park is looking like it’s going to be a cracking show!
Featherweight Jack Budge (3-0) is ready to be let off the leash in just his second fight with us. He’ll be in a six-rounder, possibly eight if tickets go really well, and will be looking for the Southern Area or Commonwealth title shot next.
Jack is a 24-year-old featherweight from Hoo in Kent and benefitted from sparring with British flyweight champ Andrew Selby and Commonwealth super-bantamweight titlist Ashley Lane before returning home to Kent from Lambourn to sign with JE Promotions.
‘The Main Man’ from Maidstone Lenny Fuller is back on the bill after a busy start to his career, packing in four fights in six months between his May debut and his last fight in November.
He’s an active, enthusiastic fighter with ambition and I’m stepping him up to six-rounds in his next fight and I’ll be moving on towards titles after that.
Former Team GB member Luke Gibb(4-1) is back again, looking to add another win to his record; unbeaten super-featherweight prospect Jack Raines (5-0), 26 from Sittingbourne, is knocking on the door for a Southern Area title shot; welterweight Danny Barrett (1-0), 26 from Stoke in Kent, a Haringey Box Cup gold medallist, is looking to double his win tally; three-time Southern Area title contender Martin Hillman(11-6) appears; light-heavyweight Paul ‘Bomber’ Brown (3-0), 29 from Margate, an ABA Southern Counties champion, has won every round of his professional career so far and will be looking to keep up the consistency.
I’m especially excited about super-middleweight Danny ‘The Real Deal’ Shannon(3-7-1) fighting out of the home corner for the first time in his four-and-a-half-year career in his bid to win a British Challenge belt in 2019.
The 27-year-old from Chatham was JE Promotions’ first ever signing way back in 2014 and now trains with Ray Askew and Sam Latham at the Invicta Gym in Sheerness.
The shows are getting bigger and better and this is all about matching them in good fights and testing them to set up title fights in 2019. Most of the boxers are either at title level already or just need a good test to get them in contention.
Newest recruit: Jimmy Peckham
I have known about Jimmy for ages because he used to spar with Martin Hillman. He is talented, very handy and can mix it with the best, but he was tired because he didnt have the same training and discipline as the pros he was matched with. Now that he's joined top trainer Lee Page and his team, his fitness and stamina is improving. Jimmy has got all the attributes and the ability to be a top pro and when Lee puts him through his paces surrounded by the likes of Lenny Fuller and other pros, he will do very well.
He had a few amateur bouts and a few unlicensed fights, but I can see that dedication it in his eyes now and he’ll be a force to be reckoned with before long.
Carry On Boys
I sat down with the Protect and Patrol team this week, who do the security for all my shows, and renewed the contract for a further year.
They do a brilliant job and I have never had any trouble at any of my shows beacause of their professionalism and attention to detail, so that’s why I didn’t want to change them.
They are very well-run company from Cheltenham with all of the appropriate licenses and accreditations, and their staff are friendly and thorough.
Check out their website here: Protect and Patrol Website
Follow JE Promotions on Twitter: @JE_Promotions
For tickets to the next show, visit JE Promotions’ FB Page or call 07883 943 994
Subscribe to JE Promotions’ YouTube channel to see all fights in full: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSxqeCbY2l6qDTEFmcMCuVQ
JE Promotions would like to thank Kent Trade Frames – Campbell Nutrition – Swerve City – Basement159 – RoofDec – 1ClickPrint – Shiatsu Shane – Tierney Photography – Laking Painting & Decorating – Protect and Patrol – Invicta Gym and PR Manager Tim Rickson