JE Boxing is the only professional boxing platform in Kent, owned by Joe ‘The Moroccan Machine’ 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.
ITV Box Office is good for boxing
I watched the ITV Box Office show at the weekend, didn’t catch it all but watched some of it, at least.
I think it’s brilliant for boxing. I’d love to get some of my lads out on the next show, especially if it’s down London way again. Richard Poxon used to manage me so he’s only a phone call away.
I was gutted for the big man David Price, losing his fight to Christian Hammer in the seventh round.
I honestly do think that he’s very good but did nerves get to him that night? Sometimes under those big lights you can freeze so did the moment get to him? I don’t know what happened and you can never know what goes on behind closed doors. It was a big fight for him and it managed to get the better of him somehow.
I actually went to the Beijing 2008 Olympics with Pricey. I was taken there to spar with Bradley Saunders and Frankie Gavin.
Team GB took me, Jamie McDonnell, Gavin Smith to spar James DeGale, Lee Swaby to spar with Tom Jeffreys and David Price.
I spent a month out there and it was a wicked experience. I stayed at the Team GB hotel with all the boxers and other athletes like Paula Radcliffe and spent every other day sparring.
David Price was the team captain and I can honestly say one of the nicest lads you could ever meet. He was down to earth, modest, friendly, and had plenty of time for everybody. I really respect him, and my heavyweight Dave Jones has done eight rounds sparring with him before, and Pricey was as sharp as anything during that.
Best of luck with whatever happens next because he deserves something good to happen to him.
Amateurs and pros in Invicta Gym
The Invicta Gym in Sheerness is thriving right now.
I went along last Sunday and it was heaving with top pros and amateurs together.
There’s a lad called Dan from St Mary’s ABC in Chatham, he’s a good kid. There’s other top boys coming down for sparring as well, an ABA champion and an England International from Gravesend for quality sparring together alongside the pros.
I’m in talks with a few local amateur clubs right now to try and put a pro-am show on in Sheerness. It provides a good experience for the amateurs to feel like a professional boxer with all of the lights, the big crowds and their noise. It gives them a good feel for life as a paid puncher.
Of course, it also helps me to build up bigger shows with more fights on and increased attraction for the people in the area to come out and watch.
The Isle of Sheppey is a big boxing area despite never having had a professional boxing show in the area.
Invicta Gym currently has heavyweights Tom Dallas and Dave Jones training there as well as middleweights Oli Edwards and Luke Gibbo.
I need more pros to come over to Ray Askew’s gym so I can put more shows on in the area.
Tom Dallas v Tom Little this weekend
Tom Dallas is really up for this one!
He faces Tom Little this Saturday at the York Hall in Bethnal Green and it’ll be a cracking fight!
I think they have undersestimate Dallas and will be in for a shock this Saturday night when he wins handily.
Little is looking for revenge though, he lost to Dallas in Prizefighter five years ago and wants to settle the score!
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