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.
High Stakes was a winning card!
All the boys boxed well on my North Notts Arena show last weekend and came away with a win.
As normal, there were last-minute withdrawals, dramas and issues to deal with on the day of the show and on the night but I’m well used to these things and have a great team that just rally round and get on with things.
I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks to Michael White of Fighting Fit Gym who works so hard on these shows and gets the boys in top condition for fight night.
Next show is already confirmed for July 1st at the same venue.
Ricky Leach (2-15-1) v Jules Phillips (1-4)
Opening the show, Margate’s Ricky Leach and Islington’s Jules Phillips kicked off the event with a four-round bantamweight contest.
Phillips, 22-years-old from North London, dictated the pace of the fight and outworked the Kent puncher with faster combinations and a higher work rate.
Although Leach, 27, never looked troubled, he was reluctant to let his hands go, allowing Phillips to win comfortably on points, taking all four rounds at 40-36.
Jordan McLoughlin (1-0) v Dale Arrowsmith (1-4)
Debutant Jordan McLoughlin (1-0), 25-years-old from Lincoln, got his paid career off to a good start with a landslide points win over 22-year-old Dale Arrowsmith (1-4).
Welterweight McLoughlin set the pace of the contest immediately and dictated it thereon. He was the aggressor throughout and had his rival on back foot constantly.
In the latter rounds, the Lincolnshire lad’s body shots had visibly slowed down his six-foot-tall opponent to give him the advantage and subsequent victory.
Darren Snow (5-11-1) v Richard Harrison (2-15)
The eagerly-awaited decider between Darren Snow and Richard Harrison stole the show as the pair went at it hammer and tongs.
It was always going to be the fight of the night between local lad Snow and rival Harrison, 31 from Surrey, to complete their trilogy, held at one apiece going into the four-round light-heavyweight contest.
The decider saw both boxers coming out of the corners swinging, each looking for an all-out war. It was clear to see that both sides were going to give it their all to get the all-important win.
It was nothing short of a tear-up but Snowy always had the last answer in the exchanges and the 35-year-old from Dinnington took the decision at 39-37 on points and remains unbeaten in all contests at the North Notts Arena.
Daniel Slaney (7-1-1) v Curtis Gargano (0-24-1)
Harworth’s Slaney was purposely matched with Middleton’s Gargano to set up a Central Area title fight between him and Richard Thomas, who defeated Gargano last November.
Thomas was meant to fight on the same night but pulled out at the last minute due to personal reasons.
The southpaw, signed to Stefy Bull, was faced with a relentless attacker on his debut appearance on a JE Promotions show.
Gargano wanted to drag the Sheffield Wednesday fan into a dogfight, who spent most of the fight pinned to the ropes but managed to get off the better work, outboxing him and landing shots from a variety of angles.
The 31-year-old light-heavyweight stayed focused against the persistent aggressor and stuck to his superior boxing skills to win the close fight scored at 39-37 by referee Kevin Parker.
Slaney, a university graduate and qualified maths teacher, will next contest for the vacant Central Area title on June 10th at the Doncaster Dome as intended against JE Promotions fighter Richard Thomas.
Mark Weston (1-0) v Guiseppe Duprato (2-13)
Welterweight Mark Weston (2-0) was too much for his Scottish opponent as he doubled his win tally with a third-round stoppage victory.
Guiseppe Duprato was down in rounds two and three before officiating referee Kevin Parker called time on the one-sided contest.
Kyle Fox (0-0) v Kieran Gray (8-60-2)
I said before the fight that Kyle’s amateur pedigree will be evident in his performance in his pro bow and it was. He'll be fightong for Area titles before you know it!
A Yorkshire amateur boxing champion, Kyle Fox (1-0) dazzled in his pro debut with a points win over the experienced Kieran Grey (8-61-2).
The 23–year-old middleweight from Doncaster proved to be a sharpshooter with an array of flashy combinations at his disposal against the ‘Slammer’ from Shropshire.
He gave away a few pounds in weight against the super-middleweight but still came out on top with a 40-37 points victory, much to the delight of his huge following that had the loudest voice in the arena on the night.
Slaney v Thomas – June 10th at Doncaster Dome
Me and Dan Slaney grew up in the same village together – Harworth and Bircotes.
It’s just a small mining village in the county of Nottinghamshire with a population of around 8,000.
We spent time in the same gyms together, sparred each other for many rounds and I always want to see him do well in his boxing career.
He won his 10th professional fight on my show last weekend and has set himself up with a Central Area title shot on June 10th at the Donny Dome.
I’d love to see Dan win the belt but I’ll be in the opposite corner with my fighter Richard Thomas!
Richard lives in village next door – Tickhill. I have to stay loyal to my boy who I manage.
I expect it’ll be a 50-50 fight but I know that Thomas will throw everything at him.
Thomas couldn’t fight last weekend due to personal issues. We were due to showcase both fighters on the same card to set up this title fight but it’s happening anyway on the Stefy Bull Promotions show on June 10th at Doncaster Dome.
Grant Dennis v Danny Butler
Grant Dennis is due to defend his Southern Area middleweight title against former English champion Danny Butler.
He held the title for over two years between 2013 – 2015 and is also the owner of a Western Area title and an IBO International super-welterweight title. He's also shared the ring with the likes of Martin Murray and Darren Barker so he is well-schooled.
It’s going to purse bids soon so I’ll report back with more info soon.
Away days
My super-featherweight prospect Tom McGinley from Essex is out next on Mickey Helliot’s show on April 8th at the York Hall against Jules Phillips.
I'm going to give him a few more four-rounders and then gradually step him up.
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