Jay: Second fight is going to be real fun

Jay Van-Gelder…back in action in Birmingham on August 16

AS the clock ticks towards Jay Van-Gelder’s second professional outing, the Redditch puncher grinned: “Last time was strictly business, now we’re going to have some fun.”

“The safety button has been taken off,” the 21-year-old featherweight warned.

“Fun” may be in short supply for Jack England who faces Jay – a bundle of fighting fury – on Anthony Manning’s August 16 show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.

The Brentwood 30-year-old has won only one of 14 (one draw), but is well versed in the art of survival: there’s a single inside distance defeat on his record.

His only advantage against a rampaging, hungry newcomer would appear to be weight – and England has a big sway in that.

“He’s a lot heavier than my last opponent,” Jay said. “He’s said to be game, he comes forward and that’s exciting.”

Last opponent Stephen Jackson, who Jay faced in May, saw it through to the final bell, despite a withering, non-stop body barrage. “It is so hard to get something out of an opponent who is not giving anything back,” Jay explained.

England can expect the same intensity. He may also err on the side of caution.

Jay’s debut, at the Eastside Rooms, was unusual. He enjoyed “top of the bill” status because of the huge amounts of tickets he sold.

If the sales continue to soar, he could well headline in August, too. “I have a lot of followers and I’m so grateful,” said the former national champ at junior and youth level.

“To them, I say, ‘last time was so nice, we’ve got to do it twice’. To headline on my debut was an honour. I’ve been in the game since I was nine and that was a childhood dream.”

Boxing insiders have told me Van-Gelder, who gained a heavy hitting reputation in the amateurs, is one to watch. He’s keeping both feet firmly on the ground, however.

“I don’t want to talk about the future,” he added. “You have to focus on the present and this camp has gone great. I’ve been working at Athena (performance gym) with Richard Bennett and he’s taken me to another level.”

Van-Gelder has adopted the ring name “The Truth”. The truth – and nothing but the truth – about what he can achieve in terms of titles is yet to be revealed: it won’t be revealed by his performance against England.

But fans should brace themselves for a very exciting journey.