Jermaine to fight on after Cummings win

Osbourne-Edwards on the attack last night. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

TO borrow from American author Mark Twain, news of Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards’ retirement has been grossly exaggerated.

What was publicised as the Wolverhampton veteran’s last fight – at The Hangar in his home city last night (Friday) – was not his last fight.

Comprehensive six round victory over Paul Cummings convinced Jimmy and respected trainer Richard Carter, the show must go on. The tall Wiltshire fighter, one of the game’s great survivors with close to 100 contests under his belt, was dropped and outpointed by a landslide 60-53 margin on referee Kevin Parker’s card.

That may be – and I was not privy to discussions and decisions before the first bell – one of the briefest retirements on record: lasting from the moment “Jimmy” left the ring to entering the dressing room.

“I think we’ll have a go because of that performance,” Carter said. "He’s so disciplined, he does everything right.

“He boxed very well coming off the back of two defeats. I know time is against us, but we’ll have a look at what’s about.

“The power’s there – we see it in the gym all the time. If I’d had him at an earlier age, the sky would be the limit.”

Osbourne-Edwards listened to the words, nodded and said: “He’s the boss.” He’s ready to go again.

And Carter has a point: at 36, his fighter is a truly remarkable physical specimen. The southpaw, a former Midlands light-welter champ, is clearly reaping the rewards of his spiritual beliefs and the diet and discipline that go with that journey.

The excitement and energy he oozed before and after victory told me Osbourne-Edwards would sorely miss the adrenaline rush of professional boxing. The game would certainly miss one of its most colourful characters.

On a BCB show titled “The New Guard” and dedicated to showcasing new talent, Jimmy – a man whose turbulent, troubled early life was turned around by boxing – was very much the elder statesman.

Entering the ring followed by drummers and banner-wavers, he controlled the bout with sharp jabs and lefts to the body. Cummings plugged away, gave it a go, but was chasing shadows as Jimmy displayed feints and footwork that belied his years.

He was caught flush by a long left to the head in the second and Osbourne-Edwards incessantly worked his long body.

In the third, a left dumped Cummings (11st 8lbs) on the canvas for three: he shook his head in annoyance over the lapse, then saw out the round. The fourth started with a sweeping uppercut before Jimmy blazed away with body-shots.

By the fifth, Osbourne-Edwards (11st 11lbs) was confident enough to peel-off uppercuts in rapid succession and, in the final three minutes, rattled Cummings with a right hook to head and body combination.

The local favourite, in his 14th fight (two losses) positively romped home – and that dominance has convinced his team the glory days are far from over.

*The night, which featured four debutants, included a 10 bells tribute to legend Ricky Hatton, whose death, at 46, was announced last weekend.