Puncher Jamie bids for first pro title belt

Jamie Edwards…Midlands title chance. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

AFTER seven contests, Jamie Edwards, the Sky Blue lightweight with serious power, contests his first title on Saturday.

And it looks a cracker. He meets Harvey Sturton for the vacant Midlands belt on BCB’s fine Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton, show that also features a vacant Commonwealth welterweight title clash between Omarah Taylor and Kerry Haley.

Edwards-Sturton is a true “coming of age” encounter. Harvey, from Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, faced former champ Scott Melvin last November and gave a good account of himself before dropping a six round decision. That’s the 22-year-old’s only setback in five fights.

Edwards, aged 28, had a wobble in his second contest, running out of steam and settling for a draw with Stu Greener, but since then it’s been plain sailing as he amassed a 6-0-1 record.

The likeable fighter has had to overcome adversity to get his chance: a ripped bicep put his career on hold for over a year.

Neither men have travelled 10 rounds before. Neither – to my knowledge – have made the lightweight limit before.

Trainer Dinesh Darbar, leading light at Coventry Triumph amateur club where Jamie collected a clutch of titles, stresses his boxer is a work in progress. He refuses to make bold predictions or spray social media with superlatives.

“This fight is an opportunity we had to take,” Dinesh said matter-of-factly. “Jamie’s confident, we’re confident – it’s not a risk we’re taking. It’s a smart bout, it’s who turns up on the day. We’re confident we can really come through this.

“Harvey has a good workrate and a nice, aggressive style.”

Dinesh is looking at the bigger picture, while keeping both feet firmly on the ground. This is a chance for Edwards to tick more boxers.

“We’ll see how comfortable he feels (at the weight) after the fight. If he feels he wants to go up in weight, that’s what we’ll do. We’re taking it step by step and trying to enjoy the journey. Jamie has the ability to do well in this game, but we need to take it a step at a time.”

Dinesh stressed the problems Jamie encountered in his second contest were caused by inexperience, not a lack of stamina. “I think it was a case of getting a bit carried away on that day,” he said. “I think he did get a little bit excited – he regularly spars 10 rounds. His training regime has been good.

“This is a new stage in his career, he’s never done 10 rounds before. You have to keep building, building and building.

“(His bicep injury) never fazed him, he never said, ‘that’s enough, this is too much’. He has worked through his injury.”

Dinesh added: “It is a work in progress. Jamie has been with me since he was eight, he’s had his ups and downs and come through them. It’s a journey and I’m not going to make statements about how far it will go. If an opportunity comes up, we’ll take it.”