Patience of Jobes is rewarded after 50-year wait

HAVING worked with Manchester’s Pat Barrett, Newcastle’s Steve Wraith and Sunderland’s Phil Jeffries over the past 12 months, Jobes’ Gym in Benwell returns to toplevel boxing on Friday with an all-West End fight card at the Scotswood Social Club. Headlined by James ‘Boom Boom’ Barnes, with two wins from seven, and having his second contest at light heavyweight after impressing on last year’s St James’ Park Showdown show, manager Matty Jobes has put an impressive undercard from his gym alongside him.

“We’ve got five bouts, of which two are making the professional debuts,” said Matty, whose show will be promoted under Steve Wraith’s banner.

“Not only is this the first time we’ve had professional boxing in the West End for something like 50-plus years, but we’re also looking at showcasing the talent we have in Newcastle mak- ing this an all-Toon show.”

Tom Walsh (2-0) and Mark Taylor (1-0) will both have outings and will look to maintain unbeaten starts to their careers in the pro ranks and they’ll be joined by two debutants in Connor Somerville and Chrissy Atkinson.

Attending the show will be former WBU world welterweight champion, Michael Jennings, a close friend of Jobes’ stalwart, Keith McDonald. Jennings, who won 36 of his 39 fights, scoring seventeen stoppages, won the English (2004), British (2005), and WBU (2007). His last fight saw him challenge Special K, Kell Brook, in 2010 for the British and WBO Intercontinental straps.

The show, which takes place in the Montague Suite at Scotswood Social Club on November 24, sees tickets available now from fighters, or Jobes’ Gym on 07701394066.

They are priced at £40 entry and £60 VIP (which comes with hot & cold buffet, balcony seats & waitress service).