The rise and rise of the Benwell Bomber
FOR most teenagers, holidays involved a water park, a disco at night and maybe having a drink of your dad’s beer.
But when Joe Laws was growing up, he spent his time knocking out prisoners in the Bahamas.
After wowing locals on a family holiday on the island, Joe was asked to fight for a team from the local ‘recreational facility.’
In a hot, sweaty gym lit with electricity syphoned from a nearby streetlight, he defeated his opponent, who was almost twice his size.
Stories like that give an insight into how the ‘Benwell Bomber’ was born.
Joe’s boxing nickname defines his love for a tear-up and knocking out his opponents.
But he didn’t just learn his trade in gyms in the Caribbean; he grew up on some of the toughest streets in Newcastle’s West End.
“Benwell is very, very rough,” admits Joe, who still lives in the family home – which has a boxing gym at the back.
“If a stranger walks along these streets at night they will get bother. There’s no rules, no nowt – not on these streets.
“But this is where I was brought up, this is where I was raised, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Joe recalls having his first fight on those streets, aged 10, after a game of football on Ladykirk Road’s ‘blue courts’ turned ugly.
Born 14 weeks early and weighing little more than a boxing glove, Joe says he had been written off since day one.
Encouraged by his dad Joseph, who was a talented amateur boxer, Joe laced his first pair of gloves.
Emblazoned with an American flag, the McGurk Sports mitts started a path he hopes will lead to fights in Las Vegas.
Joe is no stranger to the city, having travelled there as a child with his dad to watch boxers including Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins.
Boxing-mad, he threw himself into the sport.
Idolising Ricky Hatton, he honed his talents at Grainger Park and Birtley, transforming someone who admittedly was “as fat as butter” into a local celebrity.
Thousands of fans now flock to his fights, and many were at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle to watch his win over Justice Addy.
“I’m getting little kids knocking on my door saying ‘sign this glove’ or for a picture,” the welterweight said.
“I’m just normal fat Joe, but I’m getting kids looking up to me saying they want to be a boxer and that just spurs me on.
“I’ve been to my old primary school doing talks with the kids and I’m speechless about it but I always make time for people – if you want a photo, have two, if you want my signature – have three.”
His rise in the last 12 months has seen him fight across Tyneside, including twice at the Utilita Arena, where he extended his record to 8-0.
Joe’s last fight, against Addy, was regarded as some pundits as one of the
I’m getting kids looking up to me wanting to be a boxer and that spurs me on
Joe Laws
best four-rounders in living memory. The crowd, including Alan Shearer, were on their feet to cheer on the ‘Benwell Mexican’ – who wears a sombrero during his ringwalk.
He even headlined his own show, a stone’s throw away from his home at the Eagles Community Arena on Scotswood Road.
As Joe makes waves in the boxing world, he always remembers where he came from.
And he knows that boxing has given him the lifeline many others never get.
“If it wasn’t for boxing, I’d probably be in jail,” admits the 25-year-old.
“I’ve got friends doing life, some who are just in and out and are institutionalised.
“One of my best friends growing up won the schoolboys and he’s just in and out. Talent-wise it is a shame, as he was cracking.
“I’d be working the streets and having a little gang myself and the next thing you know, I’d be behind bars.
“But boxing doesn’t allow that. You have to be disciplined.
“People think I’m a joker but when it comes to boxing I train hard and I really am disciplined.”
Joe now hopes that hard work will let him fulfill at least one of his dreams.
His main dream, as with many North East boxers, is to fight at St James’ Park. That could soon become a reality. Lewis Ritson, from Forest Hall, could fight for a world title at the stadium next year, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
With 52,000 seats, Joe’s ability to sell a huge amount of tickets could see him added to the fight card.
“I want to walk down Vegas strip and see my name on the billboard,” he said.
“I don’t care if it is this big or THIS big, I just want to see my name.
“But the other thing is to fight at St James’; I’ve seen [Anthony] Joshua at the O2, I’ve seen Ricky Hatton at the Manchester Arena so imagine walking out at St James,’ Country Road blasting with my hat on.
“As soon as I stepped in that ring, I’d be willing to die in the ring.
“No boxer wants to, but literally I would do anything to win at that ground.”