Blundell - Pretty Boy by name, an exciting puncher by nature!

Joe Blundell…looking for third win in the pros. Picture: Inga Zulyte

WITH his chiselled features, blond locks and tanned, muscular physique, Joe Blundell looks more like a boyband member than boxer.

He is a good-looking lad fast emerging as the pro game’s pin-up. And the Halesowen 20-year-old is happy to utilise those male model assets to further his fledgling career, hence his chosen ring nickname “Pretty Boy”.

He and dad Mark, a former body-building champ now guiding his son’s professional journey, have adopted an “if you’ve got it, use it” philosophy.

Female supporters are not yet screaming as Joe makes his ring walk. If he graduates from small hall to national TV, the fan club may become more like the Bay City Rollers with blood and bruises thrown in.

Don’t be deceived by the face. Middleweight Blundell can fight – and the former international karate star goes for his third straight win on manager Anthony Manning’s May 31 show at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms.

In the opposite corner for that four rounder will be Dale Arrowsmith, a Lancashire veteran whose features betray a career embracing close to 140 contests. Dale would not pass a boyband audition.

“I’m a good-looking lad, I have a good body,” Blundell, a builder by day, said. “A lot of people don’t like that, it’s jealousy. Listen, they’re not going to call me Pretty Boy if I’m ugly.”

Blundell may have reigned at domestic and European level in martial arts. He may have had a short, unbeaten amateur career, but, as a pro, he is a work in progress. He and Mark realise changes have to be made – not only to win titles, but to build the fanbase – as bouts are peeled off.

“I’m happy with the way things have gone,” Joe said. “I’m only 20, I’m not trying to rush my career too quickly – keep ticking over, I’ve got that game plan in my head.

“We are now 2-0 and things need to change. I’m not going to say how, exactly, but there are a lot of fighters in this industry and I have to do things to get the fans excited. I need to switch it up.”

Blundell has learned quickly that there’s a lot more to the paid game than merely graft in the gym and ring.

“When I turned pro, I thought you just had to fight,” he said. “You’ve also got to get out there and sell tickets, you have to interact with people.

“My next fight is over four (rounds), we’ve trained for more. The four rounds are OK for now, the six rounds are next.

“The pre-fight emotions will always be the same. If you are not getting nervous before a fight, there’s something missing.”

He added: “This is my Plan A, there is no Plan B.”

I’m not sure about that – there’s always a modelling career.