Cleaner Jasmin looks to mop-up pro ranks
Jasmin Harmitt…makers her pro bow at Eastside Rooms on Saturday
A NEW pro makes her bow on Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms show on Saturday night (June 17). The bill is promoted by BCB.
Former kick-boxer Jasmin Harmitt had no intentions of taking up the sport until she walked into Southpaw Boxing Gym, in West Bromwich.
The 26-year-old junior-lightweight from Dudley Port, has since signed over with coach Aaron Cope. It’s a busy life for the mother-of-one, who also works as a cleaner, and the sparring partners she’s had has pushed her to the limit.
Those spars include sessions with European welterweight champion Kirstie Bavington and Katie Healy who last weekend lost a bid to lift the WBA world bantam belt.
Jasmin said: “Since I’ve been given the go-ahead to make my debut, I’ve been training hard. It’s been a learning curve, for me, but I’m enjoying it.
“I’ve done kickboxing before, I started that when I was 15 (for Tipton Tigers). I had 13 organised bouts and won nine, so I didn’t have a bad record.
“I tried a bit of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), but that wasn’t really for me. I’m more of a stand-up fighter, so I’m probably more suited to boxing.
“I went to Aaron’s gym just to work on my hand-speed, but I got into it and my coach put me forward for a few unlicensed fights. I had nine and won them all.
“To then become a professional boxer is all new to me. That was never my intention, but I’m dedicated to it now. This is a big thing, for me and my coach.
“I spar a lot of rounds, between six to eight, in the gym and Aaron is good at not overloading me with information between the rounds. He tells me one thing and I go out and do it.
“We only have a 30 second break, between the rounds, so to have a minute will seem like a lot longer! I just try and let my work do the talking.
“I’ve sparred a lot with ‘Bavvo’ (Kirstie Bavington), but it’s mainly been with Katie (Healy) for this camp. She’s tall and rangy, whereas I’m quite small.
“Nina (Hughes, Katie’s opponent for the WBA world bantamweight title) is only an inch smaller than me, so it was good sparring to get her ready for that.
“Some people are a bit surprised with how heavy I am, for my height, but I feel strong at the weight. I’ve had a look at the girls, in my category and I think I can do well.
“I’m a counter puncher, but I can mix things up and that’s what we have been working on - coming forward more. I’ll be more aggressive than I have been in the ring.
“My son (Mason, aged three) will be with me in the changing rooms and is going to watch the fight. He comes to the gym with me, too, so he’s used to it.
“Boxing might not have been in my plans for the future, but that’s a plus for me, as everything that comes along is a bonus. I want to defy the odds.”
*Tickets for the Eastside Rooms bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.