Doherty: Challenger with nothing to lose

Jarrett Doherty…fights for Midlands super-middle title next month

IN age where fighters regularly inflate their worth, there’s an understatement in Jarrrett Doherty’s words that is impressive.

The super-middle, who fights for the vacant Midlands title next month, is articulate, free from boasts, oozes respect for opponents and has not inflated his ego. In a game stained by trash talk, that’s refreshing.

Doherty, guided by Spencer McCracken Senior and Junior, faces unbeaten Ryan Whitehead for the title on June 10 at Dudley Town Hall.

While Whitehead is a newcomer with four contests to his name, Jarrett actually turned over in 2017. He took his show on the road, suffered two defeats – one by KO – and took a near four year break from the game.

On the comeback trail, he’s won three on the spin, all by points. The Bordesley Green 33-year-old – by day, an engineer at Rolls Royce – has, overall, won four of six.

He began his amateur career at Small Heath, had nine bouts, then switched to Eastside where he notched-up 11. His run in the Elite ABAs was halted by Ben Whittaker who would go on to take an Olympic silver medal.

“I was at Eastside with Shakan Pitters, Kaisee Benjamin – the usual suspects,” he said. “I turned pro at the same time as them.

“I was a bit naïve and didn’t do the due diligence when it came to selling tickets. I’m not on facebook and the social media side has been one of the problems. I took fights on the road, underestimated opponents and took a few losses.

“The ticket sales are better now, they are heading the right way. But I’ve invested in myself, to be honest. You have to invest in yourself – it’s a selfish sport.”

Jarrett certainly hasn’t underestimated Telford’s Whitehead. “He’ll be fit, strong and motivated,” he said. “This is going to be the biggest fight of his boxing career. When I turned pro, he was doing white collar and I remember doing a few rounds with him.

“I believe I’ve forgotten more about the sport than he has even learned.”

Of his own ring style, Jarrett said: “The phrase ‘a Jack of all trades, master of none’ is usually looked on as an insult. There’s not one thing I’m exceptional at, but I’m not weak in any areas.”

He laughed: “Lacking quality can be a quality in itself.

“I’m fit as a fiddle. I did 10 rounds last week with River Wilson-Bent at a good pace. The one thing with Spencer McCracken is, you’re going to be fit.

“The reason I came back was to fight for a Midlands title. I feel I can achieve it and I need to do it to justify all the years in the sport.

“I’m not looking past this one. I’m under the radar, I’m an unknown, so I have absolutely nothing to lose.”

Away from the grind of training, Jarrett is certainly not an individual who craves the bright lights.

“I’m a bit of a saddo,” he grinned. “I read, I immerse myself in my work, I’m a bit of an amateur philosopher. There are no interesting quirks – I don’t sing, I don’t play guitar.”

And he certainly doesn’t beat the drum about future glories.