Jarrett: title fight has come at perfect time

Jarrett Doherty…facing Ryan Whitehead for Midlands 12st title

JARRETT Doherty plans to box as the situation dictates when he gets his opportunity at Midlands super middleweight title glory.

That chance is upcoming at Dudley Town Hall, on Saturday, June 10, as part of a show hosted by BCB Promotions.

Brummie Doherty, from Bordesley Green, takes on Telford’s Ryan Whitehead for the vacant crown, with both having four pro wins going into battle.

While Whitehead is unbeaten, Doherty also has two defeats on his record, from two dangerous fights undertaken in 2018, having turned pro the previous year.

After a routine introduction, where ‘Dayne-Ja’ outpointed Victor Edagha through a 40-36 shut-out scoreline after four rounds, he then jumped straight into a six-rounder.

It was a tough test against 7-0 prospect Jake Haigh, but Doherty went the distance and pushed him to a close call, only being edged out by a point, 58-57.

Only eight days had passed when Doherty was back in the ring, taking on Corey Jackson, which ended with a damaging TKO defeat in three rounds.

He then vanished from boxing for four years, before returning under the tutelage of father-and-son team Spencer McCracken Snr and Jnr, the latter operating as his coach.

Doherty has turned his pro ledger around since then with whitewash points successes over Josh Cook, Paul Cummings and Vasif Mamedov, the latter being another six-round contest.

Mamedov was floored by a straight right hand in the third, but clung on to see the finish, Doherty settling for a resounding 60-53 scoreline, at the final bell.

The 33-year-old didn’t take up the sport until the age of 20 and spent his amateur career with Eastside Boxing Club, which saw him amass 21 bouts of grounding.

He said: “I’ve known Ryan (Whitehead) for a while, the first time I met him was years ago when we did a bit of sparring together. He’d just started out and I was an amateur then.

“He’s a game lad, who is strong and fit, and this will be his world title fight. I’ve got to get in there, make the noise and come away with the right result.

“I have the feather in my cap of having more experience, but I’m too long in the tooth to rely on that. I have to respect my opponent, by performing at my best.

“Anything that he wants to do, I’m going to be prepared for. If he wants to have a scrap, I’ll meet him in the centre of the ring. If he wants to box, we can do that as well.

“He’s not an out-and-out pressure fighter, but I know that he’s going to be active. If he’s more aggressive, that will give me the opportunity to catch him. I’m happy to sit in close.

“I’m more of a boxer, but I’m not going to be running around the ring. In the gym, having a scrap is my go-to. I’ve not shown that in a pro fight so far, but I do have that in me.

“I wouldn’t claim to be a big puncher, as my speed is key, but I can catch you. I got a knockdown (against Vasif Mamedov) last time and I didn’t even put that much into it.

“This will be entertaining. I’m pretty sure of that. This feels perfect for me, I’m on the back of a winning run and I’m as ready as I can be.”

*Tickets for the Dudley Town Hall bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.