Jermaine set to fight for the English title

Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards…title chance. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

JERMAINE Osbourne-Edwards – the welter who jettisoned a street fighting life for a spiritual journey – looks nailed on to fight for the English title.

Subject to British Boxing Board of Control approval, Wolverhampton’s Kundalini King will fight Sean Noakes for the vacant belt at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on March 7. I can’t see the governing body refusing the application.

That will cap 35-year-old Jermaine’s remarkable Cinderella story. After running with gangs, the southpaw found peace through meditation and mysticism, turned pro, registered 11 straight wins and collected a Midlands title.

Famed for his colourful ring walk, Jermaine debuted on a big arena show last November and fought valiantly before suffering his first professional loss, a points setback to talented Eithan James.

He’ll be a big underdog against Kent’s Noakes who has won nine on the spin and is being groomed for stardom.

But Richard Carter, Jermaine’s trainer at the highly successful Wolverhampton Boxing Club gym, said: “We never go in there to lose. For a little gym like ours, headlining at York Hall is a dream.”

In any fight factory, success breeds success – it spreads from one boxer to another. And Carter’s establishment is on the crest of a wave, with Ollie Cooper, Gully Powar and Lewis Morris all breaking into the big time.

“Noakes is strong, but I think he’s beatable,” Carter said. “He’s getting on a bit (Noakes is 29), like Jim, he’s not as experienced as Jim.

“And Jim can ‘bang’ – anyone who has sparred him will tell you that. He’s sparred all the top lads, he’s even done rounds with (former British middleweight champ) Nathan Heaney.

“If Noakes tries to walk through him, he’ll be in for a shock.”

Judging by the broad smile on Jermaine’s face - from press conference, to weigh-in, to ring walk, to final bell – Jermaine basked in the spotlight of his first nationally televised bout. He’s now received an early call to return to the big stage.

“Against James, he got cut early doors and that’s what panicked him,” said Carter. “But he’s a fighter with a proper old head on his shoulders.

“Absolutely, his age is against us – that’s why we’re taking these opportunities while we can. But he’s as fit as a butcher’s dog and one of the best trainers. His nutrition is perfect, he is fully committed.

“You are only as old as you feel and I have 18-19-year-olds in the gym who can’t match Jim for fitness. At 35, age is creeping up, but I think Jim has a couple of years in him.”

Some may scoff at Jermaine’s strict spiritual lifestyle – kundalini is an energy source at the base of the spine, apparently – but it has worked wonders for him.

And that belief, coupled with Carter’s know how, has, I’m sure, gained the veteran an English title shot.

Maybe we should all reach for a prayer mat.