Karate champ Joe is all set for pro debut

Joe Blundell with dad Mark…all set for March pro debut

BIRMINGHAM has a new pro – a former karate champ who aims to chop his way to the top.

Joe Blundell makes his debut on manager Anthony Manning’s March 2 “Nxt Gen” show at Eastside Rooms.

I’ll be watching with interest from ringside to see what Blundell has to offer. A number of mixed martial arts champs – the majority from a kick-boxing background – have entered the paid sport and found it a much tougher proposition. Birmingham heavy Pele Reid springs to mind.

On the flip side, the Klitschko brother didn’t do too badly after swapping martial arts stardom.

And Blundell, who has turned over early at 18-years-old, comes with an amateur boxing background.

He was undefeated in 12 bouts, represented a variety of clubs, collected two Midlands novice titles and would’ve been a national champ, but his victory in the final was overturned because of the lad’s failure to disclose his karate career.

That needed disclosing. Blundell, from Halesowen, was a karate star, representing his country, collecting British and European titles and travelling to the world championships.

He has also dabbled in ju jitsu and MMA.

Blundell, who trains at dad Mark’s pro-fitness gym in Blackheath, appears born to fight.

“My dad had me doing press-ups at four years old,” he laughed.

By day, Blundell makes doors, but believes he can unlock a prize-fighting fortune. The young man is not lacking in confidence.

He is already charting a route to the top, aided by dad Mark, a former body-building champ, and trainer Jossy Taylor.

“I believe I can go all the way,” he said, “I really believe I can go all the way to world level.

“There’ll be nerves for my debut, that’s normal. But we’re ready to go – I’m buzzing and over-the-moon.

“My style is a mix between Canelo and Mike Tyson with a Cuban style. And the power is there 100 per cent, a lot have had problems with the power, a lot of people have talked about the power.”

Why turn over in his teens?

“I thought I’d done what I could in the amateur game,” Blundell explained, “and there’s a lot of politics.”

Dylan Clift…Acocks Green boxer with an army of followers

He’s not the only one making a pro bow on Manning’s show. Acocks Green’s Dylan Clift, aged 21, also makes his debut.

“I like to stalk an opponent and I’m aggressive on the front foot,” he told me. “I think I can go far and I want titles. By 10 to 15 fights I want to have an area title.

“I’ve never had that bouncy, points scoring, modern amateur style. I like letting shots go and I had close to 10 stoppages as an amateur. With 8oz gloves, I know I can do more.”

The Eastside Rooms card will also feature Mykey Lee Broughton – the most seasoned fighter in Manning’s growing stable, menacing middle Amir Abubaker, heavyweight Simon Ibekwe and cruiser Traie Duberry. The latter’s pro debut lasted all of 50 seconds and fight figures away from ambitious Manning’s team have told me Traie is a real talent.

Finding opponent’s for the Duberry and Co is, not surprisingly, proving increasingly difficult. Coventry’s Abubaker may still have rough edges, but he possesses near frightening raw power.

“He wants to fight every week,” Manning said, “he’s straining at the leash, he’s knocking on the door. You wouldn’t believe the names I’ve tried to get for Amir.

“With Simon and Traie, we’ve approached 4-0 and 7-1 boxers and they don’t want it and I respect that. They have their own route, they may consider it too much of a risk. Mykey is still banging on the door.”

Manning, a newcomer on the promotional scene, certainly knows how to put on a show. His nights include rappers, fireworks, musicians, dancers…There’s a lot of glitter sprinkled on the grit of pro boxing.

He’s publicly stated he doesn’t want fans attending to support one fighter, then leaving. To that end, he peppers “productions” with showbiz.

He’ll strongly disagree, but a sole bid to move his “Nxt Gen” brand into Wolverhampton didn’t create the expected explosion.

Manning’s Eastside Rooms shows have all been sell-outs however.

“We like the venue,” he added. “It’s bright and you don’t have to dress it up.”