Melvin - newcomer with real pedigree

Jake Melvin…following in dad’s footsteps

FOLLOWING in the footsteps of a high-profile fighter father can be difficult.

So can being trained by your father: all good trainers feel the punches their boxers take, fathers feel them more.

But the professional relationship between Jake Melvin and dad Malcolm, former British light-welter and welterweight contender, is working, judging by the 20-year-old’s performance on BCB’s show at The Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, last month.

It’s too early to predict what Jake will achieve in the game – he turned pro with no senior amateur experience and Malcolm admits his lad’s a work in progress.

The Birmingham welter appears to be settling well and is improving with each bout.

The apprentice dominated against Blackburn’s vastly experienced Naeem Ali, taking every session – make that minute – of their four rounder for a 40-36 decision.

Ali may have won only two of 103 bouts, but he’s a hard man to budge and has only failed to hear the final bell on five occasions.

Cagey, tricky and durable, he represented the perfect learning opponent for Melvin Jnr at this early stage in his career.

Dad Malcolm certainly instils a work ethic into his fighters. I caught-up with the trainer and gym partner Darren Hunter during Jake and Midlands champ Owen Cooper’s hard slog roadwork on Tuesday.

“Ali was what we expected, he’s very good at what he does,” said Malcolm. “Jake was very relaxed, never panicked. It was a massive, massive improvement on his debut – his jab, the way he approached the fight, his left hook to the body was very good.

“It’s very early days, there’s a long road ahead.  He’s a very tough lad and it’s a case of putting it in the right direction.

“Ali said afterwards that Jake buzzed him in the third. If you look at his resume, it’s very hard to get him out of there, he knows every trick in the trade.

“Jake’s filling out, he’s only going to get bigger and stronger. He hasn’t got his man-strength yet. If he keeps showing the same commitment and improvement, we’ll have a fighter on our hands. I’d like to see him out four or five times next year, then we’ll have a look and know more about where he’s going. Me and Darren are quite excited because we know he’s getting a lot better.”

Troy Jones…Chelmsley Wood’s rising star

Chelmsley Wood’s Troy Jones has officially joined the “one to watch” club following his third round stoppage of Konstantin Aleksandrov.

A left hook to the head heralded the beginning of the end of Aleksandrov’s involvement in the scheduled six rounder.

The Bulgarian, befuddled and on legs that betrayed him, was down three times in the session before referee Chris Dean halted the slaughter.

With new coach Lee Beard in his corner and boosted by training camps in Dubai, Jones has evidently added power to his performances. He’s now won five on the spin, with the last two ending early.

A product of Solihull ABC, Jones is aware much stiffer tests than Aleksandrov, who lost for the 61st time in 75 bouts (four draws) await. The 24-year-old admits there’s plenty more to learn before even talking about titles.

“With Lee, I feel I’m showing more patience,” Troy said. “I’m applying pressure, but with patience. I hurt Aleksandrov at the end of the second and a left hook to the top of the head done his legs. He didn’t want any more after that.

“I’ve always had good power. Lee has taught me patience and how to deliver that power more, being more balanced when delivering it.

“There’s no rush. If an area title popped up, of course we’d take it. But next year is about building and learning.”

Troy, a salesman during the day, was no slouch as an amateur.

He added: “I boxed until I was 15, but never really gave it my all. I wanted to enjoy a young life and be out with my mates. I got that out of my system, had 15 fights and won 12.”

An interesting – and colourful - addition to the McCracken gym made his debut on the show.

Kutaiba “Kay” Jiminez certainly travelled before making his fight base in Birmingham. He was born and raised in Syria, re-located to Spain, spent time in London and switched to the Second City a year ago.

With so many addresses, gathering the necessary paperwork for Jiminez’ pro debut has proved something of a headache for the McCrackens.

The wait, however, proved worthwhile, with the 30-year-old light-middle winning every round of his four rounder with Paul Cummings, a veteran of 74 fights (70 losses, one draw).

Jiminez may be something of an unknown quantity here, but he comes with an excellent amateur pedigree. He won 47 of 55 bouts and gained silver in the Haringey Box Cup.

Spencer McCracken Jnr said: “He’s been training with us for a year. He didn’t know anyone in Birmingham, but sold five or six tables for the show. That’s not bad for someone who doesn’t know anyone in Birmingham.

“He’s a nice, honest lad who works very hard in the gym. The debut has been a long time coming and he done really well. He was non-stop, although pre-fight nerves may have had an impact.”

Crowd-pleasing Birmingham light-welter Logan Paling has certainly had a busy, near frantic, start to his career.

Since making his debut on October 21, Logan has had five bouts. He’s yet to win, but always comes out of his corner with all guns blazing.

The 31-year-old, a former Thai boxer, is a gutsy, honest pro who deserves to taste victory.

At the Eastside Rooms, he faced a familiar face: both Logan and Shazad Amran, from Burton, train at Shaun Cogan’s city centre gym. Amran won the four rounder on points.

Coseley light-middle Liam Gould scored his second pro win, gaining a four round points decision over well travelled George Rogers.

That was Rogers’ 26th contest. He’s won one and drawn two.