‘Pretty Boy’ Blundell: not just a pretty face

Middleweight Joe and dad Mark: "I'll reach the top"

HE may be only 19, but Joe “Pretty Boy” Blundell talks with the confidence and steely self-belief of a champ.

But, in the karate world, that was the Halesowen athlete’s status. He represented his country, took British and European titles and competed in the world championships. Blundell was considered something special.

He is now looking to chop down the opposition as a professional middleweight – and has his second paid boxing bout on manager Anthony Manning’s October 5 “Nxt Gen” show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.

He’s scheduled to face seasoned Chris “CJ” Wood who has won five of 36 (two draws).

Blundell, who trains at dad Mark’s Pro-Fitness gym in Blackheath, has no doubt he’ll succeed in the sport.

“Sitting here, I can tell you now that I’ll reach the top,” he told me.

Unlike other martial arts star who faltered after plunging straight into the pro game, Blundell comes with amateur boxing experience.

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.

Poster for Joe's next fight at Eastside Rooms on October 5

Blundell, who has also competed in ju jitsu and MMA, stressed there’s been no problems adapting to boxing’s codes and disciplines.

“From the age of four, my dad put me into combat sports. I have always been around fighting and I was born to do that. I think the karate game gave me a lot of experience.”

Dad Mark has an interesting cover story. He’s a former body building champ who held the “Mr England” title.

There was no soft-touch journeyman for Blundell’s pro debut in March. Fellow novice Marco Simmonds had won his sole bout, was hungry and ambitious. Joe, who sold 140 tickets for his big night, prevailed by a tight 39-38 scoreline.

“It was a good fight, he came to win, it was what the people want to see,” said Blundell. “It grabbed people’s attention. From my side, I did the job and got the win.

“There were nerves. Everything was up in the air, there were no head-guards, he was 26 and 1-0 and came to fight. But once the bell went it was all guns blazing.”

Blundell had hoped to return to the ring much sooner, but a slot on Manning’s May 5 show went south.

“I’d trained very hard, it was a setback, but I’m only 19,” he said. “I’ve got time on my side. I just put my head down and got on with it.”

Despite his wealth of experience, Blundell won’t be fast-tracked into title bouts.

He added: “I don’t want to rush in because the opponents will be a lot older and I’m still finding that man strength. We’re planning the game correctly and what’s next will be next.”