Prospect Jermaine is on a spiritual journey

Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards…meditation is key to success

I MADE contact with Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards after he’d completed meditating in his garden. It’s a daily ritual.

“I can’t hurt a fly,” the unbeaten Wolverhampton welter stressed. “Flies or spiders…I’ve got to open the window and let them out.”

Rustem Fatkhullin, a Russian who faces Jermaine over six rounds at Wolverhampton’s Events Venue on Friday night, shouldn’t take too many crumbs of comfort from the statement.

Osbourne-Edwards will, as always, ooze menace against an opponent who has won eight of 66 contests and is on a 58 bout losing streak.

Rather bizarrely, Fatkhullin won his first eight in a row and has never since had his hands raised in victory.

“It’s different in the ring,” Jermaine, a big ticketseller, explained. “It’s controlled violence. Afterwards, we will shake each other’s hand, wish each other health and happiness.”

It’s a strange anomaly. Jermaine, who goes by the ring moniker The Kundalini King, recoils at the thought of hurting a spider, but Fatkhullin is going to cop it on Friday as the Black Country favourite chases his seventh straight win.

I’ll admit to being wrong-footed by 34-year-old former gang member Jermaine, making his ring return after suffering a broken hand at the Hangar last October.

I expected the distant drone of ghetto, gangsta rap music and a shower of expletives. I got a lecture on the importance of each and everyone’s spiritual journey. I could almost smell burning incense sticks.

Dad Michael, who loudly bangs a drum during the boxer’s ringwalk, is a shaman, Jermaine told me, matter-of-factly.

The boxer turned his life around after receiving a vision of his violent death. He is now immersed in the spiritual path that saved his life.

“When I meditate my energy can go to a higher level,” he told me. “I’m a very spiritual person, spirituality is all religions. I fast for 18 hours each day, I don’t eat from 7pm until one-two o’clock the next day. I run seven miles with no food in my stomach. I have nutritional substitutes from the Himalayas.”

Such a dietary routine no doubt raises some concern with respected trainer Richie Carter. Many fighters have honed their craft under the watchful eye of Carter, I’d imagine he’s never encountered one like Osbourne-Edwards.

The elaborate ring nickname mirrors the boxer’s believes.

“The kundalini is located at the base of the spine,” he told me. “It’s released through the third eye. You know what the third eye is?”

I bluffed, said yes, then scoured the internet for enlightenment.

The kundalini – “coiled snake” – is, according to Hinduism, a powerful energy source located at the base of the spine.

The “third eye” is a “mystical, invisible eye, usually depicted as located on the forehead, which provides perception beyond ordinary sight.”

Some may question Jermaine’s faith, but one thing cannot be denied: it – and boxing – has saved him from a reckless and, perhaps, short existence.

For him, enlightenment came three years ago.

“I was taking alcohol, I was taking drugs, I was waking up in the streets,” he said candidly. “I was with very violent gangs. I was drinking heavily and going on benders. I’d been going on benders since I was 16.

“I began meditation with my dad in the garden, my dad’s like a shaman. My body went somewhere else. I saw myself lying there, I saw myself dying and it scared me. I felt it.

“Richie (Carter) knew I was a bad lad and when he saw how I’d changed, he agreed to take me on. The other boxers know about my meditation and they love it.”

It has, to date, proved a very successful partnership – and Jermaine pledges his army of supporters ain’t seen nothing yet.

“I can go all the way,” he said. “I believe in myself.”

Friday’s ring return will be poignant.

In an earlier interview Jermaine said: “It will be emotional for me and I dedicate the performance to my cousin.

“I was close to Chantelle (Lee Cameron), she was about the same age as me and we grew up together. For her to pass away, at the age of just 34, has been very tough.

“She has been to all of my pro fights, so it will be hard not having her there. I just need to concentrate on getting a win that Chantelle would be proud of.”

Fatkhullin looks set for a very torrid night which may end in a short spell of meditation for the Russian – courtesy of The Kundalini King’s fists.