By James Bovington
Those who enjoy seeing local boxers display their skills and progress in the sport are well served in Leeds – as shown by the latest Jamal Promotions show held at the White Rose Banqueting Suite on Tong Road.
West Leeds boxers staged 16 exciting and exhilarating bouts – themed as ‘Unfinished Business’ – with fighters from across the region.
“We were delighted to offer three novice boxers the chance to make their debut as well as providing the opportunity for others who train at our gym to showcase their skills in front of family, friends and neighbours,” said Jermaine Springer, 37, who runs the promotion jointly with Al Osta, 43.
“This is very much a local event for West Leeds promoting fighters who train with us at our gym, Osta’s on Coal Hill Lane in Farsley.”
Elliot Coleman, 36, has “dabbled in combat sports for 15 years on and off.” Elliot owns a building company and teaches construction post-16.
He added: “I was proud to defeat my opponent Zee Khan with a first-round stoppage. I’m fighting now to prove myself and in memory of my mother who passed away from bowel cancer in 2022. Having tasted success, I’m up for sterner tests and will hopefully be fighting again soon. It’s just the best therapy.”
Pudsey bartender Thomas Hudson, 27, has trained at Osta’s for four years.
He said: “I was delighted to put on a show which allowed me to develop my boxing IQ as I adapted to evade the shots thrown by my opponent Xenon Burr. I knew I was the more active boxer. I made good use of my range.
“It helps to have long arms. I’ll be straight back in the gym and getting ready for my second outing hopefully quite soon. This winning’s addictive.”
Former Horsforth School student Max Peers, 18, drew his bout with Reggie Liddle from Scunthorpe’s Outlaw gym. One pundit commended Max and Reggie on “a heartwarming and life-enhancing display of courage and determination from two lads in their late teens who thrive on their boxing and train exceptionally hard with both showing strong potential.” Max himself loves his “three weekly training sessions and the focus and discipline boxing gives us as we start out in adult life.”
Although he didn’t win his contest with Scunthorpe’s Fenton Maw, Callan Clark explains that “the result has left me even more determined to improve my fitness level. I’m pleased to have shown that I’m improving my technical ability as I managed to counter most of the shots he threw.”
Callan is “enthusiastic to be back in the gym where we’re a family and a community irrespective of background or status in life.” Sentiments agreed by Aran Ali who trains at Mike Tobin’s Armley gym and who’s originally from Kurdistan.
“I’m grateful to Al and Jermaine for the opportunity to box Bradford’s Kayden Hunt who’s young but known as tough and experienced. I put my all into was an absolute battle. I’m happy with this, my fourth win in England.”
Andy Wilson, 47, is proud “at getting onto the ring as a mature fighter to win my third bout defeating Tom Doyle from neighbouring club Bramley Villagers, a veteran boxer vastly experienced and slippery to hit. I got in close and outboxed him with some hard body shots.
“That said, I’m sure Tom agrees that it’s a privilege to put on a show together. We train in West Leeds. This show was for our West Leeds community.”
Callan and Max can often be seen pounding the streets of Stanningley and Horsforth respectively in what boxers call roadwork.
If able to offer them or any other Osta’s boxer direct sponsorship or if interested in training at Osta’s, e-mail Jermaine Springer jermaine_s@hotmail.co.uk or contact via Instagram @ostasboxing. Osta’s Gym is above Ultraflex in Cape Mills on Coal Hill Lane, LS28 5NA.
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