Boxing Connected sign up Doncaster’s Jay

Curtis Jay with coach Tom Gilbert and promoter Joe Elfidh

The 25-year-old from Doncaster is under the guidance of Boxing Connected’s Joe Elfidh and the former England amateur representative will make his professional debut on April 4 at the North Notts Arena in Worksop on a Boxing Connected show headlined by Ultimate Boxxer finalist Mark ‘Bad News’ Bennett.

Initially, Jay had signed with another promotional outfit as he plotted his path in the paid ranks, commenting: “I was signed with a different promoter, Danny Thornton in Leeds, but I wanted to be on local shows so my trainer Tom Gilbert got in touch with Joe and we sorted it all out.”

Jay experienced around 20 amateur fights, reached an ABA final and was picked to represent England. He quit boxing aged 17 after damaging the sciatic nerve in his back.

He trained with current English featherweight champion Reece Mould during his amateur career, who’s unbeaten in 13 fights and challenges for the British title in his next fight in March.

Now training at TG Boxing gym in Skellow, Doncaster, the debutant experiences top sparring with stablemates Cameron Kaihua, Ryan Stevenson and Josh Padley, who are all unbeaten and fighting together in Doncaster on February 21.

A married father of two, the full-time scaffolder described his daily routine and the difference between the codes. He said: “I’m training in the mornings before work, then after work I head straight to the gym for a good two-hour session, and I do this six days a week.

“The three-minute rounds is a big difference compared to the two-minutes in the amateurs. There’s a big difference in that extra minute, but you learn to push yourself better.”

Describing himself as a come-forward, aggressive, Mexican-styled fighter, Jay expects to sell over 200 tickets to his debut fight.

Eflidh said: “It’s good to have Curtis Jay on board as Boxing Connected look to build up in Doncaster. We’ve already got our first show in Doncaster on February 21 and there’ll be more to come with more fighters joining the growing Boxing Connected stable.”