Jimmy vows to fight on after title defeat

Osbourne-Edwards…stopped for first time. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

JERMAINE Osbourne-Edwards – the welter who has embraced a life of spirituality after being lost to the streets – has vowed the show goes on.

The Wolverhampton 35-year-old is in no mood to hang-up his gloves after being stopped by hot prospect Sam Noakes for the latter’s English title last Friday.

“I love fighting, I just want to fight,” he told me.

The decision is understandable. “Jimmy” had his moments at York Hall, Bethnal Green, against a champion who is now unbeaten in 10, five by way stoppage. He took the fifth and seemed to be gradually imposing himself.

He didn’t go down, but was rocked by a big right in the eighth and referee Chris Jones called a halt at two minutes seven seconds of the session after Jimmy shipped a crunching uppercut.

That’s the second loss on the spin for the larger-than-life southpaw – both have been on big shows, both against very good men. At Birmingham’s BP Pulse Live arena in November, he was outpointed by Eithan James.

Before that, Jimmy had peeled off 11 wins on the spin – all in Wolverhampton – and collected the Midlands title. He was the favourite in those contests, a prohibitive underdog against James and Noakes.

“He’s carrying on,” trainer Richard Carter confirmed. “We’re looking to a Midlands welterweight title fight.”

Carter said the title fight was going pretty much going to plan before Maidstone’s Noakes found the pay-off punches in the eighth.

“I think Jimmy did the right things early doors. He had to keep a nice tight guard against Noakes, a renowned puncher and someone being moved to big things.

“Our plan was to take over in the second half, but Jimmy just didn’t get himself going, it just wasn’t his night.

“He was totally up for it. There were only eight or 10 people went down and it can be a bit intimidating, York Hall, but he handled it well. I honestly did think we were going to spring an upset because he had a good seventh. I thought it was our night, to be honest.

“Then Jimmy got caught by one on the top of head. We needed that bit of luck, but didn’t get it.”

Osbourne-Edwards, who enters rings wearing a native Indian war bonnet, said: “Of course I’m going to continue, I’m even hungrier now.

“It’s one of those – I let my concentration slip for a second. I should’ve taken a knee.”