By Lee Collier
Jack Arnfield joins best friend and training partner Brian Rose in challenging for a minor title on the ‘2 Titles at the Tower’ card in his home town of Blackpool on the 27th February. Arnfield, 12-0 (3 early), usually campaigns at either light-middleweight or middleweight but with stable mate Rose holding the light-middleweight title the 20 year old Blackpool fighter gets a crack at the vacant Central Area middleweight belt.
The man who will be opposite Arnfield come the 27th February is unbeaten Sheffield fireman Jez Wilson (6-0, 4 early) and with Arnfield having a six-inch height advantage over his opponent the Bobby Rimmer trained prospect is looking to keep the big punching fireman at range.
“Wilson is unbeaten in six fights and has stopped four inside the distance and managed to stop Manoocher Salari who is good journeyman who can perform brilliantly on his day,” explained Arnfield.
“Wilson is smaller than me and style wise is different to me. He is more of a come forward brawler who is aggressive and fit, he is a part time fire fighter. Basically I need to do what I do best and box him and keep him at range and if he blows himself out I’ll go for the stoppage. At the minute I am just looking to outbox him and we’ll see how things go in the fight.”
The last time Arnfield was in action was on the Jamie Moore-Ryan Rhodes undercard in Bolton where he beat Alex Spitko on points over four three minute rounds. Arnfield did well to win the fight as convincingly he did after he damaged both hands early on in the contest before winning 40-37 on referee Michael Alexander’s scorecard.
“The hands are a lot better now,” stated Arnfield. “The left hand has no pain anymore and if I strap the right hand correctly there are no problems with it either. There is nothing to worry about with my hands. I am 100% fit and ready to box.”
Whilst Wilson has campaigned at middleweight for all of his fights, it is only recently that Arnfield has stepped up to middleweight yet the Blackpool fighter is confident that the extra weight will suit him perfectly.
“My last two fights have been at middleweight against Sheffield’s Lee Noble and Alex Spitko. I weighed in at 160lb for those fights but 154lb is no problem for me. I am quite tall even at middleweight and I will carry my strength up to middleweight. I cope with light heavyweights and super middleweights in sparring and I hold my own so I’ll be fine. Fighting at middleweight will suit me perfectly,” predicted Arnfield.
Arnfield has only ever boxed in fights consisting of six two’s or four three’s and is relishing the idea of fighting in a full ten round fight. “I have never done more than four rounds but I have no worries going ten rounds,” boasted Arnfield.
“I am always fit and enter the ring in peak condition and I prepare myself correctly and make sure I am ready for 12 rounds. When I step into the ring I’ll be able to go as many rounds I have to fight.”
Arnfield is looking forward to putting on a show in front of his home fans and is hoping that it can be a double celebration if both he and Brian Rose win. Arnfield is hoping that the minor title can be used as a springboard for a step up to English or British level during the coming year.
“It’s quite a big deal fighting for a title in Blackpool,” enthused Arnfield. “You want to impress as people are paying good money to watch you fight. So you have to try and put on a good show whilst still thinking of yourself and going home with the title. If I come home with the title it will be good for me, good for Blackpool, great for the gym, and will lead to bigger and better things in the future.”
He continued: “I’ll leave it up to Steve [Wood] and Frank [Maloney] to decide what fights I need. Steve and Bobby [Rimmer] are in the gym most days and know how I am progressing and will take any advice they give me. If they say I’m not ready then I’ll happily sit and do these lower level fights. If they think I’m ready to step up then that’s what I’ll do. I’m hoping it will be the end of this year/beginning of next year that I’ll get the English or British title. I don’t care which weight it’s at - I’ll take whatever comes my way.”
Tickets to see Jack and Brian on the ‘2 Titles at the Tower’ bill can be purchased by visiting www.vipbe.co.uk or www.vipboxingequipment.co.uk and are priced at £35.
