By Greg Grimes

JJ BIRD 5-5-2 has vowed to shock people by winning the Prizefighter light-middleweights II tournament on his return to boxing.The Big Brother finalist has been out of the ring for the last two years but will make his comeback on September 15 in the latest Prizefighter tournament in Bethnal Green.

Bird told UNDISPUTED that he is aiming to win the tournament rather than just making an appearance, “I really am looking to shock people. I believe I can go in there and win this I wouldn’t have taken it otherwise.”

The reality TV star believes that it could be the start to bigger and better things in the sport but is not looking too far ahead, “I don’t want to look past Prizefighter just yet but I am aiming for a British title. People will laugh and look at my record and say ‘no chance’. But I want to prove people wrong. After this I will need a few fights after this to get rounds under my belt get some six round fights in, I am in no rush I am still young I am only 24.”

The 24-year-old seems to be rejuvenated after a two year absence and is clearly passionate about making an impact in the sport, “The last few months have been very frustrating I have had a couple of fights fall through. I just want to get my foot in the door. I need to show people I am not some reality TV show muppet. I am aiming for a British title. I am going to do all I can. I want boxing to be my life to live, breathe and sleep it. Slowly but surely I will get there.”

Bird’s last fight was an April 2009 draw against Rob Kenney but he has not intended to be out of the ring so long, “I didn’t intend to have such a long break. There were problems in the gym. My old trainer Gary De Roux put such a great deal of time and effort in but after all the problems he gave up. I was a bit lost after that as he had trained me ever since I was an amateur and then I moved to London which was completely different, it was difficult.”

After over a year out of the ring the Peterborough-born fighter was given the chance to appear in reality TV show Big Brother, “I got the opportunity to go into Big Brother and I knew it would either help or hinder my boxing career. Looking at it now I suppose it has helped. I thought being in there would get me recognised a bit. I wasn’t happy with the way my career was going so I thought why not.

The first part of my career was not the best. I had a lot of last minute fights. I thought it may get me opportunities in the future. It is all about selling tickets. I have a bit of a journeyman record but I have skills that are better than that I want to get away from that label. I suppose if it wasn’t for Big Brother I may not have this Prizefighter chance so I can’t slate it.

Bird was announced as a participant on the latest Prizefighter by Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn and said he has his trainer and manager to thank, “My trainer Spencer Oliver speaks with Eddie Hearn and also my manager Dean Powell. They threw my name into the hat when the light-middleweight Prizefighter tournament was being discussed and when they asked whether I wanted to do it I bit their hand off. I am a big fan of it. It gives a lot of guys an opportunity. In the past there have been some shocks. It is exciting like I said it can create upsets just look at the last one, no one expected Junior Witter to lose.”

The light-middleweight knows there won’t be a lot suspected from him and is eager to prove the doubters wrong, “I am probably the least favourite but I know I have the ability. I have been in that position before. No one will expect me to do anything and I will be up against it. Even though the first part of my career hasn’t been good on paper I have never disgraced myself in the ring. I lost to tough opponents.”

Bird hopes that now his boxing will have people talking and aims to establish himself in the sport to get rid of his Big Brother status, “I kind of want to get rid of the reality TV star label and I believe I will do so. I have gained a few fans from that and wouldn’t change it. I want to turn them into boxing fans because it’s what I do. I want people to look back on me and say ‘he didn’t have a great start but he never gave up’. I want to be remembered as a good boxer not a reality TV star.”

 

Tickets for Prizefighter Welterweights II at York Hall, Bethnal Green in east London are available from Matchroom Sport priced £35 unreserved, £60 ringside and £100 VIP – to buy call Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.

Greg Grimes covers boxing for undisputedfightmag.com