JJ Bird

Last updated

JJ Bird
Born
Joseph-John Bird

(1986-09-09) 9 September 1986 (age 38)
Peterborough, England, United Kingdom [ citation needed ]
Nationality British
Other namesJJ
Statistics
Weight(s) Light-Middleweight
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights14
Wins6
Losses6
Draws2

Joseph-John Daniel "JJ" Bird [2] (born 9 September 1986) [1] is a British professional boxer who is also known for being a contestant in the eleventh series of the then Channel 4 reality television series Big Brother .

Contents

Bird started his boxing career at the age of 14, joining Peterborough Phoenix ABC, run by Gary De Roux. In January 2007, Bird was granted a professional boxer's licence, and made his boxing debut a month later, beating Frank Celebi on points. He won his next two fights on points, before suffering his first defeat at the hands of Paul Morby in Portsmouth in November 2007. He has also had two televised fights, both in 2008, fighting David Walker on Sky Sports, as well as Steve O'Meara on ITV4. To date, Bird has a professional record of 14 fights with six wins, six losses, and two draws although has not boxed for over a year.

He has also made several television appearances outside of the ring, appearing as a contestant on the respective gameshows Golden Balls , This Time Tomorrow , and The Cube . Most notably, in July 2010, Bird entered the Big Brother house in week six, in its eleventh UK series, and subsequently finished fourth.

Boxing career

Bird boxes out of a gym run by former British Featherweight champion Gary De Roux and competes as welterweight/Light-Middleweight. [3] He started his boxing career aged 14 when he joined Peterborough Phoenix ABC [4] run by Gary De Roux, he had his first amateur contest on 21 November 2001 in Great Yarmouth[ citation needed ] and went on to have 25 amateur contests with 12 wins and 13 losses.[ citation needed ]. In January 2007, Bird was granted a professional boxer's licence, to be co-managed by De Roux and Dean Powell and made his debut on 23 February 2007 at the East of England Showground on a show promoted by Kevin Sanders. Bird fought and beat Frank Celebi from Bristol on points. [3] Four months later, Bird won his second fight, beating Duncan Cottier on points in his hometown of Peterborough. [3] In September 2007, he won his third consecutive fight since turning professional, winning once again on points, beating Lance Verallo. [3] In Bird's first fight outside of Peterborough, in November 2007, he suffered the first defeat of his boxing career, losing on points to Paul Morby at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth. [3] Bird's fifth and final fight of 2007 ended in a draw, drawing with Tommy Heffron at the Sports Centre in Oldham. [3] On his draw, Bird said "I feel very good about this performance. I am getting a good variety of fights and learning from each one. Now I have to put all those lessons together". [5] Following Bird's draw with Tommy Heffron, he did not return to the ring until June 2008. [6] Bird was set to box Daniel Herdman at the York Hall, but a late switch meant he ended up facing David Walker, a former challenger for British, Commonwealth and European titles rated number 15 in the country. [6] Bird won the fight on points by 39–38, a win described as a "big upset". [6] The victory meant that Bird reached 16th in the British light-middleweight rankings. [7]

However, Bird lost his next fight in September 2008, again on points, 38–39, in a fight against Dale Miles in Newark. [8] After the match-up, Bird said he was "robbed of success", claiming he thought he "won all four rounds". [8] Two months later, he lost on points once again, losing 38–39 to unbeaten Steve O'Meara in a televised fight at the York Hall. [9] Despite the defeat, trainer Gary De Roux said "JJ did the stable proud, I was very happy with his performance and a lot of top people at ringside said it was a cracking fight". [9] Bird returned to the York Hall just three weeks later, losing to Grant Skehill of Wanstead by 37–40. [3] [10] The loss was Bird's third consecutive defeat. [3] He dropped seven pound in weight for his next fight against then–unbeaten Callum Archer in February 2009, [3] winning the fight 79–76 in Birmingham, meaning Bird only lost one round. [11] The victory seemingly revived Bird's title ambitions, as he "stylishly boxed his way to a convincing points win". [12] However, just a month later, Bird lost 37–39 in Kensington to Nathan Graham in a fight that could have earned Bird an area title shot. [13] [14] His loss was said to be "controversial", with trainer De Roux saying, "there is no way JJ lost that fight". [14] In April 2009, Bird fought Rob Kenney, who had won all eight of his previous fights, and "battled" to a 38–38 draw in Wolverhampton. [15] He was scheduled to fight on prizefighter on 15 September 2011. [3] However, just hours before his boxing return match with prizefighter, Bird collapsed backstage and was unable to compete in the match. JJ stated on his Twitter that he was "gutted" [16] about not being able to compete, but "would be back soon". [17]

On 9 March 2012 Bird made his return to the ring with Spencer Oliver in his corner. Despite fighting a fighter who had lost his first twelve fights, Bird was outclassed by his opponent and lost by referees decision after 4 rounds. It has been suggested by people in the game that Bird should consider moving into selling male cosmetics that he appears to wear in pictures featured on his website.

TV appearances

Bird's first televised fight was his points victory against David Walker, with the fight being televised on Sky Sports in June 2008. [6] Bird's fight with Steve O'Meara at York Hall in November 2008 was televised on ITV4. [3] [18]

In 2008, Bird turned to television gameshows in an attempt to fund his boxing career, having not been able to fund his medicals. [19] Bird said "It [medicals] added up to about £700 and I just hadn't got it. I'm only 21 and only pick up an average wage for working in an office". [19] He also auditioned for the new series of Gladiators during the same year, and despite passing the physical side of the audition, he was told that he was "not suitable" in front of the cameras. [19] He subsequently appeared as a contestant on the respective gameshows Golden Balls and This Time Tomorrow . [19] [20] He was also amongst people on The National Lottery: In it to Win it gameshow and was a model on the fashion and music show Frock Me , as well as modelling alongside Amir Khan for Reebok. [20] [21] Bird won £10,000 in September 2009 when he took part in the first series of television gameshow The Cube . [22] A year later, in July 2010, he became a housemate in the eleventh UK series of Big Brother , entering the house in week six, [23] and finished fourth in the series. [24] JJ also appeared in the three-part documentary following Josie Gibson and her Big Brother boyfriend John James Parton in the show named There's Something About Josie, airing for 3 weeks on Channel 5 in May 2011.

Personal life

Bird was born in Peterborough and attended St. John Fisher School in Peterborough. [4] As a teenager, Bird helped coach junior football teams in the Cambridgeshire area, and supports Queens Park Rangers. [4] His parents own a pub in Bretton, [4] and before entering the Big Brother house, Bird was working as a barman.

Bird is friends with Aston Merrygold from JLS. [25] [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Tyson</span> American boxer and media personality (born 1966)

Michael Gerard Tyson is an American professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005, and is scheduled to compete once again in 2024. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "the Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990. Tyson won his first 19 professional fights by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. Claiming his first belt at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old, Tyson holds the record as the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, as well as the only heavyweight to unify them in succession. The following year, Tyson became the lineal champion when he knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds of the first round. In 1990, Tyson was knocked out by underdog Buster Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Dempsey</span> American boxer (1895–1983)

William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey, nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1914 to 1927, and reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. A cultural icon of the 1920s, Dempsey's aggressive fighting style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first million-dollar gate. He pioneered the live broadcast of sporting events in general, and boxing matches in particular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evander Holyfield</span> American boxer (born 1962)

Evander Holyfield is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2011. He reigned as the undisputed champion at cruiserweight in the late 1980s and at heavyweight in the early 1990s, and was the only boxer in history to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes in the "three belt era", a feat later surpassed by Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue and Oleksandr Usyk, who became two-weight undisputed champions in the four-belt era. Nicknamed "the Real Deal", Holyfield is the only four-time world heavyweight champion, having held the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF titles from 1990 to 1992, the WBA and IBF titles again from 1993 to 1994, the WBA title a third time from 1996 to 1999; the IBF title a third time from 1997 to 1999 and the WBA title for a fourth time from 2000 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Pacquiao</span> Filipino boxer and politician (born 1978)

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao is a Filipino politician, businessman, former professional basketball player and former professional boxer. Nicknamed "PacMan", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time. He previously served as a senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audley Harrison</span> English boxer

Audley Hugh Harrison, is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2013. As an amateur he represented Great Britain at the 2000 Olympics, winning a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division and becoming the first ever British boxer to win Olympic gold in that division. Harrison turned professional the following year after signing a contract with BBC Sport, and went on to have seventeen fights on the network before their cancellation of all boxing broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floyd Mayweather Jr.</span> American boxer and boxing promoter (born 1977)

Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer who competed between 1996 and 2017. He retired with an undefeated record and won 15 major world championships spanning five weight classes from super featherweight to light middleweight. This includes the Ring magazine title in three weight classes and the lineal championship in four weight classes. As an amateur, he won a bronze medal in the featherweight division at the 1996 Olympics, three U.S. Golden Gloves championships, and the U.S. national championship at featherweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Hatton</span> British professional boxer

Richard John Hatton is a British former professional boxer who competed between 1997 and 2012, and has since worked as a boxing promoter and trainer. During his boxing career he held multiple world championships in the light-welterweight division, and one at welterweight. In 2005 he was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine, the Boxing Writers Association of America, and ESPN.

Frank Warren is an English boxing manager and promoter and the founder of Queensberry Promotions. Warren was also a founder of the British boxing television channel BoxNation which ran for over 11 years from 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Manuel Márquez</span> Mexican world champion boxer (born 1973)

Juan Manuel Márquez Méndez is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2014. He is world champion in three weight classes, having held major titles from featherweight to lightweight, including the lineal championship at lightweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Woodhouse</span> English footballer and boxer (born 1980)

Curtis Woodhouse is an English former professional footballer turned professional boxer and football manager, most recently in charge of Marske United. Woodhouse played football as a central midfielder, and competed as a light-welterweight boxer. He is the former British light-welterweight champion. His career in the Football League spanned across nine seasons, earning four caps for the England under-21 football team. Woodhouse's professional boxing record stands at 29 fights 22 wins, 13 of which are by knock-out, and 7 defeats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vijender Singh</span> Indian boxer

Vijender Singh Beniwal is an Indian professional boxer and politician of Bharatiya Janata Party. As an amateur, he won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal. He also won bronze medals at the 2009 World Championships and the 2010 Commonwealth Games, as well as silver medals at the 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, all in the middleweight division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Hatton</span> British boxer (born 1981)

Matthew James "Matty" Hatton is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2000 to 2013. He held the European welterweight title from 2010 to 2011, and challenged once for the WBC light-middleweight title in the latter year. He is the younger brother of former two-division world champion of boxing, Ricky Hatton, and fought on the undercard of many of Ricky's high-profile fights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Peñalosa</span> Filipino boxer

Geronimo "Gerry" J. Peñalosa is a Filipino former professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2010. He is a two-weight world champion, having held the WBC super-flyweight title from 1997 to 1998, and the WBO bantamweight title from 2007 to 2009. Originally from the city of San Carlos, Negros Occidental, Peñalosa currently resides in Manila. He was trained mainly by Freddie Roach, and went on to become a boxing trainer himself after retirement. Peñalosa's older brother, Dodie Boy Peñalosa, is also a former boxer and world champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadam Ali</span> American boxer (born 1988)

Sadam Ali is an American former professional boxer who held the WBO junior middleweight title from 2017 to 2018. He also challenged once for the WBO welterweight title in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devon Alexander</span> American boxer

Devon Alexander is an American professional boxer. He is a former world champion in two weight classes, having held the unified WBC and IBF light welterweight titles in 2010, and the IBF welterweight title from 2012 to 2013. Alexander was prescribed Tramadol after surgery in 2012, and thereafter had to battle opiate addiction, coming clean in 2018.

David Lee Jaco is a retired heavyweight boxer. He spent his career as a journeyman, fighting boxers to build up their career records. He retired in 1994 with 24 wins, 25 losses, and 1 draw. Although he lost bouts to Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Tommy Morrison, Carl Williams, Tony Tucker, Buster Douglas, Mike Weaver and Oliver McCall, he won bouts against the undefeated Donovan Ruddock, Rick "King Kong" Keller, and many more.

Marcello 'Cello' Renda is an English former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2018. He competed in two editions of the middleweight Prizefighter series tournament, reaching the finals in the 4th edition of the series in 2008 as well as the 35th and final edition in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seth Mitchell</span> American boxer (born 1982)

Seth Mitchell is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2013. He also played college football for Michigan State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Parker</span> New Zealand boxer (born 1992)

Joseph Dennis Parker, OM is a New Zealand professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim heavyweight title since March 2024. Previously, he held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the WBO Oriental, Africa, and Oceania titles; as well as the PABA, OPBF, and New Zealand titles. As an amateur, he represented New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the super-heavyweight division, and narrowly missed qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Liam Mark Smith is a British professional boxer. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-middleweight title from 2015 to 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 "JJ Bird". BritishBoxing.net. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  2. ↑ "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "JJ Bird". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "CRIME: Thief's KO blow for boxer Joe". Peterborough Today. 3 September 2003. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  5. ↑ "Bird so unlucky not to return to winning ways". Peterborough Today. 3 December 2007. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Bird flying high after his big upset win in London". Peterborough Today. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  7. ↑ "It's a big night for city boxers JJ and Maguire". Peterborough Today. 19 September 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Boxing: Bird claims the ref robbed him of success". Peterborough Today. 21 September 2008. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  9. 1 2 "No disgrace in defeat for boxer Bird". Peterborough Today. 10 November 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  10. ↑ "Tough tests tonight for city boxing pair". Peterborough Today. 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  11. ↑ "City boxer Bird ends Archer's fine record". Peterborough Today. 24 February 2009. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  12. ↑ "Boxer Bird flies back into the title picture". Peterborough Today. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ "Boxer Bird is aiming to clinch a title shot". Peterborough Today. 25 March 2009. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  14. 1 2 "Boxing: De Roux fuming as Bird suffers controversial points defeat". Peterborough Today. 30 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  15. ↑ "Boxer Bird wants a rematch after latest draw". Peterborough Today. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  16. ↑ JJ Bird [@JJ8ird] (16 September 2011). "Still so gutted after last night! Looking to be back in the ring as soon as possible!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "TwitLonger — when you talk too much for Twitter".
  18. ↑ "British Boxing Prospect Steve O'Meara Proving Popular". SaddoBoxing.com. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Bird swoops on 'Golden Balls' in desperate search for cash". Peterborough Today. 28 April 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  20. 1 2 "JJ Bird". starnow. Retrieved 7 August 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  21. ↑ "Bird is mixing it with the best". Peterborough Today. 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  22. ↑ "The Cube Episode Guide". LocateTV. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  23. ↑ Big Brother UK, series 11
  24. ↑ "JJ Finishes Fourth". Big Brother. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  25. ↑ "JJ Big Brother 11". British Sky Broadcasting . Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  26. ↑ "Big Brother 11: JJ Bird eyes Ibiza trip with JLS pal Aston". Daily Star. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.