Catford super-bantam boxer – stabbed in his teens – targets title opportunity

BY MATTHEW NASH

Catford super-bantamweight Joké Amechi hopes he can continue a dramatic life story – that includes being stabbed three times – by reaching the top in boxing in his mid-30s.

The 33-year-old overcame an attack at Lewisham College when he was a teenager, discovering the sport late in life, and aims to prove it is not just a young person’s game.

After two wins from two, Amechi faces his third professional outing at York Hall in Bethnal Green, east London – the traditional home of boxing in the capital – tomorrow against Liverpool’s Ricky Starkey (2-27-2).

But his hardest fight was back in 2006 when, aged 17 and studying psychology, communications and sociology, he was stabbed three times in his legs and attacked with poles and bats after a dispute that had begun outside the college.

He said: “I felt threatened and this one guy who had been stopped from going into college came back with a group of six to eight boys. I was in reception and he pointed towards me.

“They formed a semi-circle around me and before I could finish what I was saying to them, I was hit around the side of the face.

“Then, I remember looking down and seeing my jeans were covered in blood. I kept repeating to myself “please God, don’t let me die”.

“I had 26 stitches and was on crutches. I was unable to walk. I wasn’t able to bend my knee for some time and was told I was very lucky that the wound beneath my bum cheek had just missed a major artery.

“It changed everything for me. I often think back: ‘Why didn’t I die?’ but I decided not to live with any regrets from then on and I try to make a difference to people’s lives now.”

And Amechi clearly recalls every moment of that horrendous incident but now – in his day job as a mentor to young people – he wants to help people avoid the kind of scenario he found himself caught up in.

“I always taught not to cause trouble but, if it came my way, to stand-up for myself,’ he explained. “I had a very hot head when I was younger and I don’t like injustices.

“When I saw the poles and bats in their hands, I knew I was in a sticky situation. I’m 5ft 3in tall, after all. Then, everything went in slow motion.

“I returned to college two weeks after being stabbed and wasn’t offered any sort of counselling to deal with what I’d gone through.”

Amechi, who grew up in Lewisham as the youngest of four children, trains at Double Jab ABC in New Cross under the tutelage of coach Dick Kwame and wants to give hope to those who take up the sweet science later in life.

He was signed by Goodwin Promotions and is tipped to make a go of it in the paid ranks.

He extends his thanks for the opportunity to Double Jab’s Michael and Pat Harris for recognising his potential.

“I began ‘late’ at 24 and signed a professional contract in 2019 after 31 amateur fights but then the Covid pandemic happened,” said Amechi.

“I wanted to break the narrative of people being ‘too old’ to do certain things. I wanted to inspire people and show that it’s never too late to learn something. My main motivation in the game is to become British super-bantamweight champion and I believe that is a title I can win.

“This should be my last four-rounder and I want to push on after this fight to have a crack at the Southern Area title.”

Amechi admits he cannot fully escape the fallout from that 2006 incident, which left its mark mentally and psychologically as well as physically.

And he has insisted he intends to channel that “old aggression” when he returns to the ring in the East End this weekend, searching for a third victory to propel him closer to the division’s belts.

He says: “My trainer jokes, calling me ‘Joké the merciful’ because I’m not a bully in sparring. Boxing, for me, is an amazing outlet – it’s addictive. I love it. I have fun in the ring. I play around a bit.

“But in this next fight, I do feel there will be a lot of the old aggression from me. People need to see statements being made as you go through your career.

“I don’t think we ever get over trauma and you just find ways of dealing it. Boxing is one of mine.”

Tickets are available via Instagram at joke_eheritage or from 07548 959592.

PICTURE: @thedannybarnes (Instagram)