BARNSLEY FC fanatic Jake Jon Cleary hopes there are four wins for the town on Saturday – the Reds in Exeter then the three Barnsley boxers in Leeds.
The 28-year-old from Wombwell is due to fight fellow unbeaten prospect Ellis Ward over six rounds at welterweight in Leeds on the undercard of fellow Barnsley man Callum Simpson’s European title fight, with Cory Sagar also on the bill.
Cleary said: “Hopefully we can get four wins out of four that day.
“I am a massive Barnsley fan and it will be a pleasure to fight in front of so many others on Saturday.
“Other areas like Sheffield and Manchester have had stables of boxers for a long time. Now Barnsley is emerging as a shining light.
“Callum is spearheading that. Community values in an area like Barnsley are second nature so he was always going to help us along. Credit to Callum, it shows his character.
“It puts Barnsley on the map.
“Me and Cory have sold a lot of tickets too. Even though we’re in Leeds it will feel like we’re in Barnsley.”
Jake works for Royal Mail in their collections department, training before and after his shifts. He has booked Thursday and Friday off this week to prepare for the fight but will be back at work on Monday. He was previously a personal trainer and sports coach after studying sports science and coaching at university.
“I took a leap into a different job so I could commit more to boxing. This time of year is very busy for Royal Mail and Christmas waits for no one.”
Cleary has won all four professional fights while his opponent Ward, 23, have won his five so far.
“He’s a good fighter. He will be my toughest test but so am I for him.
“It’s all respect. May the best man win. I am prepared to give it everything. I have not been in boxing a long time but in that time I’ve worked tremendously hard and seen all styles in sparring including his style many times. He can go online saying he’s doing to stop me early. But he’s put a lot of pressure on himself and it’s about his actions not words. I am going in that ring to win by any means.”
All four of Cleary’s previous fights have been at the Metrodome but he is ready for a step up to a bigger venue on a televised show.
“If there is a ring there for me to fight, I don’t care where it is and how many people are watching.
“I think I will thrive on it, especially in a big arena with a lot of people from Barnsley and Reds fans like myself.
“I have been told I will be fighting any time from 5.30 to 6pm and it will be the first fight on the iPlayer.”
