Jordan Reynolds claimed the biggest win of his professional boxing career in the war of his life and a fight of the year contender as he edged out Joel Bartell to put him in line for a shot at the Commonwealth crown.
The Lutonian middleweight earned a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards (96-94 and 97-93 on two cards) in a headline fight at the O2 Indigo, which was an eliminator for the belt currently held by Hamza Sheeraz.
That may yet be vacated if the Londoner can topple EBU European champion Tyler Denny in September and move onto the world stage to aim for the WBC strap.
For now though, Reynolds put himself in pole position for the first title he craves after a frustrating stop-start and injury-hit beginning to his professional career.
The victory against Bartell maintained the 29-year-old’s unbeaten record in only his eighth fight after making the switch from a decorated amateur career in 2021.
His last fight was in December, but determined to prove a point Reynolds made amends with an all-out war, worthy of its bill-topping status.
“I got caught up a little bit,” Reynolds told Fightzone, adding: “But when you come from the mud, when you come from the trenches, you dig in.
“I found a little dark place, but we’re comfortable being uncomfortable and we got the win.
“I need to get signed now. Everyone doubts me. I’m forever doubted but we always fucking get there.
“(I want) a big end of the year now. I want a Commonwealth title.”
Reynolds is now under the tutelage of Tony Pill, who also has fellow Lutonian fighters Tysie Gallagher and Frankie Storey in his stable, and the middleweight said: “Tony Pill has changed my life. He’s done wonders for me. Most of my fights I’ve been half-hearted with and he’s really made me fucking fight.
“People don’t see, but I turned pro, (had) fucking brain scares, teeth knocked out, I can’t fucking straighten my arm, I’ve got arthritis, I’m in pain every day. (I’ve got) two tendons ruptured, I started coming back, I’m in pain every day and I pushed through. I deserve a little fucking breakthrough.”
That should now come after this victory against previously unbeaten Bartell which had everything but a knockdown.
Reynolds cut his rival early in the second, and the blood trickling down the left side of the Bartell’s face gave the Farley Hill man a target that he locked onto. Bartell had his moments but the former Team GB boxer commanded a bullying start.
Seven years Reynolds’ junior, Bartell settled in the fourth and began to find some joy until the Lutonian switched up his strategy in the fifth and unveiled his skills at range with some crunching successes to the body.
The rhythm and rigour slowed in the sixth and seventh and with the tiredness understandably beginning to show on both punchers after such a frenetic slugfest in the first half of the ten-rounder.
With little between them, the pair went to war in the penultimate round and through gritted teeth they both exchanged energy sapping shots.
But Reynolds showed his experience to edged the ending with pure heart and determination.
And at the final bell the Lutonian somehow found the energy to climb the ropes in celebration, which was soon followed by the judges’ confirmation.
What comes next will be interesting but promoter Mark Neilson said: “The calibre is there. He should be having some big fights next. He should be going in there with some British, some Commonwealth (titles) and stepping up on the big platforms and fighting for some really big fights.
“He’s got the pedigree we all knew about and he’s proved it tonight.”
Reynolds added that despite headlining the O2 arena in front of nearly 3,000 fans: “I ain’t where I should be. I’m aiming higher.”
