Enrico Samba. Sounds more like an exotic star of the entertainment world than a Geordie fighter, doesn’t he?
But he’s very proud to be one of the Toon ‘s new wave of pro boxers, though there is an international story to him.
Samba is about to open the second chapter of his professional book with a fight against Londoner, Robbie Chapman, at Newcastle City Juniors Centre in Benwell on Saturday.
Enrico is part of the Jobes Boxing set-up which is gearing up for their second show, having put on a brilliant debut event at the Gateshead Hilton in December when Enrico was involved in a super scrap with Scottish southpaw, Ben McGivern, which ended in a draw.
Born in Italy, Samba was there until he was seven, moved briefly to Nigeria before settling in the UK in 2009.
He has played football and rugby but boxing has proven his true sporting love and having represented Wallsend ABC in the amateur game, he is thrilled to be part of the Jobes team. He is pictured on the right of the Jobes line-up.
“I’m a Geordie,” smiled the super-middleweight who dreams of climbing the title ladder.
“I’ve been here since I was a young kid.
“Newcastle is my home and it’s been an honour to go through childhood here and to mature into becoming a professional boxer.
“I want to win titles, that’s what I’m in the game for.
“I’d love to win the Northern Area and progress to the English and British.
“I want to climb through the levels.”
There was much promise in his debut against the ambitious Airdrie southpaw, Samba winning the second and fourth rounds when he used an excellent jab to such good effect to clinch a deserved 38-38 scoreline from referee Ron Kearney.
“I can be a front-foot pressure fighter, can box on the back foot or jab the other man’s head off,” he said.
That jab will be a vital tool to him on Saturday evening against Chapman, who won last time out on the road at Nottingham against a hometown fighter.
The 28-year-old boxer, known as the Camden Caretaker, has a very decent record of seven victories against nine defeats.
Samba is part of a seven-fight card at the Newcastle Juniors HQ where he will be joined by Jobes team-mate, Nathan Cummiskey.
Wallsend Boxing Academy is represented by Jordan Barker Porter and Kerry Haley, Marden’s Jobes-managed super-middle Matt ‘Stark’ McCallum is in action, while from the other side of the Tyne, Sam Menzies will have his fifth pro contest.
Unbeaten Co Durham cruiserweight, Daryll Hall, boxes for only the second time in the UK.
Words: Roy Kelly
