All the tools and dedication to go to the top.
The assessment, faith and confidence of coach Isaac ‘Argie’ Ward in his unbeaten young professional Josh ‘The Business’ Babb, who gets to perform on a big stage in Sheffield on Saturday, September 28 in just his third professional appearance.
As a former major champion and long-standing coach, both amateur and now pro, Ward’s words have to be listened to.
Babb will box on the undercard of Matchroom’s show at the Utilita Arena, where Sheffield’s Dalton Smith will challenge for the vacant European light-welterweight title against Spain’s Jon Fernandez and where there is an all-England WBO lightweight championship clash between Rhiannon Dixon and Terri Harper.
No opponent has been announced yet for the Darlington talent, but it will be a great opportunity to display his talents to Matchroom supremo Eddie Hearn, not to mention a huge audience worldwide via DAZN.
Babb, a boxer Argie has coached since he was a kid at Darlington’s Ward Degnan ABC, is 2-0 in the paid ranks after two top-drawer performances.
Few new fighters open their careers with a six-rounder, but that’s what Josh did on debut, thrilling his fans who made the short trip along the A66 to Middlesbrough with a dominant 60-54 win over Bradford’s Jake Pollard at Eston Leisure Centre.
Boxing News, the sport’s Bible, highlighted his fast left jab and impressive footwork and how he mixed his punches in the latter stages, with the ‘fifth marked by success with a number of right hooks to the body’.
Outing number two was even more impressive as he put on a show against Marvin Solano, a European-based Nicaraguan who is a very capable operator boasting a 24-15 fight log, winning 60-53.
“It was a master-class of a performance,” Ward told punch-lines.
“He obliterated him for six rounds.
“It was a good learning fight against a lad who knows all the tricks in the book.
“Josh had him out four or five times, his backhand nearly took his head off his shoulders.
“It was a big statement to all the bantamweights in the country.
“He was unbelievable and we got great feedback off the promoters.”
The 23-year-old is managed by Jamie Sheldon of One Empire Management and they, and Ward, have a gem on their hands.
“Josh is the biggest prospect the North-East could have,” added Argie.
“Empire want to make him a poster boy.
“He could go for an English or British title fight now, but it’s about getting him up the ladder.
“Josh has everything – he can fight inside and is good at distance. He has the full range of skills.”
Babb turned pro following success at the Tri-Nations in May 2023, when he beat Edward Hardy in the final. Ward believes his boxer’s style will be tailor-made for the pro game and that he did not get what he deserved in the amateur ranks.
“Josh got to half-a-dozen national finals and semi-finals but got shafted a lot,” said the former Commonwealth super-bantamweight champion and British title challenger.
“I’m not saying they were all bad decisions, but it’s all feather duster stuff in the amateurs – they don’t want to see fighters.”
But Ward is convinced Babb will be ‘the business’ in the professionals. All eyes on September 28.
Words: Roy Kelly
