Sheffield novice Jenkins sells big numbers for his big night

Scott Jenkins cannot afford to come unstuck against Steve Gethin this weekend because he’ll get it in the ear from his dad and boss.

The popular lightweight bids for his second professional win when he faces the vastly experienced Walsall man at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Arena on Saturday 24th September.

Jenkins comes from the Steel City but now lives in Chesterfield and is trained by his dad, Lee and boss Grant Smith. Scott, 20, works for Smith as a kitchen fitter, but was without both men in his corner when making a winning pro debut against Dan Carr in June.

He explained: “Dad and Grant were still waiting for their licences to come through, but they completed their course with Ricky Hatton last week and now have their laminates.

“My dad has been in my corner for all my amateur fights and it was really strange not having him around in my first professional contest.

“I am glad he and Grant will be there because they are the voices I listen to all the time and I am sure I will perform even better than my debut.

“I don’t know what would happen if I ever got beaten and had to answer to my dad and the person I work for.”

Jenkins has sold almost 400 tickets for the show that is fast heading towards a sell-out. He said: “I am not a drinker at all, but I like to put myself about in clubs and at parties by meeting new people and socialising.

“I don’t know why I have sold so many tickets, but I think I am a likeable person and must be doing something right.”

The main event on the Sky televised bill sees Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes bid to win a Lonsdale belt outright when he risks his British super-featherweight title against Cardiff’s Gary Buckland.