Leeds Beckett PE student Weightman was ‘nervous but excited prior to the bout. Six minutes of heavyweight battle which proved that commitment to intense training pays off.’
Twenty-year-old Weightman attended Easington Academy and then Hartlepool Sixth Form College but now ‘enjoys living in Leeds, living alone and looking after myself with the aim of becoming a strength and conditioning coach after I’ve been travelling.’ He sold about twenty tickets with friends coming from the north-east and whose vocal singing that ‘there’s only one Joe Weightman’ helped carry him to a split decision victory against sports science student Rico.
‘Leeds Fight Club was established against a backdrop of declining mental health and the often-isolating nature of social media,’ said organiser Rinor Ejupi, 24. ‘The aim is to give students opportunity to achieve by making themselves feel initially uncomfortable but later proud with improved self-confidence. Joe is typical of our boxers. Good at sport but hadn’t previously tasted the thrill of combat. There’s no shortage of volunteers including this time Jeffrey from California and Pavlo from Ukraine. Our events are now an integral part of the dynamic Leeds student sports scene and have already raised over a thousand for charity this year.’
'I enjoyed the glamour and the glitz of the show,’ added Weightman. ‘I felt confident as I walked out bare-chested to roars of support. I'm keen to box again perhaps with an England Boxing club. It'll be exciting to see where it leads. I'd encourage any student to give it a go.'
