Joey Singleton

Joey Singleton, known throughout his career as "The Jab", was an English professional boxer who competed in the light-welterweight division from 1973 to 1982. Born on 2 June 1951 in Kirkby, Merseyside, Singleton compiled a professional record of 27 wins, 11 losses, and 2 draws across 40 contests, establishing himself as one of Liverpool's finest fighters during the 1970s. He became the first man to win the Lonsdale Belt outright at light-welterweight, a division that had been revived in 1973 after a brief incarnation in the late 1960s.

Singleton's amateur pedigree was exceptional. Boxing out of Kirkby BC, the same club that produced the great John Conteh, he won a full set of amateur titles, including National Schools, Junior ABA and the senior ABA lightweight crown in 1971—that year proved memorable for Kirkby BC, with three boxers reaching the ABA finals alongside Singleton, Conteh himself and Tony Byrne, who lost to a young Alan Minter at middleweight. Singleton represented Britain a dozen times during his amateur career, winning gold medals at two multi-national tournaments before turning professional under the guidance of Charles Atkinson, Liverpool's leading manager at the time.

The professional debut came on 27 March 1973 when Singleton outpointed Barton McAllister. Remarkably, in only his third professional contest on 5 May 1973, he defeated Jess Harper to claim the vacant BBBofC Central Area light-welterweight title, winning virtually every round in an impressive performance at Liverpool Stadium. This achievement saw him hold the world record for the youngest fighter and for the fewest bouts to win a Central Area title at the weight. A cut-eye loss to Coventry's Jim Montague later that year provided a temporary setback, but Singleton's trajectory remained upward.

The defining moment of Singleton's career arrived on 21 November 1974 at Liverpool Stadium when he captured the British light-welterweight championship by outpointing Pat McCormack over 15 rounds. Under the headline "Joey the Champ", Boxing News reported that skill and subtlety had overcome strength and slugging as the 23-year-old local favourite recovered from being floored in the opening round to secure a stirring victory in only his eighth professional fight. Despite bruised hands, Singleton pulled himself together and was well ahead by the final bell, defeating a genuinely hard man in McCormack. The following year brought two successful defences that earned him the Lonsdale Belt outright. After an unconvincing non-title victory over Alan Salter at the Royal Albert Hall in June 1975, Singleton turned it on when they met again for the title in October, hammering the Peckham man to a ninth-round stoppage after the referee intervened due to a cut on Salter's left eyebrow. Six weeks later, at Belle Vue, Manchester, he made the belt his own property with a comprehensive 15-round points victory over Des Morrison, a former champion at the weight.

Singleton's reign came to an end on 1 June 1976 when Dave Boy Green, an up-and-coming talent from the Fens, challenged for the title at the Royal Albert Hall. The "Fen Tiger" slowly dismantled the Liverpool man, with Boxing News noting that Singleton went out like a champion despite being forced to retire in the sixth round due to cuts over both eyes. The defeat marked a turning point in his career. Over the following years, Singleton lost three British title eliminators against Charlie Nash, Des Morrison and Kirkland Laing, the latter a close eight-round points reverse at the Royal Albert Hall in November 1979. He remained active on the domestic circuit, boxing good quality eight-rounders against the likes of George Turpin, Colin Power, Tommy Glencross, George McGurk and Terry Petersen.

Moving up to welterweight, Singleton enjoyed a brief resurgence in 1980 when he defeated Terry Petersen on points to claim the BBBofC Central Area welterweight title on 4 February. On 17 April that year, he challenged Denmark's Jørgen Hansen for the European welterweight championship, losing by unanimous decision. He successfully defended his Central Area title on 26 October by outpointing Lee Hartshorn, but further opportunities at the championship level proved elusive. Singleton's final professional contest took place in 1982, bringing the curtain down on a nine-year career that had seen him compete across three continents.

After hanging up his gloves, Singleton moved to Crewe in 1987, where he took over the Bear's Paw public house. Having run pubs throughout the country, including the Singleton Arms in Toxteth, which bore his name, he possessed considerable experience in the licensed trade. He also operated Lonsdale Security, providing doormen for establishments across Crewe and Nantwich. Around 25 years ago, Singleton began coaching amateur boxers, initially working with just three or four youngsters at an old shed in Greystone Park. The club's popularity grew rapidly, forcing moves to the Cheshire Academy and eventually to Camm Street, where Crewe ABC flourished under his guidance. He trained hundreds of fighters over the years, mentoring coaches and engaging with the broader community. In 2015, at the age of 63, Singleton considered retirement from coaching, having served the sport for a quarter of a century and earned recognition as a seven-time national champion coach. His fighting style, characterised by fast hands and an accurate left jab combined with a powerful overhand right, earned him the nickname that defined his career and the respect of a generation of British boxing followers.