HE’S the former Redditch schoolteacher who’s planning to become a heavyweight hero, writes Matt Bozeat.
Simon Ibekwe quit teaching to become a full-time fighter – and the 29-year-old has been handing out boxing lessons ever since.
He looks for a seventh straight win in Cannock on Thursday, March 5 in front of a star-studded audience.
Ibekwe will be fighting on the Excelsior Sporting Club show in Bar Sport’s Premier Suite where guests will include former world champions Steve Collins and Richie Woodhall.
Ibekwe believes they will be watching a future champion.
He is a friend and sparring partner of current British heavyweight champion Jeamie TKV and said: “I want to be where Jeamie is.
“I know I can get there and that’s why I left teaching.
“I loved my job and want to go back to working with young people again one day, but I got some sponsors and decided to focus on boxing.”
Manager Scott Welch knows what it takes to get to the top having won the British title and challenged for world honours.
He has steered Ibekwe to six wins – including three by knockout – since he turned professional in 2023 after 21 amateur bouts.
Ibekwe moved to Redditch five years ago after growing up in North London, where his boxing journey started after he fell out of love with football.
Ibekwe added: “I was a centre half and had trials at West Ham and Everton.
“I drifted into non-league and lost a bit of interest.
“I stayed in the gym and had always wanted to box so I went to a gym in East London where I took a lot of beatings.”
Ibekwe stuck at it and after moving to Redditch he won Midlands amateur honours before turning professional.
