James Metcalf (boxer)


James "JJ" Metcalf is an English professional boxer who has held the Commonwealth super-welterweight title since 2019. He is the son of former boxer Shea Neary.

Professional career

Metcalf made his professional debut on 3 December 2011, scoring a four-round points decision victory over Kevin McCauley at the Robin Park Centre in Wigan, England.
After compiling a record of 17–0 he was scheduled to face Jorge Fortea for the vacant WBC International super-welterweight title on 9 June 2018 at the Manchester Arena, as part of the undercard of Tyson Fury's comeback fight against Sefer Seferi. In the week leading up to the fight, Fortea withdrew from the contest with Aitor Nieto stepping in as a late replacement. Metcalf defeated Nieto via twelfth-round technical knockout to capture the WBC International title.
He was scheduled to return to the Manchester Arena to defend his title against former British and Commonwealth super-welterweight champion, Liam Williams, on 22 December 2018 on the undercard of the Josh Warrington vs. Carl Frampton world title fight. The fight was put in jeopardy after Metcalf suffered an ankle injury. He told promoter Frank Warren that he would inform Warren six weeks prior to the fight whether or not he was fit to go ahead. However, after Warren had lined up a potential replacement for Williams in the event of Metcalf pulling out, Williams decided to instead fight the replacement, Mark Heffron, for the vacant British middleweight title. Metcalf had expressed his intention to go ahead with the bout.
After the fight with Williams failed to materialise, Metcalf's next fight came against Santos Medrano in April 2019 in a non-title fight, with Metcalf scoring a KO victory in the eighth and final round. After suffering a hand injury in the fight with Medrano, it was expected that Metcalf would not fight again until the end of the year. However, he was scheduled to face former British middleweight champion and former world title challenger, Jason Welborn, for the vacant Commonwealth super-welterweight title on 15 June 2019 at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, again on a Josh Warrington undercard, this time in a world title defence against Kid Galahad. In a fight which saw Metcalf receive a point deduction for repeated low blows, he scored a KO in the eighth round with a left hook to the body to capture the Commonwealth title.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
21Win21–0 Jan BalogTKO1, 0:3228 Feb 2020Grand Central Hall, Liverpool, England.png" />
20Win20–0 Jason WelbornKO8, 2:2515 Jun 2019First Direct Arena, Leeds, England.png" />Won vacant Commonwealth super-welterweight title
19Win19–0 Santos MedranoKO8, 0:3019 Apr 2019Olympia, Liverpool, England.png" />
18Win18–0 Aitor NietoTKO12, 2:309 Jun 2018Won vacant WBC International super-welterweight title
17Win17–0 Damon JonesTKO6 21 Oct 2017
16Win16–0 Konstantin AlexandrovTKO1, 2:0015 Jul 2017Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England.png" />
15Win15–0 Jason BallRTD5, 3:008 Apr 2017
14Win14–0 Serge AmbomoPTS87 Oct 2016Sports Academy, Liverpool, England.png" />
13Win13–0 Darryl SharpPTS49 Jul 2016Leisure Centre, Solihull, England.png" />
12Win12–0 Tom KnightTKO1, 2:4829 May 2016Goodison Park, Liverpool, England.png" />
11Win11–0 Aleksei TsatiasviliTKO4 28 Aug 2015Puerto Banús, Spain.png" />
10Win10–0 Chris JenkinsonRTD2, 3:0025 Jul 2015Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Ellesmere Port, England.png" />
9Win9–0 William WarburtonPTS1021 Mar 2015
8Win8–0 Danny Shannon6, 2:416 Dec 2014
7Win7–0 Ryan Toms2, 2:2127 Sep 2014
6Win6–0 Gary BouldenPTS620 Jun 2014Southport Theatre, Southport, England.png" />
5Win5–0 Liam GriffithsPTS429 Mar 2014Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England.png" />
4Win4–0 Max MaxwellPTS414 Dec 2013
3Win3–0 Dee MitchellPTS415 Nov 2013
2Win2–0 James Smith1, 3:0021 Jan 2012
1Win1–0 Kevin McCauley43 Dec 2011