JJ Bird

Joe-John Daniel "JJ" Bird (born 9 September 1986) He started his boxing career aged 14 when he joined Peterborough Phoenix ABC run by Gary De Roux, he had his first amateur contest on 21 November 2001 in Great Yarmouth and went on to have 25 amateur contests with 12 wins and 13 losses.. In January 2007, Bird was granted a professional boxer's licence, to be co-managed by De Roux and Dean Powell and made his debut on 23 February 2007 at the East of England Showground on a show promoted by Kevin Sanders. Bird fought and beat Frank Celebi from Bristol on points. Following Bird's draw with Tommy Heffron, he did not return to the ring until June 2008. Bird was set to box Daniel Herdman at the York Hall, but a late switch meant he ended up facing David Walker, a former challenger for British, Commonwealth and European titles rated number 15 in the country.

However, Bird lost his next fight in September 2008, again on points, 38–39, in a fight against Dale Miles in Newark. After the match-up, Bird said he was "robbed of success", claiming he thought he "won all four rounds". Despite the defeat, trainer Gary De Roux said "JJ did the stable proud, I was very happy with his performance and a lot of top people at ringside said it was a cracking fight". The loss was Bird's third consecutive defeat. The victory seemingly revived Bird's title ambitions, as he "stylishly boxed his way to a convincing points win". However, just a month later, Bird lost 37–39 in Kensington to Nathan Graham in a fight that could have earned Bird an area title shot. His loss was said to be "controversial", with trainer De Roux saying, "there is no way JJ lost that fight". He was scheduled to fight on prizefighter on 15 September 2011. about not being able to compete, but "would be back soon".

On 9 March 2012 Bird made his return to the ring with Spencer Oliver in his corner. Despite fighting a fighter who had lost his first twelve fights, Bird was outclassed by his opponent and lost by referees decision after 4 rounds. It has been suggested by people in the game that Bird should consider moving into selling male cosmetics that he appears to wear in pictures featured on his website.

TV appearances Bird's first televised fight was his points victory against David Walker, with the fight being televised on Sky Sports in June 2008.

In 2008, Bird turned to television gameshows in an attempt to fund his boxing career, having not been able to fund his medicals. Bird said "It [medicals] added up to about £700 and I just hadn't got it. I'm only 21 and only pick up an average wage for working in an office". He was also amongst people on The National Lottery: In it to Win it gameshow and was a model on the fashion and music show Frock Me, as well as modelling alongside Amir Khan for Reebok. Bird won £10,000 in September 2009 when he took part in the first series of television gameshow The Cube. A year later, in July 2010, he became a housemate in the eleventh UK series of Big Brother, entering the house in week six, and finished fourth in the series. JJ also appeared in the three-part documentary following Josie Gibson and her Big Brother boyfriend John James Parton in the show named There's Something About Josie, airing for 3 weeks on Channel 5 in May 2011.

Personal life Bird was born in Peterborough and attended St. John Fisher School in Peterborough.