Jack Massey: From scaffolding site to boxing world title tilt in Saudi Arabia

Cruiserweight Jack Massey was at the top of a scaffolding site when he took the phone call that changed the trajectory of his life.

He had the offer to fight former world champion Joseph Parker and, despite having never fought at heavyweight, he took the opportunity with both hands.

Parker won the competitive 10-rounder but Massey, whose only other defeat came against fellow Briton Richard Riakporhe, gave a strong account of himself.

The result fired Massey back into contention at his natural weight of cruiserweight, and on 12 October the Chapel-en-le-Frith fighter will be in Saudi Arabia to tackle Australian Jai Opetaia for the IBF cruiserweight world title.

However, the picture was very different in 2022 for Massey. He was going through contract issues with a promoter and, with no fights being made, Massey ended up on a scaffolding site.

“I had to come out of the gym and get working because I’ve got a family to pay for,” he said.

“My brother helped me out with his boss, got me a job on the scaffolding site and that just kept me ticking over, but it gave me that push, as in ‘I don’t want to be back doing this. I want to get back to boxing, really push on and make something of it’.”

In the same year Massey and his partner suffered two miscarriages and the fighter admits he nearly quit the sport altogether.

“I was very close, to be honest. It was probably one of the toughest years of mine and my partner’s lives,” he said.

“It was a rough one, but we just had to be there for each other and stay positive, and this year alone has shown that you never know what’s around the corner.”

Massey took the Parker opportunity when it emerged and then upset the odds earlier this year when he beat fellow Englishman Isaac Chamberlain by unanimous decision to pick up the Commonwealth and European cruiserweight titles.