SPENCER OLIVER (THE OMEN)
Former European Super Bantomweight Champion
Spencer grew up in Barnet and represented England in the bantamweight division at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada and won a silver medal.
From 1995 to 1998, Spencer competed as a professional. When he defeated Bulgaria’s Martin Krastev in May 1997 he became the European (EBU) super bantamweight champion. He held onto the title for a year, defending it on three occasions with wins over Serge Poilblan, Vincenzo Belcastro and Fabrice Benichou.[2]
In May 1998 he sought to defend his title again with a bout against Sergey Devakov at Royal Albert Hall in London, which ended with Spencer suffering life-threatening injuries. Two minutes into the 10th round, Oliver was felled by a right hook and was counted out, the first loss of his career.[3] It then became apparent that Spencer was seriously injured, a blot clot had formed in his brain, caused by a blood vessel that had been torn from a blow he received earlier in the fight.[4] Spencer’s cutman, Eddie Carter, is credited for saving his life, by instructing the paramedics to sedate the boxer in order to minimise the damage. Thankfully Spencer underwent a successful operation to remove the blood clot.]
Spencer now works as a pundit for Sky Sports and runs a boxing school in Edgware and has become an inspiration to boxers.
JAKE WOOD
Actor
Jake has appeared in numerous television series including May to December, Minder, Only Fools and Horses, Nightingales, Murder in Mind, Press Gang, London’s Burning, Sean’s Show, Inspector Morse, One Foot in the Grave, Red Dwarf, A Touch of Frost, The Bill, Le Café des Rêves, Sea of Souls Doc Martin, The Thin Blue Line and has appeared in the films Vera Drake (2004), The Aryan Couple (2004), The Illusionist (2006) opposite Edward Norton and “Dad Savage” (1998) with Patrick Stewart.
Jake also played the eldest son, Dougie, in sitcom family The Wilsons.[4]
In 1989, Jake appeared in Only Fools and Horses as an assistant for Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst), in the episode The Jolly Boys’ Outing
In June 2006, he joined the BBC soap opera EastEnders playing Max Branning. For his work in EastEnders, he has won awards at the British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards.
In the 8th series of Red Dwarf he played Kill Crazy, a prison inmate.
Jake also took part in the 12th series of Strictly Come Dancing.[5] He was partnered with Janette Manrara, reaching the semi-final.
Spencer and Jake also do a weekly explosive boxing podcast called Pound for Pound, a great listen for boxing fans.