I EXPECT the Midlands title rematch between Brandon Bethell and Nico Ogbeide to happen.
The fact promotional outfit BCB, which guides both men, is already beating the drum for a return convinces me it will almost certainly happen.
I agree with Bordesley Green’s Ogbeide when he says: “I don’t see why not. I don’t see a better fight for him out there, I don’t see a better fight for me out there.”
Wolverhampton ticket-seller Bethell won the first encounter – an entertaining distance fight – in June with the vacant Midlands super-featherweight title on the line.
That 10 round decision remains the only loss on Ogbeide’s eight fight record.
While waiting for news of an opportunity for revenge, the 31-year-old kept busy on BCB’s
Friday show at the Eastside Rooms with a repeat four round points win over Michael Mooney.
He beat the Worcester man – a veteran of over 130 contests – over the same distance last year. He was just as dominant this time round, taking every round.
“I enjoyed getting back to winning ways,” he said. “It was going to be a six rounder, but I had a virus, missed a week in the gym and was going to pull out, then decided to box over four.”
Ogbeide is itching for the chance to right a wrong against Bethell: he got the tactics wrong, he insists, and paid the price.
“I do kick myself a little bit,” he admitted. “Hindsight is a great thing – I wish I’d started faster, maybe done a six rounder before.” Ogbeide made the major jump from four rounds to 10.
“The lessons I’ve learned are simple stuff like letting my hands go more. I was throwing too many single shots. I know I have the ability and ring IQ, I just wasn’t throwing punches in bunches. I did that on Friday and it paid off.
“My coach has said don’t throw single shots and I was putting them together in twos, threes and fours.
“Losing was bitter, horrible, but I’ve learned from it – now I’m letting my hands go. The power is there at super-feather, but it will come through the accumulation of punches, not single shots.
“Going from four rounds to 10 rounds is scary territory. I was thinking, ‘I’m going to do more than double what I’ve done before’. I was fine with it. When it came to seventh or eighth round, I started to push on, tried to walk Brandon down.”
Ogbeide regrets not doing that sooner and yearns to show what he’s really made of. He has pledged to be busier next time around, he believes he will be champion next time round.
