THE year is closing with belts and bangs, courtesy of the Midlands arm of the Board of Control.
Matt Harris, head of the Midlands, is committed to keep area titles active and not let belts gather dust.
The raft of Midlands championships – seven confirmed so far from now until the beginning of February, another awaiting a venue – underlines that policy.
There are some real surprises in the list of fights, possibly the biggest being the all-Birmingham battle between Ibraheem “Spider” Sulaimaan – a dazzling prospect being groomed for stardom by Matchroom – and Nico Ogbeide for the vacant super-featherweight title.
The pair meet on the huge BP Pulse Arena show on November 29 – Ogbeide’s first taste of an arena bill. He’ll start a comprehensive underdog.
Ogbeide has lost one of eight, being outpointed in June by Brandon Bethell for the same belt – Bethell has since relinquished.
I tip my hat to the 31-year-old for taking such a demanding assignment. Sulaimaan looks something special and is 9-0, with four wins coming inside distance.
Spider had a glittering amateur career, Ogbeide came from the white collar circuit.
Frankly, I’m surprised Sulaimaan has taken the step: he was previously nominated to face Mykey Lee Broughton for an area title, but the prospect told me then he was looking beyond Midlands level.
Times have evidently changed.
This is Ogbeide’s toughest fight – and then some. He told me: “One hundred per cent I’ll be the underdog, but I’m not in the sport to fanny around, this is why I turned pro. If you’re not going to take these fights, you’re in the wrong sport – I mean, what’s the point?
“You turn pro to fight on the big shows and be in tough tests. There is zero pressure on me, I’ve taken the fight at short notice – no matter what, I win.
“But I’m not going in there to make up the numbers. I’m going in with someone with two arms, two legs and who can be knocked out by one punch like everyone else. I’m going there to give him hell.”
Nico added: “If I beat him, I change my life.”
The pairing of Midlands light-heavyweight champ Dave Butlin and Chris King – yet to be given a date or venue – is unexpected.
Butlin, unbeaten in six, will be making the first defence of the title he won in June by outpointing Ryan Whelan – and he’ll be making it against a real mystery man.
King, part of the McCrackens’ busy Birmingham gym, steps up to 10 round status after only three bouts.
He came here from Ghana with only three amateur contests to his name, and by day is a science teacher.
After his debut last year, Chris told me: “I just want to put myself out there against good men and see how good I really am. If it comes, it comes. My job is to keep working hard, keep my place and be ready to follow my career wherever it leads me.”
His wish has come true earlier than expected.
The confirmed title fights are:
November 22, vacant cruiserweight title: Tom Pogson v Craig Nelson, Newark Showground.
November 29, vacant middleweight title: Aaron Bowen v Tom Cowling, BP Pulse Arena.
November 29, vacant super-featherweight title: Ibraheem Sulaimaan v Nico Ogbeide.
December 12, super-flyweight title: Sean Bruce (champion) v Nico Michael, Mercure Hotel, Northampton.
December 20, vacant women’s super-bantam title: Doina Costin v Gabriele Strikaityte, Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.
December 20, vacant flyweight title: Bradley Thompson v Brad Coley, Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.
February 7, vacant welterweight title: Tyler Rivers v Elliot Sowe, Cannock Leisure Centre.
