Eastside’s Kaisee Benjamin was in a cracking title class for the WBO European super lightweight title against title holder Sean McComb. The fight that was scheduled for ten three-minute rounds was on the undercard of Joshua Buatsi’s ring return at the Resorts World Birmingham (5.5.23). Twenty-seven-year-old Benjamin from Birmingham came into the fight with a record of sixteen wins and one draw out of nineteen contests. Benjamin had contested for the British Super Lightweight title in his last fight losing on points to champion Dalton Smith in November of 2022. Southpaw McComb (30) from Belfast Ireland record was as impressive with sixteen wins in seventeen contests. He won the WBO super Lightweight title in his last fight beating Zsolt Osadan on points in December of 2022. McComb weighed in nine stone thirteen with Benjamin coming in bang on ten stone, reffing this contest we had Howard Foster.
Cagey start to the first round by both fighters but it wasn’t long before both fighters let there hands go with meaningful shots, couldn’t split them. Benjamin fought the second round with a very high guard which gave McComb licence to let his hands go and get some eye-catching combinations off, Benjamin took most of them on the gloves and got some shots off of his own but McComb won this round. McComb used his jab well in the third with some nice back hands from his southpaw stance, Benjamin got some good shots off on the inside but McComb won this round.
Benjamin started the fourth round well getting some nice combinations off on the inside, McComb got on his toes and used his jab well but Benjamin finished the round strong to nick it. McComb kept on his toes in the fifth moving well as Benjamin got in on the inside, McComb use his jab well and got nice shots off to win the round.
Fast hands by McComb in the sixth who moved well and was getting the eye-catching shots off, Benjamin had joy in the round but McComb won this one. McComb kept on his toes and continued to move well in the seventh, but Benjamin hunted him down and got some great body shots off, McComb came back strong near the end even round.
When it was at range it was McComt's fight but Benjamin dragged him into a toe-to-toe contest in the eighth with the Birmingham boy going head and body well to win the round. Great ninth round as both fighters went to war, again when it was long McComb was in control but he was dragged into another toe-to-toe scrap with Benjamin winning the round. Benjamin went on the attack from the bell in the final round emptying the tank getting on the inside and rocking McComb. McComb took it well and got on his toes getting good shots off of his own but this round was Benjamin’s
Judge Michael Alexander scored it 97 to 94 McComb, judge Jose Antunez scored it 96 to 85 McComb and judge Valerio Mosca had it 97 to 93 McComb. I had scored it 96 to 96 a draw.
Sean McComb retains his WBO European title.
Dexter’s Thoughts
This fight for me was a tail of two halves there will be people saying Benjamin left it to late to get into the fight and they could well be right. Benjamin has always been a slow starter but my theory is that McComb just boxed well for the first half of the fight before getting tired and Benjamin stepping on the gas. I could definitely see what Benjamin’s game plan was and I’m sure most times this would have work but McComb boxed really well and had great movement so Benjamin could not pin him down. Benjamin came into his own in the last three rounds and if this had been a twelve-round contest the result may have been different. But even in the final three rounds McComb fought back hard but was just no match to Benjamin on the inside in a toe to toe scrap. All the judges had it to McComb at the end of the fight I had it a draw 96 to 96 but I did have two even rounds in there so can’t really argue with the judge cards.
I’m gutted for Benjamin and his Eastside team I sure like me they thought they won win this contest and claim the title, but in my opinion Kaisee can grow from this. The old saying goes ‘you don’t lose you learn’ and Benjamin and his team will learn from this experience and at twenty seven years old time is on his side and I can definitely see Benjamin claiming the British or a European title before his career comes to an end. He is a fighter I have championed from the start of his first pro career and I will continue to do so as I think there is more to come from the hard hitting Birmingham Boxer.