Nico Ogbeide and Jamie Edwards both drew in there contests at the Eastside Rooms (20.12.23) as journeymen MJ Hall and Stuart Greener both raised there games for the final BcB show of the year. The show was called ‘Fight Before Xmas’ and consisted of eight contests with Sian O’Toole and Beccy Ferguson headlining the show as they contested for the vacant female Featherweight Midlands Area. Ogbeide (29) from Birmingham was having his second fight of his pro career after beating Logan Paling in September of this year. Ogbeide was taking on the veteran Journeyman MJ Hall who was entering the ring for the one hundredth and seventh time in his pro career. Jamie Edwards was also having his second contest of his pro career after beating Stefan Vincent who had entered the ring ten times as a pro in September of this year.
We start off with Ogbeide against Hall which was a four-round contest in the Super Welterweight division, Ogbeide weighed in ten stone with Hall coming in ten stone eleven with Ryan Churchill reffing.
Very tidy and controlled first round by Ogbeide who used nice jabs and combinations to win the round. The second was another steady round by Ogbeide who continued to move well and use his jab with Hall stepping it up a bit but Ogbeide boxed well making Hall miss with a big Southpaw hook with him slipping over, Ogbeide won the round on his work rate. Hall let some shots go giving Ogbeide something to think about, Ogbeide returned fire with good shots but Hall edged the round. Hall turned up in the final round putting it on Ogbeide, Ogbeide fought back hard with good shots but Hall continued to press and won the round.
Judge Kevin Parker scored the fight 38 to 38 a draw, I had it the same.
Next, we saw Jamie Edwards who was taking on Stuart Greener in a four-round welterweight contest with both fighters weighing in nine stone eleven with Ryan Churchill reffing.
Very high-paced first round with Greener coming out with intent but Edwards met him with some great shots and good movement, Greener got some good shots off but Edwards rocked him with some cracking shots and won the round with the cleaner more eye-catching punches. Greener kept busy in the second and continued to press Edwards who was happy to fight on the back foot and ropes landing great body shots, uppercuts and hooks against a very game opponent. Greener pressed hard in the third with Edwards finding it hard to keep him off, Edwards had some joy but Greener won this round on work-rate. Greener continued to press and ask questions of Edwards who landed some nice combinations at the start of the final round, both fighters emptied their tanks in a great round of boxing with Greener just edging it.
Judge Kevin Parker scored it 38 to draw, I had it the same
Dexter’s Thoughts
Have to say that it was very refreshing to see these two journeymen not just asking questions of these up-and-coming prospects but put them to the wall with both of them getting a very early test in their careers. It was no real surprise to me that Hall and Greener had a go as due to Christmas and January normally being a quiet month for boxing the 28-day layoff if you get stopped wouldn’t really make any difference to them. Ogbeide and Edwards may have handed a bit of a dent in their careers but they are both still unbeaten and will both have learned so much from these fights that they will have got in their next five fights against Journeymen who are just going through the motions. These were two great fights where the Journeymen turned up and had a good go bring out the best in the prospects. Well done to all the boxers involved for giving use two great fights.