Three Black Country boxers will be challenging for titles on March 10th in two different shows. EBU European Welterweight champ Kirstie Bavington will be taking on Canadian Kandi Wyatt for the vacant WBC International Welterweight title. The fight will take place at the Hangar Event venue in Wolverhampton and will be over 10 two-minute rounds. Bavington (30) from Wolverhampton won the EBU European title in May of 2022 beating Timea Belik on points and then defending it in November of 2022 against Naomi Mannes winning on points. Bavington has won 7 fights out of 11 with two draws and will be looking to add the WBC title to her collection and also the WBC ranking it gives you. Her opponent Wyatt is a former world champion challenger and has challenged for world titles twice in her last three fights. Wyatt who has a record of ten wins out of fourteen fights first fought for the WBA version of the world title at super lightweight losing on points to Kali Reis. Wyatt then took on welterweight world champ Jessica McCaskill for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC, and the WBO world title being stopped in the seventh round at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.
Also on the same show Sandwell’s ‘Digger’ Ricky Summers will be making his second attempt at the Light Heavyweight English title when he takes on Champion Joel Mcintyre. Ricky (35) fought for the English light Heavyweight title in March of 2021 losing in a split decision to Dan Azeez at Whites Hotel Bolton. Summers also challenged for the British Light-Heavyweight title in July of 2017 losing on points to Frank Buglioni at the O2 Arena London. Summers has won 18 fights out of 22 and has drawn one.
The current English light Heavyweight champ Mcintyre (34) has held the English title twice winning it first in July 2017 beating Miles Shrinkwin on points, his rain only lasted two September of that year when he was stopped by Liam Conroy in the 2nd round. Mcintyre made another attempt at the title in December of 2021 losing on points to Miles Shrikwin at York Hall Bethnal Green. Mcintyre regained the title in July 2022 stopping Chad Sugden in the 8th round at Newark showground Newark, Mcintyre has won 20 fights out of 25 contests.
Walsall’s James Beech jr moves straight on from beating Raza Hamza for the IBO Continental Featherweight on points and challenges for the vacant British and Commonwealth title which is held by the unbeaten Nathaniel Collins. The fight will be held in Glasgow at the Hilton Hotel on March 10th, 2022. Beech (25) has already fought for the British and Commonwealth title but at Super Bantamweight losing to Brad Foster in July 2020. Beech has also challenged for the WBC International super-bantamweight losing to Chris Bourke on points, then the WBC silver Featherweight title losing to Dennis McCann. Beech then went on to beat unbeaten Raza Hamza for the IBO Continental Featherweight title in December of 2022.
Nathaniel Collins (26) from Scotland Has an unbeaten record of 11 fights and won the Commonwealth Featherweight title stopping Felix Williams in three rounds in July 2021. The Southpaw has defended his title twice beating Thembani Mbangatha in October 2021 then beating Jacob Robinson on points on May 2022.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Three exciting fights on the cards for March with four big titles on the line. Bavington moves on and looks to add the WBC International welterweight title to her EBU Title and claim a place in the WBC ranks. Bavington has come a long way from her first fight which she drew and Villa Park in May 2018. Bavington has come such a long way from then and since losing to Sandy Ryan on points has won her last 4 fights winning and defending her EBU Title on the way. Her opponent is a tough fighter who has fought for the world title twice but I can see Bavington coming out victorious and taking one step closer to world honors.
Ricky Summers will be making his second attempt at claiming the English title, he came close when he fought Azeez losing on a split decision, and put on a great display when he challenged for the British title. At 35 this might be Ricky’s last chance to win a title but I have a funny feeling with his Black Country fans behind him he will do it.
James Beech jr turned a corner in his last fight by beating a very good opponent in Raza Hamza and claiming the IBO International title. His last few title fights have ended in defeat but he has always given it his all and been competitive. Beech fought for the British and Commonwealth titles against Brad Foster at Super Bantamweight but I have a feeling he will be more of a threat at Featherweight. I have followed this fighter’s career from the start and would love to see him win these titles so he can be entered into the Bbcolumn Hall of Fame.
The Column looks forward to reporting on these great fights.