Heavyweight Ibekwe looks for second win

Simon Ibekwe…back at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms on September 30

NEW heavyweight on the scene Simon Ibekwe enters his second pro bout with a glowing endorsement from trainer Malcolm Melvin.

The 27-year-old who carries the words “God First” on his waistband fights at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms on September 30, scene of his June debut. Anthony Manning promotes.

Likely opponent is Swindon’s experienced Phil Williams who has a 54 bout losing record but has faced good men such as Fabio Wardley and Kash Ali and has sprung the occasional upset.

Birmingham fans will remember his spectacular KO of Shaun Duffy at Villa Park in 2018.

I was impressed with Ibekwe’s debut against an ambitious and accomplished opponent.  Make no mistake, Lamah Griggs represented a tough ask for a fighter who had been away from the game for two years.

Ibekwe rose to the occasion. He took his lumps in the best bout of the evening and took a 39-37 decision after four rip-roaring rounds.

Now it’s a case of keeping the momentum and buzz going: With heavyweights, fans can get very excited very quickly.

Former top pro Melvin said: “Simon could be a very good lad, he just needs to believe in himself a bit more. He’s very fit, very strong and has bags of heart. He’s just lacking that bit of self belief.

“He’s coming along really well and looking better and better in sparring. I thought he done really well in his first fight. He hadn’t boxed for two years, was facing someone who was unbeaten in his last three and I thought he handled the occasion really well because Anthony Manning put on a hell of a show. There were things Simon could’ve done better, but I look at the bigger picture.

“That fight was probably 50 per cent of what he’s capable of, he’s so much better than that. We see it in the gym most days.”

Ibekwe hails from north London, but moved to Redditch with his partner in 2020. By day, he provides pastoral care at a special needs school.

Ibekwe certainly has the amateur pedigree to do well.

After moving to the West Midlands, he won the Midlands championships with Redditch’s Studio ABC. In a 22 bout unpaid career, he also gained the East Mids Cup and London.

Melvin added: “He’s a really nice bloke. He’s religious, but not too religious when he steps in the ring.”

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