Ibekwe in fight of the night on Nxt Gen bill

Simon Ibekwe in action…heavy passed a stiff debut test

NEW heavyweight Simon Ibekwe overcame a potential banana skin of a paid debut to outpoint Lamah Griggs in a rip-roaring four rounder at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms last night (Friday).

On Anthony Manning’s first promotion, dubbed Nxt Gen, the Redditch 27-year-old produced the better quality work and survived some heavy shots to take a 39-37 decision.

I’ve become conditioned to watching home debutants cut their teeth against journeymen with long losing records, so it was refreshing to see Ibekwe matched in a 50-50 contest.

And, make no mistake, Griggs represented real danger. Many inside the game had questioned the wisdom of pitting Ibekwe against a boxer who comes to win and is enjoying the best form of his career.

The Nottingham 31-year-old may now sport a patchy 3-7-1 record, but was unbeaten in three before facing Ibekwe. And Griggs – by day a barber – was at pains to point out he hasn’t had the rub of the green in some contests on the road.

In a phone call two days before the Birmingham bout, Griggs also warned: “Simon can expect a fight – I don’t just tuck-up and take it.”

He was true to his word. The result was the best contest of the night, a humdinger befitting the razzmatazz that went with Anthony Manning’s first show.

Ibekwe and Griggs at the final bell. Coach Melvin (left in cap) looks on

And the ambitious former fighter certainly pulled out all the stops for Nxt Gen. In the build-up, he paid for city centre hoardings advertising the event.

Last night, there were dancers in mirrored body suits and top hats, a saxophonist, fireworks and boxers led into the ring by a rapper. Each winner was interviewed – TV style – at ringside.

He was rewarded with a very big crowd.

Ibekwe will remember his debut for the glitz as well as the ring graft.

He was made to dig deep by Griggs and will be a better boxer for it. The pair both scaled 17st, but the contrast in physiques was striking.

Ibekwe is muscled and well honed. Lamah, squat and fleshy, has an Andy Ruiz body: he may have scaled close to half-a-stone lighter than against Hosea Stewart in Solihull a month ago, but there still appears plenty of excess baggage to shift.

Like Ruiz, he’s dangerous.

Mirrored dancers and a musician at last night’s show

Ibekwe, at times, made the job more problematic than it had to be by failing to utilise his height and reach advantages. When he used a fine jab and kept the shots long, Griggs had few answers. When he elected to trade, he was where Lamar wanted him to be – in the trenches. All in all, he can be very pleased with his night’s work.

Afterwards, trainer Malcolm Melvin said: “I’m very, very happy – and there’s so much more to come from Simon.

“This was a dangerous debut. The fact he hadn’t boxed for two years and took it shows you the man he is.”

Ibekwe started very brightly, landing jabs, working the body and planting uppercuts. The good work continued in the second, a particularly eye-catching right uppercut finding the target.

All seemed to be going to plan until Griggs detonated a right hand that made Ibekwe sway momentarily. He felt the shot.

Simon, to his credit, re-grouped and enjoyed his best session in the third. The jab was again flowing and in the last minute he opened the throttle and began teeing-off with both hands.

Griggs is made off tough stuff, however. Down the stretch, he bundled Ibekwe to the ropes and landed an uppercut of his own.

Ibekwe was handed a baptism of fire and passed the test. He looks an exciting addition to the paid ranks.