Ibekwe looks set for a pro hat-trick on Manning Wolves bill

Simon Ibekwe….looks too good for his opponent next Saturday

REDDITCH heavy Simon Ibekwe looks for his third pro win on Anthony Manning’s show at The Hangar, Wolverhampton, next Saturday, November 18.

Barring an act of God, I can’t see the fighter failing to have his hand raised in the scheduled four rounder. Opponent Myles Thorne, from Swindon, has had one contest – and was stopped in the third round.

I like Manning, I will support his shows, Ibekwe’s trainer Malcolm Melvin has been an immense help in returning boxing to the Birmingham Mail’s sports section.

But I won’t sugar-coat it. Ibekwe against Thorne is not a great piece of matchmaking. Ibekwe, brave, fit and with a good boxing brain, looks a very useful addition to the paid ranks. Thorne doesn’t.

Ibekwe was given a professional baptism of fire against tough Lamah Griggs – an opponent I felt represented a big ask for a first-timer, but grinded out the debut win in his first outing after a long period of activity. Second time round, the 27-year-old fought with authority to halt Jake Darnell. He looked one to watch that night.

A newcomer needs bouts that add to his ring education, that help build him. I don’t believe Thorne can do that.

But such contests bring their own pressures. A win against Thorne isn’t enough for Ibekwe, he has to look good doing it.

Melvin admitted: “It’s got to be about the performance, Simon’s got to look to stop him.

“Simon’s progressing nicely, he’s progressing quicker than we thought. He’s ticking all the boxes.”

I applaud Ibekwe and his team for naming their opponent on a show staged on the very same night, in the very same city, that local hero Tyler Denny bids for the European middleweight title.

Ibekwe has the headline because I know who he’s up against. It’s that simple.

It’s difficult to write about the rest of the bill because Manning has said he wants it to be “a surprise”.

He’s very much his own man, but boxing is a consumer industry and consumers don’t like surprises. It’s not my analogy, but it’s a good analogy: you wouldn’t attend a restaurant that refused to show you the menu.

He will deny it, he will say his is a very different crowd, but on November 18 Manning is in competition with a bill top heavy with talent and screened on Sky Sports.

He has amassed a very good stable. Reagan Oliver, Traie Dubbery, Mykey Lee-Broughton and Amir Abubaker all look exciting prospects. They will all be on the Wolverhampton bill. None are from Wolverhampton.

They have given Manning two sell-out shows in Birmingham. In Wolverhampton – on a night when Black Country fight fans are rooting for Denny – they’ll have their work cut out to provide Manning with a hat-trick.

They have, potentially, articles awaiting them in three major Midlands papers: the Coventry Telegraph is particularly keen on covering Abubaker, a well known barber in the city who has an explosive style.

But I need to be given a line, I need to know the challenges they face. Frankly, in today’s game, I don’t believe fans really care if their fighter faces an opponent who has won five of 90 contests. It’s all about the event.

But a show needs selling to the media – and you can’t sell shows by being secretive.

The correct media approach is to state, “this is who my fighter’s got, it’s not ideal”, then give reasons.

For example, last week Max McCracken volunteered the fact heavyweight Matty Harris, beaten last time out, will be eased back with an undemanding contest. He needs to get back in there, he explained. He needs a confidence builder.

He got a newspaper headline for his boxer.

I don’t expect Mykey Lee-Broughton, fresh from a draining, epic Midlands title stoppage loss last time out, his first professional defeat - to be plunged back in the deep end next Saturday.

But I want to know who he’s got and why he’s got him because I want something to write about.

I support Manning. I believe Birmingham boxing can only benefit from a transfusion of new blood.

But I can’t write about a Manning show or the fighters on it without being given details of the bill or a statement about what the boxers involved are looking for.

When Frank Warren or Eddie Hearn say the will unveil a surprise on their next major, televised show, the media sit up and take notice.

When Anthony Manning or Errol Johnson or Tommy Owens say it about their shows in Birmingham, Wolverhampton or Solihull, they don’t.

It’s that simple.

One thing I’ve learnt about professional boxing is that those who want something have to shout loudly.