Jermaine lands title shot in his own city
Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards…faces tough warrior Kirk Stevens
JERMAINE Osbourne-Edwards gets the chance to challenge for his first belt on home soil.
He’ll face Midlands light-welter champ Kirk Stevens on BCB Promotions show at the Hangar Venue, Wolverhampton, on March 8.
The “Kundalini King” is unbeaten in nine contests and has matured with each performance. But he’ll be taking a big step-up against Telford’s Stevens, who is no stranger to winning on the road.
Losing three of his first four fights as a professional, the 34-year-old may have thought nights like this would never happen. Late entrance to a prize-fighter style tournament last February saw his career fortunes change drastically. He won all three fights that night and landed a shot at the Midlands area title in September against Stoke’s Jamie Stewart.
It was a competitive fight, but Stevens came away with the points win and the belt. A rematch in December followed and the outcome was the same - another point’s victory, this time wider at 97-93.
Osbourne-Edwards, who is also 34, trains out of Richie Carters gym and has regularly headlined shows. He will enjoy a huge amount of support in the Hangar on the night that will be his toughest test as a professional.
The second title fight on the major bill will see Bloxwich’s Lewis Morris and Dudley’s Ryan Griffiths clash for the vacant Midlands featherweight crown.
Morris, aged 22, has won eight of his nine fights with just one blemish, a four-round points loss to the very tricky Tatenda Mangombe last June. Since then, he has won back-to-back six rounders as he prepares to make the step-up to the 10 round distance.
Griffiths has been a professional for less than 12 months and, in that time, has quickly accumulated an unbeaten four fight record. Yet to go past the four round distance, what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in ambition and has been chasing this fight since his debut.
Along with the title fights, the show will feature a plethora of local talent on the undercard. Droitwich’s Zach Evans has looked very solid in his first four bouts and the 26-year-old welterweight will want another good showing to kick-start his year.
Danny Ball will box for the first time since his brave showing last time out in Ireland against Paddy Donovan. The 27-year-old welterweight is still English champion and will be back in the title mix this year. But first he gets to let his hands go and get in some valuable rounds in front of his fans.
Heavyweight Sonny Clarke made his debut at the Hangar in December and already looks an exciting addition to the sports blue ribbon division. The “Wolves Bomber” enjoyed his four rounds with the experienced Phil Williams - winning all of them - and will be looking for his first knockout this time round.
Popular ticket seller Brandon Bethell made it two wins from two, going the distance for the first time when he outpointed Liam Richards 40-36 in December. The 22-year-old, who trains out of the TMA Trojan Gym in Walsall Wood, will be boxing in Wolverhampton for the first time.
Former GB amateur Omarah Taylor has sparred some of the best fighters in the world in the last few years and made a successful start to her pro journey in December when she beat Ester Konecna on points. A lot is expected of the 30-year-old, from Great Barr, and with women’s boxing in a stronger place than ever some big opportunities could soon emerge for the fighter.
Paige Goodyear picked up her first career stoppage last time out and the 23-year-old from Dudley is starting to turn heads in the pro game. The 2018 Youth World Championship bronze medallist has racked up four wins since turning in 2022 and the welterweight prospect will box for the first time since a fractured thumb caused her to pull out of her last fight in November.