Kaisee too good for Bulgarian on big bill at the Excelsior Club
Kaisee Benjamin…top light-welter back in action next week
THE bill for Scott Murray’s superb Highland fling at his plush Excelsior Club is almost complete.
At the time of writing, only an opponent for Sam Eggington is being sought for the Premier Suite, Cannock, show that falls on St Andrew’s night, next Thursday, November 30.
Mind you, initial plans to pit English boxers against Scottish opposition seems to have strayed a little. Eggington, a very big name in the game, is likely to face a foreign boxer.
And former British light-welter challenger Kaisee Benjamin will meet a Bulgarian.
It looks a fairly undemanding return to arms for thunderous punching Benjamin who is easing back after the disappointment of losing on points to Irishman Sean McComb six months ago for the WBO European belt. I really fancied Kaisee to win that one.
Next Thursday, the Birmingham 28-year-old is pitted against Petar Alexandrov, a fighter I watched from ringside on a number of occasions, over six rounds.
Alexandrov, rough and tough, has tested – and lost to - a string of new pros from Black Country Boxing’s large stable.
Jake Melvin, Liam Gould and Connor Goodchild outpointed him. Zach Evans forced him to retire and when Alexandrov stepped up against Danny Ball, he was stopped.
He’s faced good men. I expect Benjamin to have too much of everything in the scheduled six rounder. I anticipate a stoppage.
Coventry’s Jess Barry turns Scottish for the night, representing the “north of the border” side of the card.
I’m not aware the 29-year-old has Scottish heritage, but trainer Derek Fitzpatrick assure me she’s purchased tartan shorts for the occasion. She also supports Celtic.
I think Jess should do more, like sign-up to the Bay City Rollers fan club.
In her fourth contest (one loss) Barry looks set to face Sheffield lightweight Kerry Orton. After losing narrowly last time out, Jess should get back on track.
The night, which includes pipers, whisky tasting and haggis, features two truly outstanding matches – and both are legitimate England v Scotland dust-ups.
Everyone’s talking about the main event – the meeting of Wolverhampton’s colossal heavyweight Hosea Stewart, a man who scaled 24st for his last fight, and Scottish champ Nick Campbell who aims to weigh around 20 stone for the clash.
That’s 44 stone of beef colliding in the ring. That may need iron girders rather than ring-post.
That’s the fight casual fans can’t wait to see.
But for me, the real quality contest is the 50-50 bout between unbeaten super-flys Callum Singh, from Coventry, and Glasgow’s Michael McCrone.
Rather than building unbeaten runs against journeymen, both put their “0” on the line in an even money encounter.
I particularly applaud 21-year-old Singh for taking the risk: In Scotland, they have high hopes for McCrone, they feel he’s a bit special.
Callum told me: “His record’s a mirror image of mine – three fights, three wins, but all that changes on November 30.
“It’s a 50-50 fight and I’ve got to up my game to beat him. But I’m in boxing for good, hard fights. I don’t want to fight journeymen forever.”
That’s an attitude I wish more possessed.
It has all the ingredients for a memorable night: fine food, good fights – and a host of famous faces from the past.
As a boxing anorak, I’m already experiencing sweaty palms over meeting Glasgow’s Gary Jacobs, in my book one of our most underrated champs, a man good enough to push a peak Pernell Whittaker all the way.