Nico forced to work hard for Hangar win

Ogbeide has his hand raised by Ryan Churchill. Pic: Jack Perry

NICO Ogbeide was given exactly what he needed at the Hangar, Wolverhampton, on Friday night.

The Bordesley Green boxer from a white collar background was forced to dig deep against an opponent, in Kasey Bradnum, who came burning with ambition.

Against a man not content to cover up, the 29-year-old could unleash quick-fire combinations and stinging shots to the body on the way to a four round, 39-37 victory.

The lightweight, now unbeaten in five (one draw), didn’t have it all his own way. Bradnum, from Harwich, Essex, always looked to punch back when tagged and had success, notably in the third.

“One hundred per cent, that was my best performance. I was able to let my hands go in combinations,” tattooed Ogbeide said afterwards. “I thought I was going to stop or at least drop him, I was hurting him in there.

“I want a six rounder next. I felt the pace, but was coming on strong at the end.”

It was an entertaining scrap, with Ogbeide (9st 10lbs) landing stinging right hands to the body that reddened Bradnum’s flank.

In the second, the visitor opened his arms in a show of bravado after being tagged, then threw himself back in the fray.

He did land his own body shots in the third and closed the session by opening up with both hands.

Bradnum (9st 13lbs) beckoned Ogbeide forward in the last and the home fighter obliged. He forced his opponent back to the ropes and fired a stream of rapid, straight shots – only to see Kasey charge back.

Nico was handed a hard night’s work at the Hangar and will be a better boxer for it.