Nico stays sharp as title fight draws near

Ogbeide unloads on Bradnum. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

NICO Ogbeide, a former white collar fighter showing steady improvement in the pro ranks, ticks over while awaiting a Midlands title shot at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms on February 28.

The Birmingham boxer, unbeaten in five (one draw), has been nominated to fight for the area crown at lightweight, with fellow BCB prospect Conor Baker in the opposite corner.

That announcement caught me by surprise. Ogbeide, lean and sharp, looks to me like a junior-lightweight (super-feather in today’s fight vocabulary), but, I’m sure, will take championship contests where he can find them.

Talking to BCB’s Paul Webb, he admitted: "I was surprised when I saw it myself. I got tagged in the post, and instantly I just thought, yeah, I'm ready to go. I feel comfortable boxing at super featherweight, but if this sort of chance comes up at lightweight, then I'll take it.”

The 30-year-old has won three on the bounce, outpointing experienced operators Simas Volosinas, Michael Mooney, and most recently Kasey Bradnum. He is going in the right direction.

Nico goes by the name “The Alchemist” and since signing with sponsor Fiber Sports Memorabilia has been able to fully dedicate himself to the sport.

Of his most recent performance last October, he said: "I felt comfortable in there against Kasey (Bradnum) and the last round was my best. I could have easily done more, and if it went longer I could have forced the stoppage.

“It has shown that it's time to do the longer distances and show people that I can push on. I've come from the unlicensed circuit. I have more experience than my record shows and I know what I'm capable of.

"Training has been bang on, never better. Hopefully, this fight should be over six rounds, so I've been sparring longer with better boxers and stepping up to 10-round spars. BCB coaches look after my corner on the night and my main coach, Tyler, and I travel a lot to other gyms to get sparring.”

The card also features the man Nico has been matched against for the title, Conor Baker, as well as unbeaten trio Sian O'Toole, Hamza Azeem and Levi Vaughan. The show is headlined by Midlands middleweight champion Troy Coleman.

*Tickets are available now, priced £45 for general admission and £80 for VIP, from the boxers directly or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com.