Images BCB Promotions/MSN Images
Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards wants a shot at the English title and the unbeaten 34-year-old moved a step closer with a landslide points win against Santiago Garces on Sunday afternoon on BCB promotions ‘Havoc At The Hangar 7’ .
Headlining in his home city of Wolverhampton the ‘Kundalini King’ was back at the Hangar Events Venue where all his previous eight contests had taken place and was once again in the headline slot.
His Colombian opponent, who now resides in Southampton was thirteen years his junior but had already boxed thirty times across South America and Europe taking talented prospect Sean Noakes five rounds in January and he has given many fighters a tough night.
Osbourne-Edwards started the fight quickly using his southpaw jab to the body and head whilst showing vastly improved footwork from his last fight against Naeem Ali.
A late starter to the sport he has had to learn a lot in a short space of time and his coach Richie Carter and the team at Wolverhampton Boxing club have been implementing steady, subtle changes in the two years since he joined the paid ranks.
One thing that comes naturally is the power which he displayed at the end of the opening round with a laser guided left hand which put Garces on the seat of his trunks. It was the only knockdown of the night and one that almost caught the crowd off guard.
The Colombian looked shook by the shot but made it to his feet and the bell rang soon after, allowing him some much needed recovery time in the corner. There was an air of confidence about Osbourne-Edwards work, particular when the action started to get a bit rougher with him being able to create distance and get off point scoring shots.
Six rounds can seem to be over so quickly and at the midway point it was very much one way traffic despite Garces best efforts to land the right hand, the majority sailed wide and short. Chants of “knock him out Dad” filled one corner of the arena but there wasn’t to be a stoppage.
The fight went the distance with referee judge Kevin Parker seeing it 60-53, a one sided win but one that showed real maturity and signs the ‘Kundalini King’ is ready for a big one.
“Tonight was about building up more experience, I want the English title next” said Osbourne-Edwards post-fight.
“I am ready for that, boxing in Wolverhampton is getting bigger and better thanks to my coach Richie and all the others putting in the work. I’m 34 so now is the time to make that step and get on the televised shows, box on Sky Sports, box at the big arenas, we are ready for that and it’s what I want next.
“I want to get on the next Civic Hall show, that place is so close to my house it’s almost my back garden. The fans have been amazing, that hype man crowd coming out so close to Christmas, spending their hard earned money I just want to thank them for that support”.
The shows chief support saw Finley Cooper made it a perfect two wins out of two in a fan friendly tear up with Steve Davies that saw him go the distance.
The 20-year-old from Wolverhampton made his debut back in July after a brief amateur stint for Merridale Boxing Club and the full time property developer displayed his passion for the aggressive side of boxing with his come forward style and high volume of punches.
Davies who boxes out of Aberdare in Wales has previously gone the distance with BCB’s Jay Griffiths and showed a big heart and plenty of stamina to make it to the final bell managing to get a share of one round ultimately losing a 40-37 points decision .
Zach Evans faced a serious step up in opposition when he was matched against Dean Dodge in just his fourth pro outing, rising to the occasion picking up a conclusive points win.
The Droitwich based super welterweight wanted a tough test and Dodge started brightly trying to take the centre of the ring and letting his hands go.
The 26-year-old Evans looked the bigger, stronger man and started to assert himself with some crunching body shots and combinations which sapped a bit of the ambition out of his opponent before he was rightly awarded the 40-36 points decision.
Lewis Morris has well and truly banished the demons of his only loss after winning his second fight in the last three months with a controlled showing against Luke Fash picking up every round on Kevin Parker’s card 60-54.
The 22-year-old from Walsall was on a seven fight unbeaten run before an off night against Tatenda Mangombe in July and the difference between that and what he displayed at the same venue on Sunday couldn’t have been more night and day. Morris kept a steady jab and timed his shots well, not forcing the pace or taking any risks.
The result was a formality as Fash never looked busy enough to trouble the score card and as the year closes things are looking very optimistic for the soon to be first time father, both inside and outside the ring.
James Beech Jnr’s first outing with his new coaching team proved to be a successful one as he blew off some cobwebs and got a much needed win against the experienced Liam Richards.
The 26-year-old from Bloxwich may be used to the bright lights of TV but after a tricky year that saw him lose a couple of tough bouts he will feel happy to get the chance to let his hands go and get in the W column once again.
A former two time British title challenger at super bantamweight and featherweight, ‘Beechy’ oozed class in a quick paced four rounds with his left hand in particular looking painfully accurate.
Richards, who was boxing for the 106th time tucked up well and tried to land his shots but he didn’t trouble the score card with Beech Jnr taking the contest 40-36.
Boxings heavyweight division has long been the most glamorous in the sport and the West Midlands has a new prospect to get behind in Sonny Clarke.
The ‘Wolves Bomber’ got his career underway with a four round clash with wily veteran Phil Williams that saw him display his size and power against a man who rarely takes a clean shot.
Clarke likes to let his hands go and has MMA and Muay Thai experience, traces of which you could see on Sunday as he looked very fleet footed for a man of his size.
Judge Kevin Parker saw it 40-36 and Williams may be one of very few men who will see the final bell against Clarke, who many predict a bright future for.
Liam Gould must have thought it was October 31st when he faced off against the ever-quirky Dwain Grant, who walked to the ring in a full scream suit complete with mask.
There was to be no horror show for the 25-year-old from Coseley who racked up his 5th win, taking a clean sweep on Kevin Parker’s scorecard 40-36. Gould is yet to lose a round since he turned professional in October 2022 and looks one to keep an eye on.
