Kirk Stevens vs Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards
Wolverhampton is set for another massive night of boxing as BCB Promotions returns to the Hangar Venue for a Midlands title double header on March 8th.
After a stellar 2023 Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards (9-0, 1KO) will challenge for his first career belt against super lightweight champion Kirk Stevens (6-3).
The ‘Kundalini King’ from Wolverhampton is unbeaten in nine contests and has matured with each performance, but will be a facing a big step-up in Telford’s Stevens, who is no stranger to winning on the road in a hostile environment.
Losing three of his first four fights as a professional, the 34-year-old champion may have thought nights like this would never happen, but a 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 himself 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 96-94 points decision and the shiny belt. A rematch in December followed, and the outcome was the same. Another point’s victory, this time wider at 97-93 and a remarkable year was complete.
Osbourne-Edwards who is also 34-years-old and trains out of Richie Carter’s gym, has regularly headlined shows and will have a huge amount of support in the venue on the night for what will easily be his toughest test as a professional.
Lewis Morris vs Ryan Griffiths
The second title fight will see Bloxwich’s Lewis Morris (8-1, 1KO) and Dudley’s Ryan Griffiths (4-0) clash for the vacant Midlands Area featherweight crown. The 22-year-old Morris has won eight of his nine fights with just one blemish, a four-round points loss to the very tricky Tatenda Mangombe back in June last year. Since then, he has won back-to-back six rounders as he prepares to make the step-up to the ten round distance.
Griffiths has only been a professional 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.
Undercard
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 be looking to put in 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 same venue 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 out pointed 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.
Finley Cooper is also unbeaten after two fights both going the distance against Kristaps Zulgis in July and Steve Davies in December. The 20-year-old property developer from Wolverhampton is yet to lose a round in the paid ranks and will be looking for his third successive win at the Hangar.
Former GB amateur Omarah Taylor has sparred some of the best fighters in the world in the last few years and had 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 be in her future.
Paige Goodyear picked up her first career stoppage last time out and the 23-year-old from Dudley is starting to turn some heads in the pro game. The 2018 Youth World Championship bronze medalist has racked up four wins since turning over 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.
Cruiserweight Ryan Cotterell entered the Boxxer series tournament after just one fight and showed a lot of heart in his quarter-final loss to Sheldon Macdonald. After taking the risk of a life-changing opportunity, ‘ Rampage’ who is from Essington, has had a lengthy time away from the ring since that night in Manchester and will be hoping to blow off the cobwebs when he returns on March 8th.
Tickets for Havoc At The Hangar VIII are available now priced £40 standard and £75 VIP Ringside from the boxers directly or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com.