Bethell sparks party by winning area title

Bethell celebrates Midlands title success. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

BRANDON Bethell’s Old Gold army danced, waved banners and created a deafening noise as their hero entered the ring to face Nico Ogbeide for the vacant Midlands super-featherweight title on Saturday.

They danced, waved banners and created a deafening noise on the car park of Wolverhampton’s Aldersley Stadium after Bethell had captured the belt by a 97-93 margin on referee Parker’s card.

Bethell outworked his Birmingham opponent over 10 tough rounds. The 23-year-old – like Ogbeide, taking part in his seventh contest – worked the taller man’s body with both hands in the first two sessions and managed to maintain the high pace.

Ogbeide, aged 31, had his moments, but paid the penalty for pinning hopes on single shots and neglecting the jab.

Bethell (9st 3lbs) was rattled by a left hook in the fourth and caught by another in the fifth. He responded with a flurry whenever tagged.

Nico found the range for raking rights in the sixth, only for Bethell to storm back in the seventh and continue to score behind his jab.

Confident rounds were in the bag, Brandon fought on the back foot down the stretch, while Ogbeide (9st 2lbs) stalked for openings.

Bethell pick-pocketed points in the last and the final bell signalled a Wolverhampton knees-up. The Banks’s is probably still flowing in the new champ’s neighbourhood.