Bowen moves up to 12st for title chance

Bowen and Coleman battle it out. Picture: Matchroom

CROWD-pleasing Aaron Bowen has been given a title opportunity on Matchroom’s huge bill at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena.

The Coventry hope will attempt to take the Midlands super-middle belt on the October 30 show topped by Ben Whittaker’s world light-heavyweight title fight with Conor Wallace.

He’ll face Klinton Baptiste for the Northampton fighter’s crown. Baptiste, unbeaten in five, won the title in June when his bout with Toby Bassett was halted on the ringside doctor’s advice after a clash of heads left Bassett’s face badly swollen.

Baptiste, a late bloomer at 35, took the technical decision.

Bowen, who began his career with Shiney Singh, will start favourite. The former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist has been groomed for big things from the very start and in June delivered spectacularly, halting Troy Coleman in nine rounds.

That was a typically thrilling performance from Coleman. When he turned pro, Bowen told me: “It will be an exciting journey. Take a few, give a few back – I’ll bring that with a bit of skill.”

He’s certainly lived up to that pledge. Aaron, who enjoys huge support, loves a tear-up, although there have been noticeable technical improvements of late.

To date, there’s only one blemish on his nine-fight CV. In November last year, Aaron lost a close, bloody barnstormer of a battle with Tom Cowling. The Midlands middleweight title was on the line that night and it’s no surprise Bowen, who looked huge at the weight, has stepped up to super-middle.

Fitting into the middleweight division must’ve been a struggle. As Bowen put it on social media: “New weight, same intention! Straight into a title fight on a huge Birmingham card.”

Mind you, Baptiste can also go to war. Of a first, non-title clash with Bassett, promoters BCB stated: “The normally well-coached pair seemed to abandon any game plan, putting on a crowd-pleasing scrap as they swung away down the stretch. It was the kind of fight that deserved to be for a title, but the fans had to settle for an all-action six rounds instead, with Baptiste getting the decision 58-56.”

*The Midlands arm of the Board of Control have stated the winner of Bowen-Baptiste must defend against prospect Omar Davis.