Title opportunities for King and Collins, Griffiths and Ibrahim

Ben Collins…nominated to fight for Midlands light-heavy belt. Pic: BCB

HOPEFULLY, it’s third time lucky for light-heavyweight Chris King.

A product of Spencer McCracken’s busy Birmingham gym, the Ghana born light-heavyweight has been nominated for a Midlands title shot.

The Board want Chris, Birmingham based, to meet Stourbridge prospect Ben Collins for the vacant Midlands light-heavyweight title.

Hopefully, it’s third time lucky for King who has seen two other advertised bouts for area belts come to nothing. In the past, clashes against Dave Butlin and Ben Andrews failed to get over the line.

I accept the credentials a boxer needs to fight for an area title are not the same as in my day: back then – decades ago – seasoned pros competed for them and winning one put you within touching distance of a crack at the British.

In contrast, King has been elevated to championship class after three bouts and has never travelled beyond four rounds. He last fought almost a year ago, travelling home to Ghana and demolishing David Okai in one round.

That performance needs to be put into perspective.  According to fight directory BoxRec, Okai has lost 53 of 72 contests – 44 of them by stoppage. in this country, Okai’s licence would’ve been taken from him.

If the Collins clash goes ahead, Ben, who has lost only one of seven, will start a warm favourite. He’s a well schooled prospect with a large following.

Ryan Griffiths…seasoned campaigner. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

Dudley’s Ryan Griffiths IS a seasoned, tough pro with bags of experience over the championship distance. The Board want Ryan to make a third defence of his Midlands featherweight title, this time against Northampton’s Yousuf Ibrahim, who has lost one of 10.

Ryan, after competing on boxing’s big stage, would be forgiven for being less than enthusiastic, but insisted: “I respect every fighter, I respect Yousuf – he’s creating his own path.

“The Board think it would be a good fight. If Errol (Errol Johnson, manager and boss of BCB Promotions) wants to make the fight and thinks it’s a good fight to make, so be it. If Errol has other plans for me, he has other plans for me. Errol’s the boss, he tells me who I fight.”

Griffiths, aged 25, has won eight and drawn three of 14. He took the Midlands title in a thriller with Lewis Morris and drew with the Walsall boxer in a return. Ryan has lost his last two contests, both against red hot prospects, both on televised arena bill. Nelson Birchall beat him for the English title, many thought he should’ve had his hand raised after eight rounds with Codie Smith.

Griffiths added: “I’d even be open to a Lewis Morris trilogy, but it would have to come with conditions. I’d want it for at least an English title and this time I’d want it at home, at Dudley Town Hall. Again, it’s down to the boss.”