Osaze Wins Ultimate Boxxer

DERRICK OSAZE won the third Ultimate Boxxer tournament, a last-round knockdown earning him a majority verdict over Chatham’s Grant Dennis in the final.

- Simon Euan-Smith

A right uppercut had Dennis down in the third, and when referee Kieran McCann had completed the eight-count Osaze (Nottingham) was on to him at once – though he was warned for use of the forearm. Osaze took the verdict by two scores of 29-27 (Lee Every and Mark Bates) against a 28-28 card from Lee Cook.

Both got stuck in from the first bell, though Osaze was warned for a low blow in the first and Dennis was given time to recover. The second saw Osaze pressing and Dennis holding, though Dennis tried to counter as Osaze came in.

An Osaze attack had Dennis grabbing in the last, and then Osaze landed the right that put Dennis down and sealed the win. Venue was the Indigo at The O2, and Carl Greaves promoted.

Osaze had won his semi-final with a split decision over Northampton’s Kieron Conway, all scores reading 29-28 – Bates and McCann for Osaze, Cook for Conway. Every refereed.

Both slipped over in the first, and this got messy at times. Osaze pressured, Conway his back – Conway was bundled down in the third, and held when he was backed up against the ropes.

Maybe this is a flaw in the format, but I wondered if Conway’s terrific quarterfinal against Witham’s Kaan Hawes had taken something out of him.