Wright is ready to take on Olusegun
Jun 12 2009 by Steve Brown, The Journal
WHEN Gus Robinson arranged for Nigel Benn to fight Sugar Boy Malinga at the then Telewest Arena in March 1996, it was the first occasion in the modern era that the North East had played host to big-time boxing.
After Bishop Auckland-born Nigel Wright takes on Commonwealth light welterweight champion Ajose Olusegun at Liverpool Olympia tonight, Robinson means to continue the trend he began.
Olusegun is unbeaten in 26 bouts and boasts 13 knockouts, so Wright – beaten by the Nigerian 16 months ago – retains a healthy respect for his foe.
But the 29-year-old southpaw, an amateur champion in his youth and twice former British title-holder (the vacant title is also up for grabs tonight), has 20 wins in 26 fights himself, including nine knock downs, and after leaving, as his manager Robinson put it, “no stone unturned” during the build-up, is “quietly confident”.
Yesterday, he weighed in at 139.6lbs, Olusegun at 139.9.
Tomorrow, Robinson believes he will begin preparing Wright’s first defence of his crown at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, where he works as a lifeguard and thereafter, he anticipates sufficient success for and interest in the boxer, who lives in Crook, to predict a return to the big-time in Newcastle.
“He’s got an excellent chance,” Robinson said. “Ajose Olusegun is a first-class fighter, with 26 wins and 13 knockouts. He’s Commonwealth champion, a Nigerian, and Nigeria produce pretty decent boxers.
“But Nigel is a two-times champion himself. The record books say he’s lost five times but in my opinion all but one of those decisions against him were wrong.
“If he wins, his first defence would be at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, where he works. But if he won that too, I think his popularity would be sufficient to take him to Newcastle for the next one.
“It’s for the Commonwealth title and the vacant British title, so if he wins he’ll get a rating in the top 10.
“He’s a gentleman, so he’s got a lot of respect for Olusegun, but he’s confident. Quietly confident.”
Robinson added: “We’ve had him staying in Hartlepool for the past fortnight, so he’s done a lot more road work than he has in the past. His gym work has been the same, that’s always been good but we’ve upped his road work and treated the champion with the respect he deserves.
“He fought Olusegun early last year and lost a tight bout. Olusegun’s an intelligent guy so he knows it won’t be easy.
“They’re both in excellent shape, and both came in just inside the 140lb limit at the weigh-in on Thursday. We know Olusegun, we’ve studied the tapes and left no stone unturned in our preparations.”
