Pure beef as Ibekwe unloads on Williams

Ibekwe lands a jarring uppercut. Picture: Inga Zulyte

BEST action of Anthony Manning’s show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, last night (Saturday) was served-up by heavyweights Simon Ibekwe and Phil Williams.

It was six rounds of pure, raw beef, with Redditch’s Ibekwe winning on a 60-54 whitewash on referee Chris Dean’s card.

I felt Bristol’s Williams took the first with clusters of punches to head and body. In those early exchanges he threatened to be a nuisance, but lacked the conditioning to sustain the pace needed for an upset win. He appeared to be blowing before the halfway mark.

Ibekwe, with “God 1st” emblazoned on his shorts, wanted to join the select band of fighters who have stopped dependable Williams, a veteran of over 60 bouts.

He tried, connecting with clubbing rights, but Phil is a very durable individual. He absorbed the big punches and verbally goaded Simon throughout.

“He’s a tough man,” Ibekwe conceded afterwards, “and he knows his way around the ring. I’m going as far as I can, I’m working every day towards perfection.”

Manager Manning said his heavyweight hope, now unbeaten in four, needed a distance fight. Before last night, he’d never been beyond four rounds.

“The plan was to get six rounds in the bank,” Manning said. “He was looking for certain shots, but they didn’t land tonight.

“Hopefully, he is on the way to titles. Simon’s name is definitely in the mix, he’s put everyone on notice.”

It was my first view of 28-year-old Ibekwe since his debut last year. At 17st 5lbs 1oz, I felt his work last night lacked the zip of that first outing and, at times, it looked a little laboured.

Williams appeared to have plenty of excess baggage at 18st 8lbs 8oz and Ibekwe worked his body relentlessly.

He was rocked by a right in the second and forced back by a succession of rights in the third, yet Williams spread his arms in a show of disdain and talked to Ibekwe. Simon simply plugged away, forced his opponent to the ropes and continued to slam heavy punches downstairs.

Ibekwe really opened the throttle in the last, a heavy left and right drawing a shout from Williams, whose gumshield was now stained with blood.

Simon kept hurling big shots until the final bell, but copped an eye-catching right. Williams had made him work for victory – as he has with many others - and Ibekwe will be a better fighter for the experience.