By Ben Carey
Ajose Olusegun added the vacant British light-welterweight title to his Commonwealth crown by outworking and outspeeding a subdued Nigel Wright in their all-southpaw clash at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday night. Wright had previously given Olusegun problems early on before conceding a close unanimous points defeat when the pair met 18 months ago but this time the result was never in doubt. After twelve brisk rounds all three judges favoured Olusegun by 117-112, 117-111 and a far too close 116-113.
A more focused and purposeful Olusegun seized command of the contest from the outset, stepping in with the jab and following up with punches thrown in clusters. A fair number missed, and at times the Nigerian now settled in Finchley looked wild and wide open, but the circumspect Wright seldom capitalised.
With just two wins in his last six contests, Wright was handed a fortuitous opportunity to fight for the British title vacated by Paul McCloskey when Barry Morrison pulled out of his scheduled battle with Olusegun two weeks ago. However, the man from Crook was unable to match Olusegun’s handspeed or workrate and left it far too late to chance his arm as the contest drew to a close.
Sweeping hooks kept Wright on the back foot and Olusegun also worked well to the body on occasions, particularly in rounds four and five when Wright struggled to cope with Olusegun’s relentless attacks. Nigel in the main tucked up well and always looked like going the distance but offered little offensively with the exception of a double jab. Only a clash of heads in the final round momentarily disrupted the classy Olusegun’s rhythm.
Double champion Olusegun, now unbeaten in 27 fights (13 early), is desperate to step up in class having treaded water for far too long. At 29, the flashy Finchley man is more than ready for sterner tests than Wright can present him with. Whether the likes of Junior Witter or Amir Khan will be willing to oblige the largely avoided Olusegun remains to be seen, however.
