Birmingham’s Eastside gyms Kaisee Benjamin left it to late in his title challenge for the vacant IBF welterweight European title on the GBM sports promotions at York Hall Bethnal Green (24.5.24). Twenty-eight-year-old Benjamin was taking on English Super Lightweight champ Lucas Bellingall from Portsmouth (27) in the ten-round contest. Benjamin has an impressive record of eighteen wins and one draw out of Twenty-two fights with Bellingall also having an impressive record of seventeen wins out of nineteen contests. Benjamin weighed in ten stone seven with Bellingall coming in ten stone five with Bob Williams reffing.
Cagey first round by both fighters with Bellingall using his jab well, Benjamin got some good shots of his own nothing in it even round. Another cagey round in the second with both fighters not seeming to find their distance, not much in it with Benjamin just edging it. Better third round with Benjamin landing some nice backhand shots, Bellingall came back with some good shots of his own with Benjamin just edging it. Great body shot by Benjamin at the start of the fourth with Bellingall held on and then began to out work Benjamin and landed some good shot to nick the round. Benjamin looked to go to the body in the fifth landing some good shots but Bellingall returned fire and landed some good shots out working Benjamin again.
Bellingall pressed Benjamin in the sixth with Kaisee’s right eye beginning to swell, Bellingall banged in some good shots roughing Benjamin up who seemed very uncomfortable in there. Bellingall was growing in confidence in the seventh as Benjamin was drawn into a scrap as his right eye seemed to be closing. Benjamin landed a cracking right hand but would have to give this round to Bellingall with his work-rate. Benjamin tried to get back to his boxing in the eighth and got some good shots off, Bellingall continued to land nice combinations and rough Benjamin up winning the round. Bellingall continued his high pace boxing in the ninth landing some nice combinations as Benjamin just didn’t look himself with his right eye now closed and just seemed to be looking for one big shot to end the fight.
Benjamin came out strong in the final round and looked a completely different boxer as he stepped up the pace and let his hands go knocking Bellingall around the ring with great right and left hooks. Bellingall looked like he was going to fall but his gum shield came out and the ref gave him the time to get it put back in. Benjamin jumped on him straight on him as Bellingall fought back hard with Benjamin landing a cracking left hook and then a right hook putting Bellingall down. The ref counted and let him continue with nine seconds left with him seeing the round out.
Judge Jerome Lades and Marcus McDonnell scored it 96 to 93 Bellingball, with Grzegorzs having it 95 to 94 Bellingall, I had it the same.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Gutted for Kaisee Benjamin I have always backed him to calm bigger titles than the Midlands area. If I’m honest I knew Benjamin would start slow and work his way into the contest but Bellingall just outworked him in a lot of rounds which earned him them. I did think Benjamin would come on strong in the middle round but Benjamin did not look himself whether some had happened in the background or it was due to his eye closing but that did not seem like the Benjamin of old. We had to wait until the final round before we saw the Benjamin we all know and he was so close to ending it but Bellingall lost his gumshield giving him the break he needed to get through the round with the stoppage coming to late to make a real difference. I’m sure Kaisee will come again and with his team work his way back into British and European contention and when he does we get the best version of Kaisee Benjamin.
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