Bedford’s next big boxing sensation, Michael Stephenson secured his eighth win in nine professional fights with a dominant victory over Andy Owen to claim the vacant Midlands light-heavyweight title on Friday night.
The 29-year old was the aggressor from the off against Owen, throwing many more punches and he was rewarded with a 99-92 points decision after ten gruelling rounds at The Hangar in Wolverhampton.
Relentless Stephenson wares Owen down
The bout – shown live on BBC iPlayer on Friday night – was the biggest of Stephenson’s short career so far but he showed the wisdom and experience of a seasoned fighter to claim the vacant Midlands area belt.
The first three minutes saw both fighter’s feel each other out but Stephenson began to work over the 35-year old Andy Owen from the second round onwards, breaking down his opponent slowly but surely in a clinical performance from the Bedford man.
Despite nursing a bloody nose from the third round, Stephenson’s array of body shots hurt Owen throughout the fight and it was too much for the home contender to deal with.
Owen expanded in the closing stages, sensing he would need a knockout to win the fight, but Stephenson closed out the ten rounds in expert fashion and with great stamina.
“A great example of how to box”
The BBC commentary team were full of praise for both fighters, calling the bout an “enthralling contest”, but come the bell at the end of the tenth and final round, Stephenson jumped on to the ropes to celebrate, knowing he’d done enough.
In a display that was, “a great example of how to box”, Stephenson didn’t land many huge blows to his opponent but a constant stream of powerful body shots did the majority of the damage throughout the ten rounds and Owen did not have the power to battle back.
Speaking to FightZone after the bout, Stephenson was understandably delighted and promised there were, “bigger and better things to come”.
“Andy was a tough opponent. The game plan was to attack the body and break him down and I’m heavy handed and hurt him a few times.
“I can do anything. As you saw tonight, I can stick at it, I can fight on the outside or on the back foot. I can stick it in or box forward. Bring anyone, super middleweight or light heavyweight, I’m here!”
And the new…
Stephenson also said he knew who he wanted to face next without giving a name, but his sights are now set on a national title and with eight wins from nine professional fights, his stock in the world of boxing is rising.
With the experienced head of James Conway in his corner, the potential for Stephenson to rise through the rankings is high but he is determined to enjoy Friday’s success before moving on to the bigger and better things he has promised.
