Derrick Osaze scooped the lions share of the £50,000 prize, and the golden robe, by defeating Grant Dennis in the final.
Dennis began well in the final, and the “go getter” was getting the better of the exchanges in the opening round. Osaze sensed that he had lost the first, and immediately stepped on the gas in the second, with a good right hand finding the mark. A single right landed for Dennis, but Osaze replied in kind with his own that seemed to get Dennis’ attention.
Osaze came out swinging in the last round, and a right uppercut took Dennis’ legs away from him, dropping him to the canvas. He was desperately fatigued, but showed bravery in going for big prize, still throwing his shots and trading with Osaze.
The knockdown was always going to be pivotal, and Osaze took the verdict, thankfully by two scores of 29-27 overruling a 28-28 verdict from Lee Cook.
Osaze’s route to the final saw him overcome the top two betting favourites. In the quarter finals, he overcame Tey Lynn Jones, dropping the former Southern Area Champion with a massive overhand right en route to a comfortable 29-27 win on all three cards. Jones also suffered a massive cut above his right eye, which would have most probably ended his night win or lose anyway.
He advanced to the semi finals, where he would meet the favourite for the tournament, Kieron Conway, who easily overcame Kaan Hawes by winning every round of their quarter final clash. Osaze again defied the odds by edging Conway out via split decision by a point on two cards, while Conway took the third by the same 29-28 tally.
Grant Dennis reached the final by first dropping and outscoring Joe Hurn, and then by defeating Sean Phillips, who scored the only stoppage win of the evening against Josh Groombridge. A monster right hand began the end in the very first round, and a follow up attack on a helpless Groombridge ended the contest.
Dennis v Phillips was the fight of the night, with both men visiting the canvas. Dennis scored a knockdown in the first with a right hand catching Philips as he came in. Phillips returned the favour in the third, two massive left hooks doing the damage. Dennis prevailed on the cards by virtue of his strong showing in the second.
