On Saturday night Stoke Newington’s Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng retained his English Light Middleweight title in emphatic style, on the undercard of Carl Froch versus Lucian Bute IBF World Super Middleweight title clash in Nottingham.
Erick’s first defense of the title he won back in January, via a ninth round retirement by then opponent Nick Quigley, was against local ‘Masters’ title holder AA Lowe.
Erick took a laid back approach to the bout, preferring to box of the back foot and pick his punches, and boy did he pick them in style on his way to securing a virtual shut out points victory.
Judge Terry O’Connor clearly felt that Erick reigned supreme, scoring every round in Erick’s favour (100-90), judge Steve Gray didn’t see it much different, only scoring one round in favour of AA Lowe (99-91) and judge Howard Foster scored only two rounds in favour of Erick’s challenger (98-92).
Last night Erick returned victorious to his ‘home’ gym, the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, where he spoke about the excellent victory and his future aspirations. “First of all I want to give thanks to Jesus Christ for the victory.
Yeah, the fight, I came out quick, nice and relaxed. I was using my jab, most of my punches were one-two, one-two-three, but mostly using the jab and catching him all the time and I was making him miss.
The thing is I could have changed gear, my speed, and finished things early but I was relaxed.
Around round seven or eight I caught him with a right hook, straight right hand, left hook combination and rocked him a bit, but I took my foot of the gas and used my jab.
Yeah it was a comfortable win, one of the judges gave me all the rounds and two of the judges gave me all but two rounds.
I think one of them was the last round, I was just taking my time and enjoying myself. It was a big venue, it was incredible.
A big thanks to my supporters, all I could hear was Eagle, Eagle, Eagle all through the fight, yeah it was an awesome night.”
Erick then turned his attention to the headlining bout, in which fellow Matchroom Sport promoted Carl Froch comprehensively beat former Champion Lucian Bute to become a three time World Champion. “ It was an awesome fight. Carl Froch took the fight to Bute, Bute didn’t know what hit him and before he knew the fight was over.
Carl’s now a three time World Champion, without doubt making him our most successful boxer.
The whole night was electrifying, every punch Carl threw had the crowd cheering. He was incredible, it was an awesome night.”
Before returning to his fight and his future aspirations. “Fighting on such a big event in front of such a huge crowd made me so excited, I liked the environment, the big crowd and everyone chanting my name.
It’s just a matter of time, because this is where I see myself in the future. I had a photo taken of me with Carl Froch and the IBF belt, it looked good on me, I was wearing my red jacket and his IBF belt is red, so it’s yeah I’m going for the IBF.
Obviously my aim is to become World Champion and one of the titles will be the IBF, that or the WBC.
Hopefully I’ll be defending my title next on the undercard of ‘Special K’, Kell Brook’s, fight on the 7th July, obviously we’re still waiting for confirmation.
Then, God willing, by the end of the year I’ll be fighting for the British or Commonwealth title – It’s onwards and upwards.
I want to give a big thanks to all my fans, you’re fabulous. I want to give thanks to my sponsors, King Apparel, BoxFit, Glenn Insurance and Addison Lee, thank you guys for your support which I really appreciate and thank you Rio at the TRAD TKO.”
