LONDON – Derrick Osaze has insisted that he is not just a stepping stone for the rising Jimmy Sains ahead of Saturday’s contest at London’s Copperbox Arena.
The 11-0 (10 KOs) Sains has looked a promising middleweight since making the switch to the professional ranks. Sains collected the English title in his previous bout in October against Troy Coleman, stopping him inside four rounds. Sains has now been pitted with the experienced Derrick Osaze, who fought his stablemate George Liddard in his last contest, losing a close decision. Liddard has gone on to lift the British middleweight crown since then, and will top Saturday’s bill against Tyler Denny, against whom Osaze also lost a decision in 2021.
“That's up to them to view how they want to view it. I know that I'm way more than just a test or a stepping stone,” Osaze, 13-3 (3 KOs), told BoxingScene. “I'm not a gatekeeper. All those terminologies that they have to throw out to promote the fight, that's cool for them, but the proof will be in the pudding on Saturday. I think, going back to the last fight [against George Liddard], I think a lot hasn't been made out about that fight. They say it was a tough fight, but I think it was a hard night's work for Liddard. There were some people that said that they thought I nicked it. “I'm comparing how I was going into that fight to this fight and it's a bit crazy. So it's going to be mad. That's why I haven't got much to say right now. I just want to let my hands go and that's it.”
A win over Sains could help set up a rematch for a shot at Liddard’s British title.
“100 per cent [I’d want that fight], but for me, I don't look past this fight,” Osaze said. “That's why when I was asked on stage about what's the plan after this, it's like you learn, you get experience. You can never look beyond this fight. So for me, once I get this one out of the way, then we crack on with whatever comes next. But I ain't afraid to fight no one and I think that showed because I step into these fights very willingly. A lot of people wouldn't take these fights. So if that's anything to go by, when we get this one out of the way, whatever comes next.”
