Benjamin back for major title tilt

AFTER close to a year away, Kaisee Benjamin is back.

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The thunderous punching super-lightweight returns on a big show with a major title on the line.

The Birmingham 29-year-old will face unbeaten home favourite Kieran Molloy on GBM's title-laden bill at Pearse Stadium, Galway, Ireland on June 28. At stake will be the WBA European belt up at welter.

It's a very significant night for Benjamin’s Eastside gym. Shakan Pitters will face Bradley Rea for the EBU light-heavyweight crown on the same stacked card.

For Benjamin, it is a golden opportunity to again hit the dizzy heights, but a loss could forever bury his ambition to feature in major contests for major money.

In that sense, it may be the last roll of the dice.

And what an opportunity. He is headlining a huge event, streamed by DAZN, against an Irishman with a huge following. Molloy is unbeaten in 11, but has never travelled the championship course.

Eastside trainer Paul "Soggy" Counihan said: "You are getting great money, you are headlining, if you win you're back in the big league, you're where you should have been. What more do you want?"

As a fighter, Benjamin remains a puzzle. He appears to possess everything needed to be a dominant champ - knockout punch in both hands, lightning reflexes, good engine and granite chin.

On his day, he is a formidable fighting package. He showed that with a string of stunning televised stoppage wins. He showed that in giving superb, world-rated champion Dalton Smith a hard, close fight for the British 10 stone title.

The issue is, Kaisee can run hot and cold. He has appeared to coast in some fights, failing to find another gear when needed - and it has proved costly.