Berry body blitz too much for Georgian

Nyall Berry…now awaiting news of much bigger things

I IMAGINE Khvicha Gigolashvili, a bent nosed Georgian hardman, is spending today in some discomfort.

Sitting down will probably be problematic. Getting up more so.

For the 28-year-old’s flanks were positively tortured by a tattoo of heavy punches from Chelmsley Wood prospect Nyall Berry.

For every minute of their six-rounder at Cannock’s new Excelsior Club, Berry drove hooks to Gigolashvili’s ribs. They were forcibly delivered from both hands in two, four, even six punch combinations, the sound of leather against flesh resounding around the plush Premier Suite.

Such was the power, they brought back uncomfortable memories of my own hefty Sunday dinner, a good four days ago.

Somehow, Gigolashvili took them and survived to the final bell, losing every round, 60-54 on referee Pete McCormack’s card.

The man’s sheer grit has to be admired. Many others would’ve bailed out, Gigolashvili, blood pouring from his nose, grimly endured the torment until its inevitable conclusion.

I’m still not sure how. The pull in weight helped: Gigolashvili has campaigned at lightweight. But I was left with the impression the man must have steel plates for a ribcage.

Gigolashvili’s record illustrates the man’s toughness. He’s only been stopped 12 times in 81 bouts. And he can bang when given the opportunity, with nine of his 19 victories coming inside distance.

Berry (9st 2lbs) never gave him the opportunity.

Nyall, a featherweight, lived up to his “Non Stop” nickname as he peeled off his seventh straight win (three by stoppage).

He’d slam hooks to the body, then slip under Gigolashvili’s flailing attempts to return fire and drill home right hands to the face.

That was the story of the fight. Berry threw, Gigolashvili (9st 7lbs) caught. He caught a particularly sickening right hand in the sixth.

Berry, one of the country’s most exciting prospects, told me afterwards: “I was very pleased. Of course, everyone likes to get the KO, but I needed the rounds.”

Nyall gives the impression of a young man itching for bigger things – and the opportunities will, surely, arise.

Fellow prospect Lewis Morris, from Walsall, has expressed a desire to face Berry for the Midlands featherweight title, but has only one six rounder on his CV. Understandably, he wants more experience over the longer distance.

He and Berry would be a very big fight for the West Midlands.

Berry said: “He said that and he said it to a journalist. I’d take it, but I’m not hanging around. If it (a Midlands title fight) doesn’t happen by the end of the year, we’ll take a different route.”