Busy night ahead for coach Carter’s lads

Carter with Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards who is on Hangar bill

BUSY night ahead for Richie Carter’s bustling Wolverhampton gym.

Three of his fighters – Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards, Lewis Morris and Sonny Clarke – appear on BCB’s December 3 show at The Hangar in the city.

For Clarke, on the border of heavy and cruiser at around 15-and-a-half stone, it’s a pro baptism.

The 21-year-old, nephew of former world title challenger Howard Clarke, is certainly an all-round athlete. As a child, Sonny won the British jujutsu title three times on the trot. As a footballer, he was good enough to be signed-up by Norwich and when the soccer dream failed to become a reality, Sonny turned to boxing.

But his amateur career was restricted to four bouts. Therefore, Sonny, based in Wednesfield, is learning on the job. I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings to the table.

Carter said: “Sonny just needs experience. He’s technically good, strong and has the power, he just needs the experience.”

Southpaw Jermaine, a man placed on the straight and narrow by boxing, is easing back from a hand injury that cost him a shot at the Midlands light-welter title. He’s a remarkably young 34, but time is still not on his side.

“We’ll see how Jimmy’s hand holds up,” said Carter. “If he wins, that’s nine in a row and we’ll press straight on for title shots.

Walsall feather Morris is coming off an impressive stoppage victory over Ricky Starkey at the Hangar in September. The statement was needed: in the bout before that, Lewis lost his unbeaten record on points to Tatenda Mangombe. He’s now won seven of eight.

Carter said: “We’re looking for a six rounder for Lewis, then push for titles. I thought he beat Mangombe who threw a lot of punches but didn’t really land anything. And they were cuffing punches.

“What that performance did, though, was make Lewis think, ‘you have to work harder’ – and he did that in abundance in his last fight.”