Gully: I will become a legend like Duran

Gully Powar…a young man not lacking in confidence

IN half-a-century of covering boxing, I can’t recall interviewing a fighter with such unwavering self-belief, forged so early in his career, as Gully Powar.

Many prospects have made grandiose claims about what the future holds and I’ve been left thinking, they’re merely playing to the gallery or kidding themselves.

But Wolverhampton’s Powar believes, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he is destined for ring immortality.

The 20-year-old is certain he will be remembered as one of Britain’s greatest ever boxers.

To use his words, he will “100 per cent be a legend”, on a par with Roberto Duran, his idol. His name will be mentioned in the same breath as Fists of Stone, Canelo Alvarez and Floyd Mayweather.

During our interview, my eyebrows involuntarily raised as Gully listed future achievements.

Coach Richie Carter had told me Powar is something special. But Roberto Duran special?

Powar, from Whitmore Reans, is unbeaten in four contests, all scheduled for the apprentice four round distance. He is a veritable human buzzsaw, slinging punches non-stop.

He possesses an exciting, all action style and has a huge Punjabi following. Last time out, in April in his home city, Gully hit tough Mexican Hector Avila Lozano with everything bar the kitchen sink and some of those left hooks to the body resounded around the arena. Somehow, Lozano survived to hear the final bell.

He has yet to lose a competitive round. Gully enters the ring accompanied by drummers then beats a steady rhythm on opponents. That’s been the one-sided nature of his battles to date.

For a journalist, an audience with Powar is something of a roller-coaster ride, with sentences spat out at machine gun speed. He is not a young man who believes in hiding his light under a bushel.

“I’ll be fighting again in mid-July and going up to six rounds,” he said. “I want to take them (opponents) into deep waters, I’ve done all the learning rounds.

“The title fights will be at super-bantam – I’ve been fighting at a higher weight because it’s been hard to get fights.”

Many are tipping Powar for big things, but not even his staunchest supporters are predicting their hero will emulate Duran…yet, anyway.

“I love the pressure,” said Gully. “The more pressure, the more I want to show myself. One hundred percent, I think I’m destined for greatness. I have it in me to be the next great, there with Canelo Alvarez and Duran. I have the same style as Duran. I’ve been compared to Duran, an old school fighter who likes to be in a war.”

Gully is now a full-time pro. Before pursuing ring greatness, he went into schools to help troubled youngsters through sporting activities.

“I’m now training two to three times a day,” he said. “I know what I’m capable of because I’ve sparred top names. When I fight, I think, ‘it’s my ring and I’m going to put on a show’. My mindset is, ‘I’m very strong and ready to put on a great show’.

“I’m going to clear that division (super-bantam) out in the near future. Another three fights and we’ll look at titles. I know I will win the Midlands title, 100 per cent.”

To date, Gully has pretty much fought the usual suspects – men with losing records, men whose priority is to hear the final bell.

“You’re not going to take those guys out,” he stressed. “I haven’t got my man strength yet and these guys are tough. The Mexican (Lozano) took all my shots and fair play to him. If you hit me, I get stronger.

“I’m the dark horse. I want to be that person who comes from nowhere and shows the world, the way greats do.”

To that end, Powar has added meditation to his training routine.

“I do a lot of mediation and breathwork,” he added. “I’m a very hyper person.”