Gurung’s an exciting addition to pro game

Minaaz Gurung with Hallett after his successful debut. Pic: Jack Perry

MINAAZ Gurung – Britain’s only pro of Napalese heritage – finally made his bow at Coventry’s Sports Connexion bill last night following a frustrating delay through eye problems.

The 21-year-old was understandably a little too eager to please against Canning Town’s Lee Hallett, a veteran of over 70 bouts (one win). But he won beyond argument after four entertaining rounds, 40-37 on referee Ryan Churchill’s card.

He is very much a work in progress.

Opening promoter Tommy Owens’ card, he threw hooks too wide and wild at times. Mr Churchill presumably gave southpaw Hallett (10st 3lbs 1oz) a share of the second when Nuneaton’s Gurung was caught by three right hooks and a straight left down the pipe.

But Gurung (9st 13lbs 3oz), whose grandfather was a Gurkha, kept ploughing forward and forcing the action.

Afterwards, he told me: “Lee Hallett told me I’ve got power, but he could see the punches coming a mile away.

“I think I was trying too hard for a KO and loading up my shots. There’s work to be done and I want to be out again next month.”

He started brightly, jabbing smartly and connecting with one eye-catching right hand. The second was a warning for the newcomer. Gurung introduced arcing hooks and was caught by counters. My notes for the session read: “Needs to settle down.”

Hallett definitely felt a right in the third. Gurung forced himself forward in the last, shrugged off a couple of precise counters and finished on the front foot.

The Minaaz show is now on the road and, judging from his debut, it looks like being an exciting journey.