Howells is back and burning for big fights

Lewis Howells has Jackson Osagie covering up

LEWIS Howells, Warwickshire’s adopted Welsh warrior, is back in the gym – and burning with ambition.

The middleweight, trained by Derek Fitzpatrick at his Leamington sweatshop and unbeaten in three, took time out following the birth a daughter – he and wife Molly’s third.

Then a broken ankle pushed his planned return further back.

The 26-year-old, who last fought 10 months ago, is now healthy and training twice a day for a planned bout in May.

“I want to get going,” said Howells, who is billed out of Stratford-upon-Avon. “I know time isn’t on my side and I’ve got to take chances.

“In a way, the injury did me a bit of good. It gave me time to relax and come back more committed.”

Commitment – the true 24 hour unswerving commitment needed by top pros – is something those within the game say has been missing from Howells’ game.

He has the toughness and skill, but does he have the focus, the tunnel vision to fulfil his potential? In one candid moment during a previous interview, he told me: “I’ve never dieted for a fight in my life.”

Lewis plans to be back at super-middle (12st), has fought as high as light-heavy and there are those who believe his best championship weight is light-middle (11st).

He certainly has the amateur pedigree. Lewis had over 70 unpaid bouts, represented Wales and gained a national title.

And trainer Fitzpatrick speaks glowingly of his natural ability. The Welshman has won his three pro contest – all over the apprentice four round distance – on points. He has yet to register a 40-36 whitewash.

“I think I was a bit over-confident in myself starting off,” Howells admitted, “having come from the Welsh set-up.”

Manager Jon Pegg has matched Howells competitively. Second opponent Mitchell Woollard was also an unbeaten newcomer and last time Lewis punched out a points decision over big hitting Jackson Osagie – a full blown light-heavyweight.

Howells is critical of both performances.

Of the Woollard win, he told me: “It was terrible, I don’t think I’ve ever performed that badly. I felt embarrassed. If they’d scored it a draw, I wouldn’t have argued.”

Of Osagie, he said: “I had the skill to outbox him, but got hit when I didn’t have to get hit.”

In fairness to the fighter, he is attempted to carve a career a long way from his fanbase in his hometown of Newport South Wales. He and partner Molly Perkins, a former top amateur – they met during GB training in Sheffield – moved to Warwick where Molly’s parents live.

And Howells has a demanding day job. He paints white lines on roads.

He is training like never before with a target in mind. Howells would love to fight fellow Welshman Kyran Jones, unbeaten in nine, on Boxxer’s big May 11 Cardiff bill – and he’s already put out feelers.

“I see he’s my weight,” Lewis said. “We were both in the Welsh set-up and sparred loads of rounds. I know he’s got more (pro) experience, but I’d like to see how that one goes.”

Howells believes he has the tools to reach the top.

“I have the speed, range, boxing ability and I can mix it up,” he said. “I don’t want to look beyond a British title, but I think I can win a British title.”

It’s just a question of making sure those tools stay sharp.