Landslide points win for all-action Powar

Powar has his hands raised in victory over Richards. Pic: Jack Perry

FOR six rounds of savagery, Gully Powar – a study in violent perpetual motion – unleashed a steady stream of combinations on Liam Richards.

For six one-sided rounds, Richards, a veteran journeyman with over 100 fights to his name, withstood the storm of leather.

The man is tough as boot leather, an expert in the arts of survival. Liam could possibly spoil and fiddle his way to points defeat over Tyson Fury in a four rounder.

He is something of a ring clown prince, usually grinning, gurning and showboating his way to survival.

In the face of the storm whipped-up by Powar, he was forced to be serious throughout. That’s quite a compliment paid to the Whitmore Rean’s whirlwind.

Drummers heralded Gully’s arrival into the ring at the Hangar, Wolverhampton, last night (Friday). Once they’d stopped, the Wolverhampton favourite continued the beat on Richards’ head and torso.

At the final bell, the scoreline was academic – an obvious 60-54 landslide to Powar, who registered his fifth straight victory as a pro.

So, too, is a round-by-round assessment. It was a case of Gully pitching, Richards (9st 12lbs 8oz) catching. In that respect, it mirrored the pair’s first meeting in March, over the apprentice four-round distance.

We discovered Gully (9st 10lbs 7oz), taking part in his first six rounder, can keep up a near incredible pace over the longer haul. He possesses a truly phenomenal engine.

Trainer Richie Carter says the super-bantam near lives in the gym. It shows.

Powar, a 20-year-old who enjoys big support, relentlessly worked the body, sometimes even doubling left hooks to Richards’ side.

Gully Powar receives applause after his first six rounder

One right hand in the second landed with a loud thud, a heavy left in the same session brought a smile of bravado from the busy journeyman.

Another wicked left to the body clearly registered in the fifth and Richards was caught flush while pinned in a corner in the final session.

Still, he would not buckle.

In his dressing room afterwards, Richards said: “He’s relentless.”

That an understatement.

“He got me with some body shots that tickled,” he grinned. “He caught me with a good body shot in the fourth and fifth, but didn’t follow-up.

“I’m not being disrespectful, but he needs to think about his boxing a bit more. At times he was loading up massively and I knew what was coming next.”

Carter, a fine coach, readily admits Powar is a work in progress.

Gully is a young boxer who burns with ambition.

He said: “I can do that for 10 rounds. The opponent was named late and I had to put weight on.

“Two more six rounders and I’ll be ready to fight for the English title at super-bantam.”

He added: “I study Roberto Duran. I’m bringing the old school styles, traditions and hunger back to boxing.”