Lewis is unpolished diamond, says coach

Lewis Howells...back in action next month in Coventry

LEWIS Howells, the Welsh warrior carving a pro career in Warwick, returns to action next month following his first loss.

The 27-year-old middleweight picks up the pieces on September 28 with what should be a routine four or six rounder at Coventry Sports Connexion.

It’s a sensible return to arms for Lewis, a former international amateur who fought the best.

Last time out, in May, he and Leamington trainer Derek Fitzpatrick rolled the dice by facing highly touted fellow Welsh prospect Kyran Jones on a massive TV show in Cardiff.

The pair had sparred many rounds while members of their country’s amateur squad and those gym sessions gave Howells, unbeaten in three going into the contest, confidence.

Yet it was Jones who showed he’s nudged ahead in the paid game by taking a clear six rounds decision. Howells, from Newport before relocating with his wife to Shakespeare country, wasn’t disgraced, but clearly beaten.

Lewis’ honesty makes him an immensely likeable individual. While other fighters tell me they’ll be British champs, at the very least, he’s quick to criticise his own performances. And those telling me they’re going to shock the world don’t possess Howells’ amateur pedigree.

In a boxing world awash with bull and hype, that’s refreshing.

Very good judges on the local fight circuit – even those connected to the boxer - have repeatedly told me what Lewis is capable of achieving.

That’s telling. In this unforgiving game, there’s a sizeable gap between “will be” and “could be”. The two phrases are separated by commitment.

And, in my opinion, there’s sufficient evidence to question whether Lewis possesses the all-consuming, round-the-clock, selfish commitment champions need.

Frankly, I don’t know how boxers with young families do it.

There’s no doubt Lewis’ career has been hindered by family commitments – the father of three took time off after his wife gave birth – injury and illness.

But he’s allowed weight to wander and drifted in and out of the gym.

Derek Fitzpatrick admitted: “I think the loss to Kyran Jones brought home some realism. The last time he crossed swords with Kyran was eight years ago and since they last crossed swords Kyran has lived the life.

“Lewis put in a solid eight weeks training camp for that fight. I equate it to eight weeks of seriousness against eight years of seriousness.

“He did fall short, he did lose, no arguments about that. But his talent was evident, he showed he was able of competing at that level.

“He didn’t look out of place. More continuity, more activity, more attention and there is a challenger there.

“Hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard.

“He does things in the gym that are flashes of brilliance, he’s an unpolished diamond. I see other pros spar, Lewis does things and you think, ‘wow’.”

But Derek understands his fighter’s dilemma. He’s prepared to cut the Welshman some slack.

“As a competitive coach, it’s frustrating to a point,” he said. “As a human being it’s understandable. Lewis is a hard working young man with a young family who he needs to provide for. He hasn’t got a big following here, he hasn’t got big sponsorship. He has to prioritise and do what’s the most important for his family.

“In the small halls, the lads are not fighting for money. They are fighting for the million dollar buzz of getting their hands raised, which very people few get to experience.”

Lewis’ future lies in the away corner – and there he’ll make his name, Derek insisted.

He added: “We want competitive away days, we’re not looking at the journeyman route. We’re still very ambitious and it’s a matter of negotiating and overcoming every hurdle that presents itself.”