Lewis scoops derby clash on big TV bill

Howells talks to me after one of his pro victories

LEWIS Howells, the former fine Welsh amateur now settled in Shakespeare country, has bagged a very good fight on a major televised show.

And it’s the first professional outing back in his home country.

Lewis, who paints road markings as a day job, will face Kyran Jones, a southpaw he knows well from his days with the amateur squad, on Boxxer’s major May 11 bill at the Utilita Arena, Cardiff. The show is topped by Lauren Price.

It’s a local derby. Both Howells and Jones are Newport lads. They get on well, 26-year-old Howells stressed. There’s no bad blood.

The match is made over six rounds, yet has the ingredients for a Welsh super-middleweight title eliminator.

Make no mistake, it’s a big step-up for Howells and he’ll start as an underdog. He’s won all three pro bouts on points and has not gone beyond four rounds. What’s more, he’s dropped rounds in all of those outings.

But he has an impressive amateur foundation, taking part in 70 bouts, lifting a national title and boxing internationally.

In fact, he and wife Molly Perkins – a talented female fighter – met while on international training duty and he followed her to Warwickshire.

Mind you, Jones, unbeaten in nine, is also upping the ante. He’s learned the ropes against journeyman and has yet to face an opponent with real ambition.

The pair sparred many rounds together when with the Welsh set-up. Neither Howells, who trains at Derek Fitzpatrick’s Leamington gym, or Derek are revealing details about those behind-closed-doors rounds, but Lewis has evidently been encouraged by them.

The fight has given Howells, billed out of Stratford-upon-Avon, the incentive he needs. Word is he is now training like a Trojan. I don’t believe he’s shown that level of commitment in the past.

Howells has allowed his weight to rise and discipline has wavered. As a result, Lewis has fought as heavy as light-heavy, yet looks a middle. He gave the impression of a man dipping in and out of this unforgiving sport.

In fairness, there’s good reason for the Welshman’s near year away from the ring. He took time out following the birth of he and wife Molly’s third child, then a broken ankle stalled comeback plans.

“This is the carrot he needed to be dangled,” trainer Fitzpatrick said of the clash with Jones. “I’m really, really happy with him, I’m excited at what I’m seeing.

“He’s capable of a win in this one. I don’t like using the word ‘training camp’ , it’s mis-used – more often than not it means someone’s just been in the gym for a length of time.  But this is actually the first time we’ve been able to have a good look and train specifically for an opponent.”

Fitzpatrick ended: “Talent and potential wise, Lewis is the best I’ve worked with. He’s a very, very talented, intelligent boxer and he has a very high ring IQ.”

Howells said: “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.”