Morris: ‘I would love to fight Berry with English title on line’

Lewis Morris…”I just can’t get a fight”. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

“I JUST can’t get a fight,” Lewis Morris lamented after revealing a proposed May 17 clash with Welsh prospect Brendon Scott had fallen through.

The Walsall featherweight has a point. He and Scott were scheduled to meet before, but it went south for reasons out of Morris’ control.

He was meant to face Mansfield’s unbeaten Nico Leivars in January, but that, too, fell by the wayside.

The 23-year-old’s frustration is understandable. He arrived on the big stage last October with a superb stand against vaunted puncher Joe McGrail. On a major televised Matchroom bill, Morris – predicted by many to be cannon-fodder – turned the walkover into a war. He gave McGrail his toughest battle.

He made Liverpool’s McGrail dig deep with a performance that deserves more arena paydays. For Morris, that was a “coming of age” fight – he showed his worth.

Lewis – one of the game’s true nice guys – has failed to capitalise through no fault of his own and today admitted: “My next fight will probably be a local fight.”

In other words, the banquet of a televised big show will be replaced by a bread-and-butter outing.

You have to feel for Morris, a thorough gentleman outside the ropes – “the lad doesn’t even swear,” Wolverhampton trainer Richard Carter confided.

“I’ve been in the gym for six months,” Lewis said, “which is the way it should be, but with all the sparring. I’ve actually been in camp for six months.

“I need to get a win on local show, I’ve been too long out, not through my own fault.”

Morris is a good fighter – and showed that last year in a thrilling 10 rounder with BCB stablemate Ryan Griffiths for the Midlands featherweight title. He dropped a close decision to his Dudley rival, a re-match was talked about but appears less of a possibility with each passing month.

Griffiths will defend his belt against Jack Dillingham in June.

There is a title fight Lewis wants – and it’s a blockbuster that makes sense. Morris isn’t the kind of boxer who calls people out, but puts forward a compelling argument for a crack at Nyall Berry’s super-bantamweight title.

That’s a Midlands sell-out mega fight and with the Birmingham champion’s links to a major promotional outfit, it could take place on a high-profile out-of-town show or on a bill staged by BCB or Berry’s manager Jon Pegg or Scott Murray.

“If I could get back with a win, I would love that fight,” Morris said. “But I understand I need a win or two. I’m not yet in a position to fight him.”

“I am a super-bantamweight,” he stressed.

There is a degree of history between the pair – and Berry is no doubt uttering expletives as he reads this.

Back in 2023, the Board of Control called on Berry and Morris to meet for the vacant Midlands featherweight title, only for Lewis’ team to turn down the opportunity.

Nyall didn’t take it well, telling me: “I’m gutted, to be honest. That would’ve been a good fight, I’ve always wanted to fight Lewis. He said he wanted to fight me.”

In a fit of pique, Berry posted a duck emoji on Richard Carter’s social media platform. The message was clear: “He’s ducking me.”

“No one was ducking anyone,” Morris said. “The fight had to be made and it wasn’t made.”

But he admitted: “Back then I’d had six fights, I was still a baby (in the sport), I hadn’t got my man strength. Now I’ve had 11 fights, I’ve faced good lads, I’m ready for anything.”

He’s ready for Berry.

Both BCB boss Errol Johnson and Jon Pegg may have misgivings. But Scott Murray – a new face on the promotional circuit, full of energy and fire – should see the contest for what it is. A Midlands super-fight.