Morris kicks off big fight bonanza at Richie Carter gym
Lewis Morris…big test on Saturday. Pic: MSN Images/BCB Promotions
THINGS are certainly buzzing at Richie Carter’s Wolverhampton gym, with a list of top bouts lined-up.
It’s positively raining big fights in the Black Country sweatshop.
Tomorrow (Friday) unbeaten super-bantam Gully Powar headlines at The Hangar, in his home city of Wolverhampton.
On Saturday, Walsall feather Lewis Morris makes his big arena debut. He meets Joe McGrail on Matchroom’s major Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, show topped by the light-welterweight showdown between Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis.
On November 2, Wolverhampton’s Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards meets former WBO European welter champ Eithan James on the huge November 2 Resorts World show, promoted by Queensberry. Headlining the bill is Liam Davies’ world IBO super-bantam defence against Shabaz Masoud.
Then, on November 28, Richie’s super-middle Ollie Cooper bids to take the Midlands title from Liam O’Hare. That superb showdown takes place at the Excelsior Sporting Club in Ollie’s hometown, Cannock.
Carter, with his fighters signed to BCB Promotions, is basking in a boomtime. And the former fine pro deserves success: he’s a decent bloke who sees press criticism for what it is – honest opinion rather than a personal slight.
And he’s done it by sticking to the traditional blueprint. “You’ve got to run and every fighter hates running,” said the 53-year-old. “I’m old school – at least five days a week, six or eight miles depending on how many rounds you are going to do. As long as they’ve got the minerals, you can make a fighter out of an athlete.”
Powar, unbeaten in 10 – I’m confident it’ll be 11 after tomorrow night, has already featured on TV shows and has a massive global Sikh following.
Cooper is unbeaten in eight and has his breakthrough fight next month.
Richard Carter with Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards
Both Osbourne-Edwards, a former Midlands champ who has won all 11 contests, and Morris, with two losses in 10, now have the big stage they crave. And both are confident of springing an upset.
Morris, aged 22, will begin a prohibitive underdog against Liverpool’s McGrail, unbeaten in 10, five of those coming inside distance. He’s the brother of former stellar amateur and Olympian Peter McGrail, destined for equally big things as a professional.
The 10 rounder was scheduled to take place in August, but the show was scrubbed.
Lewis, by day a sports teacher at a Midlands prison, is coming off a loss. In March, he dropped a thrilling points decision to Black Country rival Ryan Griffiths with the Midlands 9st belt at stake.
The other came over four rounds against Tatenda Mangombe, a Zimbabwean live-wire whose style is more eccentric than unorthodox. Carter felt Lewis won, I didn’t: For me, Morris didn’t throw enough punches.
Defeat has not dented Morris’ confidence. He has gone the 10 round distance before, McGrail has not.
He told me: “Records mean nothing to me. Records are for DJs. I know the reasons why I lost the fights, I know what I need to do to win. I’m 22, I’ve got plenty of time.
“Tyler Denny (former European middleweight champ) lost two fights early on. I believe I’m going to shock people, I know I can go very far and I believe I can push on.
“I’ve sparred top kids and I’m hitting harder. I was waiting for that man strength to come and it’s coming.”
The Carter title charge begins on Saturday. And by the time it’s finished, the city’s famous old gold and black colours may become the symbol of another sport besides football.
Make no mistake, Black Country pro boxing is enjoying a bonanza.