Morris suffers shock defeat to Mangombe

Morris looks stunned as Mangombe has his hand raised

LEWIS Morris, unbeaten and tipped for a very bright future, tasted professional defeat for the first time on BCB’s Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, bill last night.

The Walsall feather was rough-housed and harried by unorthodox Tatenda Mangombe throughout the four rounder.

The points loss constitutes a significant upset. Lewis was unbeaten in six going into the fight, while the Zimbabwean had won only one of eight and been stopped twice.

Lewis coach, Richie Carter, questioned the decision, but it was the correct one on my card. Jamie Kirkpatrick’s 40-36 card – a whitewash for Mangombe – did seem a little harsh on the Black Country hope, however.

Morris, just 21, landed the cleaner shots and, for me, certainly took the second. He simply didn’t throw enough of them.

The result underlines the perils of four round contests. Another two rounds and Lewis would’ve found a solution to the problem before him.

But the apprentice distance denies a boxer the luxury of patience. There came a point when Morris, who possesses textbook skills, had to fight fire with fire, yet he looked to land precise counters.

And, let’s be honest, Chatham based Mangombe was a total nightmare. The man breaks every rule in boxing’s textbook, swinging shots from his bootlace, hanging his chin out to dry and, against Morris, actually running into the fray.

How do you subdue a man who doesn’t know what he’s going to throw – even when he’s throwing it?

That was the dilemma facing Morris (9st 4lbs 4oz).

He elected to try to tame the whirling dervish before him – and long-limbed Mangombe fought like a man possessed – with stiff counters. Down the stretch, he needed to let his hands go and didn’t.

This morning, whether he agrees or disagrees with the verdict, Lewis Morris will be kicking himself.

Sometimes you have to win ugly.

Mangombe (9st 7lbs) gave a taste of what was to come seconds after the first bell had sounded, rushing forward and swinging wild shots. He shifted stances, not because he wanted to confuse his opponent, but because he simply lacked the discipline to keep any semblance of shape.

In the second, Morris seemed to be solving the conundrum. Mangombe was caught rushing in by two solid left hooks and rattled by a lovely one-two down the pipe. My notes state: “Morris settling into it.”

That was his cue to step on the gas. He didn’t – and with each minute of the following rounds Mangombe’s confidence grew.

He barged forward and landed slapping right hands to the body as Morris retreated to the ropes. Lewis did snap Mangombe’s head back with one cracking right hand in the last, but he never truly managed to turn the tide.

Viewing his social media posts, Lewis is today railing against an injustice.

I disagree. It became a question of quality versus quantity – and Morris let his opponent throw far too much leather.

Lewis