Powar: Put pressure on me and I produce even more diamonds

Gully Powar…Grand Prix glory. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

IN boxing, there is the essential ingredient of self-belief. Beyond that is the unshakable, all-consuming confidence that oozes from Wolverhampton’s Gully Powar.

And with each win, more and more fans are buying into the prospect’s bold predictions of ring glory.

“I’m 22 now,” said the Richard Carter trained fighter. “By the time I’m 24, 25, I believe I’ll have the WBC championship round my waist.”

Powar, a man with a huge social media following, took a step closer to that goal in Riyadh last week.

In the opening, six round stage of the featherweight WBC Grand Prix – a tournament involving 32 hot prospects from around the globe – Gully boxed superbly to soundly outpoint southpaw Japhethlee Llamido. The Californian had lost only one of 13 going into the competition, had beaten a world champ in Japan’s Ryosuke Iwasa and served as sparring partner to modern great Noaya Inoue.

He was outboxed, out-thought and out-fought.

Gully will fight in the next stage of the competition in June.

Many were surprised by Powar’s performance. Powar, now unbeaten in 12, wasn’t surprised by how easily he handled Llamido, not in the slightest.

“I know what I’m capable of doing,” he told me. “Fighting in my natural weight category, everyone saw what I’m capable of doing.

“It was a great experience, I didn’t let it get to me – pressure is an illusion. The more pressure you put on me, the more diamonds I create.

“But what people saw was only a glimpse of what I can do. I dare to be great, I’ve said yes to every single fight offered me.

“He (Llamido) was making adjustments, there were things he was doing that could’ve put me off. But I watch the legends, I study their styles. I was watching his feet. My jab was backing him up, stopping him engaging.

“The commentators said I was something special – I’ve always known that.”

It’s certainly an amazing story: Gully has gone from fighting at Wolverhampton’s Hangar Venue to the gilt-edged Riyadh scene. It’s a big stage he was born for, the Black Country Boxing hope believes.

And Powar has no doubt he can win the whole thing, bagging a fortune and a massive contract. He’ll blossom as the Grand Prix progresses from six rounds, to eight, to ten…

“One hundred per cent,” he nodded. “I believe in me. If I don’t believe in myself, no one else will. I have a good engine, I’m exciting, I have fast hands, and the real power is coming – you saw that with the right hands and body shots I landed.

“But I’m keeping my feet on the ground, listening to Richie Carter. Stay focused and the important thing is to stay humble.”

Gully, who has a massive Sikh fanbase, added: “I’m representing Wolverhampton. For me, it was always going to happen and I have to grab this opportunity with both hands. I know exactly what I’m capable of doing.”