Rumours swirl of a home city title bid for whirlwind Gully

Gully Powar…back in action on March 8. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

RUMOURS swirl that Gully Powar – blessed with an engine that would do a jet liner proud – will fight for his first title next month.

No official statement, no hint of the belt up for grabs, but I understand talks are underway to secure a championship 10 rounder for the Wolverhampton whirlwind when he headlines at The Hangar, in his home city, on March 8.

The show is promoted by BCB, screened by Box Nation.

For Powar, part of Richie Carter’s successful old gold stable, a title chance is deserved and overdue. The 22-year-old feather has won 11 on the spin, hasn’t – to my knowledge – dropped a round, is perpetual motion in the ring and has a huge, global following in the Sikh community. We’re talking a million strong online following.

He also has a heart as big as a bucket. “That lad will spar anyone,” respected Birmingham trainer Malcolm Melvin told me after Powar insisted on sharing the ring with his top welter Owen Cooper, a man with a lethal left hook.

He’s also sparred current British welter champ Conah Walker and heavy hitting light-welter star Adam Azim.

“It sounds a bit of a nut job,” Powar – an athlete who lives and breathes boxing - admitted. “They are all great fighters and every spar I have had has made me the fighter I am today. They have pushed me forward to the next stage.”

There’s an awful lot to like about Gully. As a boxing historian, I like the fact he studies yesteryear’s legends.

When I spoke to the prospect, he’d just finished watching clips of Harry Grebb, a Roaring Twenties whirlwind of a world middleweight champ.

“I watch the old fighters and what they do,” he said. “I’m doing it organically, the old school way and I’m happy with the way my journey is going forward, it’s a great journey I’m on. I have that old school mentality, I do the old school things.”

Gully has seen Carter gym mates Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards and Ollie Cooper grab area titles after less contests, but insists: “I think it’s great, it motivates me. It’s great for Wolverhampton.”

He’s right. Success in a gym spreads from one fighter to another like ink on blotting paper.

Powar is a throwback fighter. He boxes regularly – four bouts last year, four bouts in 2023 – and doesn’t give a damn about records.

Gully’s fought much bigger men, which may account for the single stoppage victory on his CV. Put him in with boxers his own weight and you’ll see the fire and fury, he insists.

“I have got the power,” he insisted. “The problem is we never get the opponent at the right weight.”

Powar believes 2025 will be the year that really kickstarts his world title quest. And he has no doubt a global belt awaits.

“Cream always rises to the top,” he added. “I think every fighter wants to become a world champion, but I also want to be a champion for the Sikh and Punjabi community and everyone in Wolverhampton.

“I want to inspire the next generation of kids.”

That mission will receive a massive boost if Gully bags a title on March 8.