Sporting Owen takes title defeat on chin

Owen…his planned title fight hit problems on the scales

SPORTINGLY, Perton veteran Andy Owen has refused to use the weigh-in drama as an excuse for defeat in Saturday’s Midlands title clash with Michael Stephenson.

At Wolverhampton’s Hangar Events venue, Stephenson relentlessly targeted Owen’s long body, taking a clear 10 round decision – and the vacant light-heavyweight belt.

The bout was to be for the super-middleweight title, but Stephenson came in four pounds overweight and it was switched to a Midlands light-heavyweight battle.

That must’ve been a sickener for 35-year-old Owen who had worked hard to scale under 12 stone.

Andy, who has now lost two of six, has declined to use the shenanigans on the scales as a factor.

He said: “I don’t think it’s my position to comment on it, at the end of the day I agreed to fight.

“I got caught by a body shot at the end of the third and got hit a couple of times in the same spot in the fourth. For a few rounds I had nothing in me – he’s heavy handed.

“By the time I got my second wind it was too late. I thought he nicked it, but I thought the score (99-92) was a bit wide. I felt I lost it in the middle rounds.

“It was a good fight. I’m a bit gutted, which is only natural, but I feel fine.

Owen, who now lives in Shifnal, Shropshire, refused to be drawn on his future.

He added: “I’m going to enjoy time with my family, then see how I feel.”