Stewart: biggest of boxing’s big men
Hosea Stewart outside Planet Ice before his stirring battle
SOMETIMES what unfolds before a writer’s eyes defies the crafted words of his or her’s profession.
Sometimes only the language of every day life can truly illustrate the spectacle.
Take Wolverhampton heavy Hosea Stewart on Saturday’s Planet Ice, Solihull, show.
That man is one bloody big unit. That’s the most illustrative description I can give you.
Even by the standards of modern heavyweight boxing, Hosea is a colossus who scale a staggering 24 stone for his four rounder with Nottingham’s Lamah Griggs.
And I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a greater physical disparity between two men sharing the ring. Griggs, who at 17st 12lbs looked like he, too, had excess baggage to shed, was dwarfed by Stewart. During the ring-centre instructions he came barely to the Black Country hope’s chest.
Yet this David and Goliath encounter ended in a draw, 38-38 on referee Jamie Kirkpatrick’s card. Hosea felt hard done by, but, in all honesty, I thought the decision correct. If anything, Griggs, who now has a 3-6-1 record, may have shaded it.
But I’m not going to argue with Stewart. I’m not going to purchase a pair of stepladders and look him in the eye.
Griggs, sensibly, attempted to stay mobile as poker-faced Stewart trudged forward, planting shots to the body, then moving out of the way. Hosea seemed to struggle to let his punches go and that’s what cost him.
The first was free swinging, wild and woolly. The second belonged to Stewart who found range for clubbing blows, but by the third he appeared to be feeling the pace.
Both gave their all in a spirited final session and Griggs landed the most telling punch – a heavy left – before scampering away.
After the entertaining contest, Stewart told fans on facebook: “Saturday I was back in the ring and had to settle for a draw, which I definitely feel I won.
“Besides that, it was a flat performance. The ring rust showed and I just couldn’t turn it on when needed, but credit to my opponent. He was game and took a lot and kept coming. No doubt well run that back and rectify it.
“Very frustrated - no excuses. Had to overcome a lot of s**t throughout this camp, but I know I’m much better than that, so the sooner I’m back out the better to keep the momentum going in the right direction and continue to build on the foundations. I’ll be back and very different.”
Hosea has now drawn two of five (one loss).