Victory comes at a cost for “Ice” Coley

Lewis Coley with 2nd City trainer James Thomas

THERE are few – if any – among Birmingham’s Young Gun prospects who ooze menace like Lewis Coley.

The man hunts opponents down with bad intention burning in his eyes, there’s a near scowl on his face.

The 24-year-old is a baby faced assassin who carries power and inflicts punishment. The nickname “Ice” is apt.

At Solihull’s Planet Ice last night (Saturday) Coley registered his sixth straight win in a stop start career that has seen pounds piled on.

Perhaps partly fuelled by his younger brother’s decision to turn over, he is now moving in the right direction. And the weight is coming off: for last night’s bout against Lee Hallett, he scaled 10st 3lbs and told me he intends to compete for titles at feather (9st).

Coley, a product of Kingstanding’s 2nd City gym, was made to work for his victory over Canning Town southpaw Hallett (10st 3lbs).

And he did not emerge from the 39-37 success unscathed. In the dressing room afterwards, his right arm was supported by a sling and Lewis told me he believed two knuckles were cracked.

“That’s what I want,” he said, “to be tested. “I want to be tested, I want to push on.”

Coley hunted Hallett down with left hand low. Stiff jabs pierced his guard and right uppercuts jarred his head back. The uppercut was to be Lewis’ key weapon, although by the second Coley was also finding the target with left hooks to the body.

It all appeared to be going to plan until the fourth and final round, surely the session won by Hallett on the scoring official’s card.

Hallett staged a late rally and landed cleanly with stiff rights and, on the bell, a solid left. By then, however, Coley had the bout in the bag.