GULLY Powar’s British title chance may have ended in arguments, but there can be no dispute over the loss suffered by stablemate Lewis Morris 24 hours earlier.
On Matchroom’s televised Friday night show at Planet Ice, Altrincham, Morris dropped a wide eight round decision to Alfie Middlemiss.
Middlemiss, now unbeaten in six, looked extremely impressive in what, on paper, appeared his toughest test.
To an extent, the meeting with Morris represented his breakthrough fight – and he broke through in style.
You have to feel for Morris, one of the most likeable individuals in the game.
He went into the fight convinced Middlemiss’ team had made a mistake, he – and staff at his Wolverhampton gym – were brim-full of confidence.
I’ll hold up my hands and admit to getting this one wrong. I believed Morris, a Midlands featherweight title contender who has now had 15 bouts and travelled the championship distance, would be too seasoned, rugged and strong.
Middlemiss, at 22, had never really been tested, never halted anyone.
Frankly, the Manchester man was far, far better than I believed he’d be. My prediction was wide of the mark – and, understandably, Middlemiss took some delight in pointing that out.
“Not your best prediction on my fight last night,” he said in a message. In a follow-up call, Alfie was polite, respectful to Morris and insisted: “People don’t understand – I live in the gym.”
Those who watched the action will know what it’s all about, Alfie.
Morris boxed brightly in the first – the only session won on the 79-73 scorecard, then appeared to lose his way after suffering a gash over the right eye in the second.
That wound bothered him throughout, although Middlemiss’s body shots were a more decisive factor. Morris simply struggled to keep him off and clearly felt some of the punches downstairs.
“Lewis had a good first round,” said trainer Richie Carter, “then a clash of heads in the second panicked him, anxiety set-in.
“It took his fight out of the game because he hadn’t experienced anything like that before. He never had a cut in the amateurs and when you experience it, you don’t know how bad it is. You concentrate on protecting the eye, you start panicking. He’s only 24, he’ll be back, we’ll go again.”
Morris told me: “He was a better boxer than I thought – wasn’t very strong, but the cut ruined me and my energy just seemed to leave me.
“I think it was the panic of the cut, but it’s all part of the learning process. I’ll be better next time.
I’m happy at featherweight – I just think it was more the stress of the cut and getting caught to the body early, I just never recovered. I’m much better than that and I will show it in the future.
“That was probably the worst version of myself. but full respect to Alfie. I’ll be back stronger than ever. I did show how much heart and determination I possess.”
