Classy Singh lifts the Midland bantam title

Callum Singh with the belt after outpointing Frazer Morgan on Friday

COVENTRY’S Callum Singh has claimed his first pro title, taking the vacant Midlands  bantamweight belt on Friday night, writes IAN WAGSTAFF.

On Scott Murray’s show at Sports Connexion, in his home city, Singh gained a convincing 98-93 decision over Frazer Morgan after 10 absorbing rounds. Ref Ryan Churchill did the maths.

The 24-year-old used the opening exchanges to study Morgan’s approach before taking control behind the jab and landing the heavier, cleaner punches. Once the jab began to land, control of the contest passed firmly into his hands. Morgan, from Mackworth, Derbyshire, endured the difficult passages and was still asking questions at the final bell.

The 25-year-old challenger made the brighter start. He was quicker to the punch in the opening round, repeatedly firing a sharp jab to head and body. Singh remained patient behind his guard and blocked much of his opponent’s work, although Morgan’s higher volume was enough to shade the opener.

The fight turned in the third. Singh dug in two left hooks to the body, forced his way into range behind the jab before rolling under Morgan’s attack and rocking him with a counter left hook. Another left hook to the head drew an audible reaction from the crowd and stiffened Morgan’s legs. Singh then landed a right to the body and another hook, ending the round firmly in control.

Singh carried that momentum into the fourth, catching Morgan with a ramrod jab as the pair reset following an exchange in centre ring.

Singh was doing the more telling work in the fifth, driving a heavy right into Morgan’s body before bringing the left hook upstairs.

Singh hurt Morgan again in the sixth with a right uppercut, left hook and heavy right hand. Morgan kept his composure, moved inside and tied him up, smothering the attack before Singh could add to the damage.

Tom Powell, Singh’s trainer at Bulkington gym, demanded more pressure in the seventh and Singh obliged, driving a long, spiteful straight right into the body. Morgan fired back with a left hook downstairs, then again used his experience to smother Singh’s attack when the Coventry fighter sensed a finish.

Both fighters began to feel the effects of the contest’s demanding pace in the closing rounds. Morgan landed two hooks in the eighth and enjoyed further success to the body in the ninth. Singh’s output had slowed, although he still produced a sharp right uppercut, left hook combination when the opportunity to counter emerged.

In the final round, Morgan found the target with a right uppercut, followed by a right hook and straight right hand to the head which Singh absorbed in the centre of the ring. With a stoppage required to turn the contest in his favour, Morgan unloaded the moment Singh’s back touched the ropes. Singh was able to block most of the Mackworth fighter’s hooks, and fired back with a short left hook of his own.

“I knew that I’d won clearly, so I wasn’t worried at all,” Singh said.

Powell described it as a “very mature performance” and was particularly pleased by his fighter’s ability to adapt and develop.

“Callum’s always been a back-foot fighter,” he said. “His whole career, he’s naturally a counter-puncher and a mover. I knew to be able to step up the levels, he had to have more to his game.”

Singh acknowledged that the performance represented something new.

“I’ve changed my style a little bit,” he said. “I’ve never boxed like that before. I knew I had to do something different.

“I’ve always known I’ve been that good. I think a lot of people are a little bit shocked, but my team know how good I am in the gym. I’ve just never shown it before, and I showed it on Friday.”

“I just want to see how far I can push myself now and go to the next level,” Singh added.

Singh has lost only one of 10, Morgan has won seven of nine.