Griffiths and Morris draw in a title classic
Morris catches Griffiths with the jab. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions
CHAMPION Ryan Griffiths stood in the dressing room while hand wraps were removed, his face marked from the epic title draw with Lewis Morris only minutes before, and confessed: “I think he won this time.”
Such is the honesty of both warriors. In an age when boxers can be near nailed to the canvas and still cry robbery on social media, Griffiths was prepared to admit he got lucky.
He should be applauded for that. Both men should be applauded for refraining from the boorish insults that have become an unnecessary part of today’s game before Friday’s gripping battle at WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton.
Because of that, the second chapter of Griffiths and Morris’ intense rivalry can never be termed a grudge match. They are immensely likeable, dedicated individuals who are a credit to their sport.
The Midlands featherweight championship clash didn’t need bad blood. It was an intense and gripping 10 rounder which ended with the belt staying in Dudley after ref Chris Dean scored a 95-95 stalemate.
It lacked the fireworks of the first battle last August which earned Griffiths the vacant title by close points decision. But it was, nevertheless, a great scrap that also ended in controversy.
The pair are so well matched that any contest between them is destined to be hard fought and desperately close. Every contest is destined to take something from them.
“The first couple of rounds he started quicker than last time,” 24-year-old Griffiths shrugged in the aftermath of Friday’s battle on BCB’s “Unfinished Business” show. “That was the difference.”
“I know I can’t keep on having these wars,” he said, adding: “For someone from white collar (boxing), I’ve done really well, to be fair.”
In an 11 bout career, Griffiths has had his share of thrillers. The first meeting with Morris was punishing, his previous drawn defence with Jack Dillingham was bloody and brutal, he had to dig deep in a losing world youth title attempt against Umar Khan.
Ryan possesses plenty of bottle. And he needed it to survive a torrid final round which saw Walsall’s Morris connect with heavy right hands.
There were moments during those three minutes when I felt Griffiths was ready to buckle, yet he hurled himself back into the action.
In Morris’ changing room, Wolverhampton trainer Richard Carter shook his head and said ruefully: “Funny old game, boxing.
“I thought Lewis won, I had him three rounds up, he boxed really well, he couldn’t have done any more. Maybe there’ll be a third meeting. It is what it is.
Carter’s assessment was shared by the majority at ringside who I spoke to.
It’s an opinion that’ll raise eyebrows and probably spark ironic laughter from Carter and Morris, but I’m among the minority who agreed with the referee’s scorecard. I can’t call it a rank injustice.
I was, however, sitting only inches from the champ’s corner who loudly hailed every success by their boxer. That can influence how you read a fight.
All square…Chris Dean raises both hands. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB
It was, I felt, a fight of three distinct sections, with Morris taking the early sessions, Griffiths re-establishing himself in the middle rounds, then the challenger pressing on the pedal down the stretch.
Regardless of the result, it re-in forced my belief Griffiths’ days at 9st are exhausted. He began his career at welter, has melted away the pounds for championship bouts, yet the regime appeared to have robbed him of power against 23-year-old Morris.
The challenger (9st) changed stances throughout the contest and slashed away with hooks, while Griffiths (8st 13lbs) looked to bury jabs to the body, then head.
Morris caught him with hard rights in the fifth and sixth, only for Griffiths to blaze back when tagged. He knocked Morris’ head back in the seventh as Lewis pressed forward.
Those mid-rounds were close, hard-to-score sessions. In the ninth Morris, his nose bloodied, uncorked a right. Griffiths, looking tired, continued to plug away with the jab and rights.
There could be no argument about the 10th, with right hands sending spray flying from Griffiths head. For the first time, Ryan was under real, sustained pressure and looked vulnerable.
He did what he’s done so many times before: bite on his gumshield and fight fire with fire.
In a previous interview, Richard Carter told me: “Lewis Morris is such a great kid – you know, he doesn’t even swear.”
Even he probably muttered a few choice words when the decision was announced. That was his only draw on a 14 fight record (three losses).