Gully cannot wait to face Mexico KO king

Gully Powar…faces Brandon Mejia Mosqueda. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

A NEW opponent for swashbuckling Wolverhampton whirlwind Gully Powar in the WBC’s global Grand Prix tournament.

And without doubt a stiffer test than Colombian Jhon Bolano who undefeated Powar was originally slated to face in Riyadh on June 20.

The Richie Carter trained prospect couldn’t be more pleased with the switch. Gully, looking for win number 13, only wants to prove himself against the toughest featherweights around.

When it comes to the Grand Prix – a boxing world cup offering $200,000 and stardom to the eventual winner – the opposition doesn’t come much tougher than Brandon Mejia Mosqueda, a Mexican with phenomenal power.

The 21-year-old has won all his nine professional contests by stoppage and is already rated in the world top 20.

In the first stage of the Grand Prix – a lavish tournament that whittles 32 of the globe’s best featherweight prospects down to a single winner, round by round – Mosqueda issued a chilling statement of intent.

Jordan’s Bishara Sabbar, unbeaten in seven before the April massacre, was despatched in the third round. By then he’d been on the canvas four times.

But let’s not forget 22-year-old Powar also produced a superb performance in Saudi Arabia. He gave a near faultless performance to widely outpoint southpaw Japhethlee Llamido. The Californian had lost only one of 13 going into the competition, had beaten a world champ in Japan’s Ryosuke Iwasa and served as sparring partner to modern great Noaya Inoue.

Gully showed what he’s really about that night. Against Mosqueda he aims to show that calibre of performance is the norm, not the exception.

“He’s in the top 20 in the world, he’s top dog in the (competition’s) draw, but he ain’t fought me,” Gully said today. “He’s never fought someone who throws a lot of punches and gives it back.

“The way I approach it is they have two arms and two legs like me. The better the fighter, the better I fight.

“I showed what I can do last time. It will be the same again and it will be even better because I have the confidence and know what I can do at my natural, optimum weight of featherweight.

“I always want the best fights to pursue my legacy, I have never said no to a fight. I want to fight the best and my prayers have been answered.

“I want to be remembered as someone who gave it his best against the best every single time. Every fight you will see an improvement. Those rounds fighting in the small halls gave me the education and in Riyadh they will see my self-belief, I just believe in myself. My confidence comes from my work ethic – sparring good, sparring good sparring partners.”

Powar, part of BCB’s rapidly expanding stable, has seen his stock soar since beating Llamido.

“They are taking notice,” he said, “and as the fights go on they will take even more notice. By the time I’m 24 I want to be fighting for a WBC world championship.

“People came over to watch me last time, about 10 flew there. I really think there will be a lot more people next time and with each fight more and more people will fly out.”

Mosqueda is about to get his first taste of Black Country belligerence. It’s stronger and has a lot more bite than Tequila.