Morris out to ‘right a wrong’ in title return
Morris tags Griffiths in their first meeting. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB
LEWIS Morris enters the ring on October 24 with revenge on his mind.
At the WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton, Morris gets a second chance to take the Midlands featherweight title. Again standing in his way is Ryan Griffiths – the man who beat him for the belt in March last year, writes PAUL WEBB.
The Walsall 23-year-old believe he should’ve had his hand raised after 10 blistering rounds and is itching to “right a wrong” on BCB’s “Unfinished Business” bill.
That battle was a championship clash of two halves: Morris making a slow start but coming on strong in the later rounds. Referee Chris Dean scored it 96-94 in favour of Dudley’s Griffiths.
"I'm glad I have got the chance to right that wrong," said Morris. "The first fight we had was close, but at the end I truly believed I had done enough. I believe I can show something this time round that I didn't last time, and I won't let it get close again. I boxed well that night, but I let it become too much of a fight and I shouldn't have allowed that to happen. I know at my best I can box his head off."
Morris trains at the Wolverhampton Boxing Club under coach Richie Carter and has been in good form, having won two fights on the bounce at home against Mohammed Wako and Fernando Valdez. Before that came arguably his career best performance – he pushed highly touted Joe McGrail all the way at Manchester’s Co-op Arena before dropping the decision. Morris recently gained invaluable experience sparring world featherweight champion Nick Ball, a demanding process that has elevated his game.
He said: "It's been unbelievable, and I have learnt so much from it – not just from the spar itself but just being able to pick the brains of a world champion and see how he trains and what he has done to get to that level.
"Richie and I have a game plan and we are working so hard. To be honest, I hate him at the minute! It's been such a hard camp, but I feel the best I have ever felt. I have sparred so well."
A lot has changed for Morris since the first fight and no bigger change than becoming a father for the first time, which has given him an extra push to succeed.
He added: "I'm incredibly motivated, which has put me in the best place possible. I'm not just doing it for me now, I'm doing this for my daughter and I'm not going to allow Ryan to take food off her table. I know it's coming home with me, I won't let it be controversial this time."