‘Nelson Birchall is a good kid, but Gully’s better,’ vows trainer

Gully Powar…British title bid in Birmingham. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

NELSON Birchall – a young man who carries the ring nickname The Sexy One and is considered boxing’s next big thing – faces his first beast in Gully Powar.

He and the relentless Wolverhampton fighter meet for the vacant British featherweight title on a September 26 Queensberry show featuring some of the BCB stable’s top talent.

Former world champ Liam Davies headlines against Nathaniel Collins at Birmingham’s BP Pulse Live Arena, while former British titleholder Nathan Heaney bows out from the sport in a rematch with Gerome Warburton.

It’s the Powar-Birchall battle that I find most intriguing simply because of the hype surrounding Nelson. This the scheduled 12 rounder that will tell fans if he’s fabulous or flawed, superstar or sham.

That’s because Powar is the kind of warrior who will expose any previously hidden weaknesses. He’s on you like a rash from first bell to last.

Gully, aged 24, fought a controversial draw with Welshman Rhys Edwards for the title in April. That performance has earned him a three fight deal with Frank Warren’s Queensberry.

He was to have faced Edwards in a re-match, but, instead, Morecambe’s Birchall, aged 21 and unbeaten in 11, has been handed the opportunity, although the Board of Control has yet to formally announce the Lonsdale Belt will be at stake.

I believe it’s a better fight for fans and a stiffer test for Powar. Birchall has, to date, ticked all the boxes, stopping eight opponents and claiming the English title last time out by halting BCB’s Ryan Griffiths in nine rounds. He’s lived up to the headlines.

Powar’s trainer Richard Carter firmly disagrees Birchall poses a greater threat than Edwards. “I don’t see it as a tougher opponent,” he told me. “He (Birchall) was a very good amateur, but he never had a senior elite fight – that tells me a lot about the kid. Gully went into the senior elites as soon as he could and, in my eyes, got robbed.”

Birchall’s achievements at schoolboy and youth level are pretty special, however. In all, he won nine English and British titles, captured a world bronze medal, represented his country in five internationals and won six Box Cup tournaments.

On the pro scene, Gully has a distinct edge in experience. He’s lost only one of 15, been 12 rounds – Birchall has yet to go beyond nine – and in Dubai withstood the thunderous blows of Mexican KO artist Brandon Mosqueda. Powar picked himself of the floor to give Mosqueda, ranked 14th in the world, a tough six rounder. That’s the Sikh boxer’s only defeat.

“The toughest lad Birchall has faced is Ryan Griffiths,” Carter said. “Ryan’s a good kid and Birchall struggled in the last four rounds.

“He’s only 21, Gully’s 24. Gully has more experience at that level. Listen, we’re not underestimating Nelson Birchall, he’s a good kid, but Gully is better. People have come to the table and said, what about this, what about that? Now I’m saying what about this, what about that?”

There’s logic behind Carter’s assessment. We know Powar can comfortably travel the championship distance, his chin must be solid to withstand Mosqueda’s hooks. Birchall has yet to pass those tests, which doesn’t mean he won’t pass them. I believe Birchall has the advantage when it comes to firepower.

“He has a decent punch on him,” Carter agreed, “but don’t they all? It’s how they take them back, it’s a different ballgame when you’re getting hit back properly.

“Gully is on fire, he’s been in the gym training since the Edwards fight. If there’s a chink in your armour, he’ll find it. If you have them days off or cheeky nights out thinking it doesn’t matter, Gully will find you out.”

We know what Powar is – dedicated to the point of obsession, determined and a demon in the ring. On September 26 we’ll find out exactly what Birchall is.