Big month ahead for Wolverhampton Boxing Club

Wolverhampton Boxing Club has a huge month coming up, writes Matt Bozeat.

Wednesday, May 13, is the deadline for promoters to submit purse bids for Gully Powar’s rematch against Rhys Edwards for the vacant British featherweight championship.

Boxing bosses have ordered a rematch after they drew in Cardiff last month.

Powar – along with most ringsiders and broadcasters BBC Television – thought he did enough to win after he churned out 1,116 punches in the 12-round fight.

One of the judges had Powar ahead and the other two scored it level, meaning Powar had to settle for a majority draw.

The 23 year old said: “Ninety-five per cent of the boxing public think I won.

“I had Welsh fans coming up to me in the hotel afterwards saying they thought I had won.

“I was annoyed at the time. I have relaxed a bit now, but I still thought I won at least eight of the rounds.

“He had never boxed someone before who is always in front of you, pushing you back and can throw 1,000 punches.

“They don’t like the pace.

“I will beat him in better fashion next time.”

There’s always the possibility Edwards will swerve the rematch and take a different route – but Powar thinks that unlikely.

He said: “It won’t look good if he doesn’t take it. People will be asking him: ‘Why aren’t you fighting Gully Powar again ?’ I don’t think he will want that.”

Coach Richie Carter isn’t so sure, saying: “Of course there should be a rematch, but does he need a rematch with Gully ? Are (promoters) BOXXER going to put the money up for a fight their fighter might lose ?”

BOXXER have invested in the Welshman and Powar says that should the rematch go ahead and he beats Edwards, he can be a new star in their stable.

He said: “BOXXER know I’m a championship level fighter now and I come to fight every time. I would fight every three months if they wanted to. Fighting is fun for me and I’m only going to get better.”

Gym-mate Ollie Cooper looks to be crowned king of England later this month.

Cooper meets James Osbourne for the vacant English super-middleweight championship at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Saturday, May 29 – and the 25 year old from Cannock will be looking to prove that size matters.

The 6ft 4in Cooper will tower over Osbourne (Wickford) by eight inches – and will head to the East End of London full of confidence having won all 13 fights and won and defended the Midlands Area belt.

Powar and Cooper are both graduates of Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club and the club’s next generation are in action on Sunday, May 3.

Bar Sport in Cannock stages the club’s show that features several up-and-coming talents, including Freddie Davies, a teenage middleweight set for his seventh bout this weekend.

Lexi Walker won’t be boxing on the show – to Carter’s annoyance.

Carter had hoped to match the 18-year-old – but said: “I’ve asked gyms all over Europe and nobody will take it. They know it’s a tough night against Lexie.”

Walker hopes to return to action this month as she builds towards the World Under-19 Championship in Montenegro in October.

Tony Wilson will be among the guests at the show on Sunday.

Wilson was representing Wolverhampton ABC when he won the ABA light-heavyweight championship in 1983 and 1984.

He went on to box at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and missed out on a medal after controversial defeat in the quarter finals.

Wilson was British light-heavyweight champion – and won the Lonsdale belt outright – in his professional career.