'My mindset will get me to the top' - Gully Powar gets another shot at the British title

Gully Powar says his British-title fight will be decided by what’s between his ears, writes Matt Bozeat.

The 24 year-old from Wolverhampton Boxing Club finally gets his second shot at the British featherweight title in Manchester tomorrow night.

Powar faces Zak Miller for the vacant belt and said: “My mindset will get me to the top.

“I do a lot of breathing techniques and meditation. It’s about controlling the fire.

“I started doing it four years ago and it’s been a game changer. I have a breath work coach who works on relaxing my mind.

“It’s very good for improving focus and alignment.

“If you see me on fight night you will see my mentality is xen like. I’m relaxed, but ready for war.”

The clash with Miller promises to be a British fight-of-the-year contender.

Both throw a lot of quality punches – and can throw them for 12 rounds.

Miller is a former British champion, while Powar announced himself to the wider boxing public in April with a draw against Rhys Edwards for title after Miller vacated.

The consensus at ringside was Powar was unlucky not to leave Cardiff with the Lonsdale belt – and he has suffered plenty more frustration since.

The rematch with Edwards fell through and then Nelson Birchall pulled out of fighting him for the British title last month after deciding he could no longer make the nine-stone weight limit.

Powar said: “I have stayed professional. I haven’t been salty. I have just focused on myself and when people have asked what’s happening, I’ve told them the truth.

“I have stayed in the gym and made a lot of improvements. You will see a better version of me.

“I’m still really ,really relentless and my power is starting to come through now.”

Powar sees the Miller fight as “another stepping stone to where I want to be” and says his long-term goal is a world-title rematch against the Mexican who handed him his first defeat.

Brandon Mosqueda outpointed Powar in last year’s WBC Grand Prix tournament and is currently ranked No 14 in the world by the WBC.

Powar said: “I can see us having a rematch for the WBC title further down the line. There’s history between us. It makes for a great rematch.”