Morgan back on big boxing stage
National welterweight champion Bowyn Morgan has an opportunity to bounce back on the big stage from his first professional loss.
Duco Events director Dean Lonergan has laughed off suggestions Morgan’s opportunities on future Duco cards would be compromised by his stoppage loss to Australian Kris George on the undercard of Joseph Parker’s win over Solomon Haumono at Horncastle Arena in July.
Lonergan confirmed the Christchurch-based boxer will clash with a yet to be named opponent on the undercard of Parker’s bout with Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko in Manukau on October 1.
‘‘Just because he’s taken one loss doesn’t mean we throw him off the card. I’m happy as Larry to have him on again,’’ Lonergan said. ‘‘He’s an exciting go-forward fighter, he’s entertaining as all hell and he’s easy to work with.
‘‘Those are the sort of things we look for when we are putting boxers on our cards.’’
He believed there was no shame in the loss to George because he is better fighter than people realise.
‘‘What it does show is that Bowyn Morgan is willing to get in the ring with whoever he needs to progress forward.’’
Lonergan still believes Morgan is capable of making his mark further afield than New Zealand and said one loss will not stop those ambitions.
‘‘Floyd Mayweather is the exception. He’s one of the few fighters to go through without a loss but if you look at all the great fighters careers, they all take a loss at some stage.’’
He said the most disappointing aspect of Morgan’s loss was that the result should have been different.
Morgan (7-1) was in control of the fight, with a first-round knockdown to his credit but one punch in the third round changed the fight.
The former Commonwealth Games representative was knocked to the ground, in what was called a slip by referee Paul McSharry. He never recovered from the blow and two knockdowns later McSharry stopped the fight with 1 min 42sec gone in the third of eight rounds.
‘‘He should have won the fight. He dropped him in the opening round but then made a couple of his mistakes and probably underestimated the guy’s ability to come back,’’ Lonergan said.
He said fighting in front of a 5500-strong crowd in Morgan’s hometown and as the main undercard fight put a lot of pressure on him.
Morgan’s trainer, Phil Shatford, has been encouraged by what he has seen in training since the disappointing loss.
‘‘He’s been training harder than ever for this next fight,’’ Shatford said. The Morgan camp remains optimistic and Shatford said a famous Nelson Mandela quote – ‘‘I never lose. I either win or learn’’ – is being used as motivation.