Another Scouse Fowler to strike

THIS is a new dawn for Anthony Fowler. He has chosen to link up with my son Shane as trainer, a move I believe will see him mix in world-class company at superwelterweight.

Fowler has taken stock, in part after dropping a split-decision to Scott Fitzgerald a year ago, and decided he needs a new direction.

I don’t know what has happened in the past. He has shown quality, but not consistently.

You might not witness the full range of his talent in Manchester tonight but the potential he revealed as an amateur in representing Britain at the Rio Olympics is obvious.

I have seen him spar with middleweights and light-heavies. I’ve seen him with quicker guys and he has dominated.

When I watched Jeison Rosario stop Julian Williams for the WBA and IBF super-welterweight titles earlier this year, I was thinking that Fowler (above) could operate at that level. At this stage the only benchmark has been his work in the gym. I see world class all over him. What’s more, he seems a well-rounded kid with the right attitude. The gym is a tough environment. You have to accept the banter that flies around between fighters.

Coping with that is half the job and he does it admirably. Mind you, he is a Scouser.

He is not a fancy Dan. He does not dance about the ring but he has good feet. He is big for the weight, a shade below 6ft tall, strong and powerful with long, whippy punches.

Shane’s record speaks for itself. He has taken fighters from novice to world champion. He has an ability to see things in a particular way and communicate in a way fighters understand.

The essence of coaching is to draw out qualities and make a fighter the best he can be. You strip it all back, look at the attributes a fighter has, and work with what you see.

Fowler’s opponent, Ghanaian Theophilus Tetteh, is a late replacement. It is effectively a marker fight for Fowler before he gets a chance to avenge the defeat by Fitzgerald.

And victory, believe me, will be the catalyst for greater things.