Twenty-six-year-old Ryan Griffiths claimed the vacant Featherweight Midlands Area title in a fantastic back-and-forth contest at the Hangar Venue Wolverhampton (8.3.24). In just his fifth professional contest the unbeaten fighter took on the much-fancied Lewis Morris (22) from Walsall who had an impressive record of eight wins out of nine fights. The fight which was scheduled for ten three-minute rounds was a co-main event with another Midlands area title at the BcB Promotions show Havoc at the Hangar XIII. Morris weighed in 9 stone dead with Griffiths coming in eight stone thirteen with Chris Dean reffing.
Great shots from both boxers as they wasted no time exchanging shots and big combinations, close round but would have to give it to Griffiths with the eye-catching shots. The second was another great round as Griffiths started well with some nice jabs and one, twos. Morris came back in the second part of the round and with a good finish just edged it for me. The third went back and forth with neither boxer taking a step back, both fighters landed eye-catching shots even round could not split them.
The fourth round was another round where either boxer refused to take a step back, both fighters had joy with some heavy shots but Griffiths got this round for me. The pace slowed in the fifth but not the quality of shots landed by both fighters, another close round with Morris just edging it. Great jabs from Griffiths at the start of the sixth with some big hooks landed, Morris landed some big shots of his own finishing the round strong but it was Griffiths' round. A cracking seventh with some excellent boxing with both fighters continuing to land big shots but would have to give this to Griffiths who won more of the exchanges.
Fantastic eighth with both fighters landing big shots but again Griffiths won more of the exchanges for me to nick the round. Another back and forth ninth with neither fighter giving an inch with both landing good shots, another even round. Both fighters left it all in the ring as they both continued to land good shots with great ending to a fantastic contest, Morris just edged it for me.
Ref Chris Dean scored the contest 96 to 94 Griffiths, I had it 97 to 95 to Griffiths.
Dexter’s Thoughts
First things first what a fantastic contest maximum respect to Morris and Griffiths who left it all in the ring in a contest for a Midlands area title. Nearly every round was that close it was really hard to score this contest and even though I thought Griffiths just edged it if Morris had been given it, I would not have argued with that result. In just five fights Griffiths has claimed his first title and he was in against a proper fighter who was there to win this title. Morris can walk away from this with his head held high at twenty-two he can come again and I’m sure he will win an area title and I could see him progressing to bigger titles. Griffiths showed heart determination and a great boxing IQ as he went to war in just his fifth fight, and I can’t see him going on to bigger titles I could even see these two boxers contesting again for either this title or a bigger one. Congratulations to Ryan Griffiths on a fantastic performance and a great win.