BARRY Morrison, the former British light-welterweight champion, believes he will need to produce the best performance of his career if he is to reclaim the title from current holder David Barnes next week.
The 28-year-old Motherwell boxer accepts he will be the underdog when he challenges Barnes at the Everton Park Sports Centre in Liverpool next Friday night, but has already proved he can shine in such circumstances.
It was in an English ring, at
the Alexandra Palace in London, that Morrison was crowned British champion in January 2007 with an outstanding display against the previously unbeaten Lenny Daws. Unfortunately, the Scot's title reign was brief as he lost his first defence just five months later on home soil at the Motherwell Civic Centre to Colin Lynes.
It was a humbling defeat which caused Morrison to consider hanging up his gloves, but he has since regrouped with two victories to earn his shot at Barnes. The Manchester boxer has lost just one of his 25 fights as a professional and is widely regarded as the favourite.
"That's fair enough," said Morrison yesterday, "because Barnes has been there and done it. He's now a two-weight British champion, having held the welterweight title earlier in his career, and he's generally been in with a better class of opponent than I have.
"So I'm definitely the underdog, probably even more so than I was against Daws. I'm confident I can cause another upset, but I will probably have to box even better than I did against Daws. Barnes is a bit slicker, although I'm not sure he can fight at a high pace for 12 rounds, which is something I'll try to do.
"It is not nice when you are introduced as the former champion and I'm determined to get that belt back. I loved everything about being champion, it was great walking down the street and people congratulating you. I felt terrible when I lost it. It took me a long time to get over it."
Morrison's partner, Danielle, has been financing a six-week break from his work as a joiner to allow him to train full-time for the fight and he intends to repay her support.
"She's been the sole bread winner," he said. "If I can become British champion again, that's where the real money is for me in boxing, and it's for Danielle and our wee boy, Dempsey, that I really want to get that belt back."
The full article contains 421 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
