Howells’ big chance on major TV title bill

Lewis Howells (left)…late call to face former amateur star

LEWIS Howells, the former wonderful Welsh amateur now plying his professional trade in Warwickshire, has been handed a big opportunity to make the public stand up and take notice.

But big opportunities come with big risks. And the risks don’t come much bigger than Sam Hickey, Scotland’s former Commonwealth Games gold and European bronze medallist. As a pro, the 24-year-old sailed his October debut, gaining whitewash points victory over John Henry Mosquera, a Colombian who has lost many more than he’s won.

Let’s say it as it is – middleweight Hickey is being fast-tracked to titles. Mosquera was brought in to start the process, Howells, who Sam faces on Boxxer’s big January 11 title bill at Sheffield Park Community Arena, has been called in to speed it up.

The pair will fight over six rounds.

Those guiding Hickey are either very confident of the Dundee boxer’s worth or have underestimated Howells, who fights out of Derek Fitzpatrick’s Leamington Spa gym.

As an amateur, the 27-year-old represented his country, won a Welsh title and fought on the international stage.

As a four bout pro, Lewis has shown himself to be a tough, solid and skilful pro. He has simply been unable to build a head of steam under his career. It’s been much too stop-start.

That’s down to injury, illness and family commitments: he and wife Polly Perkins, a former celebrated amateur fighter, have three young children. By day, Lewis paints white lines on highways.

The fact he lives a long way from his fanbase and ticket purchasers in Newport, South Wales, hasn’t helped.

But I believe old-fashioned application has also played a part. Watching from a distance, it appears Lewis has dipped in and out of the sport. To be successful, you have to submerge yourself in it.

You have to make supreme, painful sacrifices. Yet in a staggeringly honest interview last year, likeable Lewis told me: “I’ve never dieted throughout my whole career.”

And it cannot be argued he lost the battle that could’ve turned things dramatically around. In May – rusty after over a year out of the ring – Howells was dropped and outpointed by unbeaten former Wales team-mate Kyran Jones. He really fancied that job, but was clearly beaten.

Lewis has now been given a second chance to show what’s he’s really about, albeit at less than three weeks notice.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity,” said Derek Fitzpatrick, “Lewis has been ticking over in the gym, has kept his weight down and when the opportunity came up, he jumped at it. Someone once said, ‘this game isn’t all about ability, it’s also about availability.”

Lewis was available and ambitious.

“He has the ability to put himself in title contention,” Fitzpatrick said, “he has the ability to contest at title level. What level that may be, I don’t know. He sparred yesterday with really good fighters and did well.”

The trainer stressed: “Lewis has ambition, but life, and what it demands from you, can get in the way of ambition.

“I’ll stand by what I said, Lewis Howells is one of the most talented boxers I’ve seen in this gym and you have to respect his amateur pedigree.

“A lot of the inactivity has been through illness and injury. We have been given two-and-a-half weeks notice for this one, which is the nature of the game. We are going in there with respect, but we are not going in there to lose.”

I have maintained from the start that Howells has talent to burn. Up until now, he’s allowed his career to smoulder. Fires that simply smoulder are easily extinguished.

Now he has the chance to make the flames rise high. And it doesn’t need a win – just an entertaining, close battle against the huge favourite will enhance Lewis’ reputation and gain good paydays.