Bowyn Morgan strives to get career back on track against Gunnar Jackson
Bowyn Morgan typically fights on the front foot and now the national welterweight champion must take a step forward after his professional reputation sustained a potentially debilitating blow the last time he featured on a Joseph Parker undercard.
The Christchurch-based boxer has gone up a weight division to super welterweight and the stakes also also high when the 27-year-old strives to prove a third-round stoppage by Australian Kris George in July was an aberration when he takes on fellow Kiwi Gunnar Jackson at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau on Saturday.
Morgan had knocked the Queenslander down in the opening round and then lost focus, and his unbeaten record by slumping to a dramatic defeat in front of his home crowd.
"I definitely need a good win against a good opponent to get back to where I was," said Morgan, as he completed preparations as trainer Phil Shatford's gym in Addington.
"That last one was quite a big step back. This is extremely important to get back to where I need to be."
Kiwi fighter Gunnar 'The Stunna' Jackson is seeking to condemn Bowyn Morgan to consecutive losses on the Joseph Parker undercard.
Morgan [7-1] expects to benefit from jumping a weight division while 30-year-old Jackson [25-8-3] most recently fought as a middleweight when stopping debutant Kendall Cooper in Auckland last month.
Jackson, who turned pro in 2010, is obviously more experienced with his eight losses including Anthony Mundine - by unanimous decision - in 2014 and London 2012 middleweight gold medallist Ryota Murata [Japan] in Las Vegas last November.
"His credentials are pretty good, especially in New Zealand," said Morgan, who realised he needed to make amends for the mental and tactical lapses exposed by George
Bowyn Morgan and trainer Phil Shatford are planning redemption on Saturday night in Auckland after New Zealand's welterweight champion lost his first fight in July.
"It was a mistake what happened [against George]. It wasn't like I was getting beaten up from start to finish.
"That was a fight that could have taken me to the next level. This is about standing my ground and making a statement."
Although his life did not flash before him when he hit the canvas at Horncastle Arena, Morgan admitted he feared for the future - though Duco Events soon had his chin up.
"Just because he's taken one loss doesn't mean we throw him off the card," said Duco Events director Dean Lonergan.
"He's an exciting go-forward fighter, he's as entertaining as hell and he's easy to work with."
That endorsement last month was a relief for Morgan, who knows boxing is a results-based occupation.
"I thought it could have been the end of it. But they're [Duco and sponsors] are right behind me," he said, reiterating his determination.
"You feel like you've let people down, they're putting a lot of their time and money into you, you just want to do the best that you can for them as well as yourself."
Shatford said Morgan had no issues bulking up 4kg and felt he was also in shape psychologically.
"He's had enough guts to move up a class. He could have stayed at welterweight and we could have picked an easier fight.
"I want Bowyn to be remembered by the fights he had, not by the opponents he dodged," he said.
Shatford and Morgan reviewed his previous fight and soon identified the problems.
"Bowyn was basically dropping his hands. He was walking in for the kill and the kill didn't happen, he got killed.
"It just goes to show, it's the old story ....you're only as good as your last fight. It only takes one shot to put a guy away and that's exactly what happened."
- Stuff
Bowyn Morgan typically fights on the front foot and now the national welterweight champion must take a step forward after his professional reputation sustained a potentially debilitating blow the last time he featured on a Joseph Parker undercard.
The Christchurch-based boxer has gone up a weight division to super welterweight and the stakes also also high when the 27-year-old strives to prove a third-round stoppage by Australian Kris George in July was an aberration when he takes on fellow Kiwi Gunnar Jackson at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau on Saturday.
Morgan had knocked the Queenslander down in the opening round and then lost focus, and his unbeaten record by slumping to a dramatic defeat in front of his home crowd.
"I definitely need a good win against a good opponent to get back to where I was," said Morgan, as he completed preparations as trainer Phil Shatford's gym in Addington.
"That last one was quite a big step back. This is extremely important to get back to where I need to be."
Kiwi fighter Gunnar 'The Stunna' Jackson is seeking to condemn Bowyn Morgan to consecutive losses on the Joseph Parker undercard.
Morgan [7-1] expects to benefit from jumping a weight division while 30-year-old Jackson [25-8-3] most recently fought as a middleweight when stopping debutant Kendall Cooper in Auckland last month.
Jackson, who turned pro in 2010, is obviously more experienced with his eight losses including Anthony Mundine - by unanimous decision - in 2014 and London 2012 middleweight gold medallist Ryota Murata [Japan] in Las Vegas last November.
"His credentials are pretty good, especially in New Zealand," said Morgan, who realised he needed to make amends for the mental and tactical lapses exposed by George
Bowyn Morgan and trainer Phil Shatford are planning redemption on Saturday night in Auckland after New Zealand's welterweight champion lost his first fight in July.
"It was a mistake what happened [against George]. It wasn't like I was getting beaten up from start to finish.
"That was a fight that could have taken me to the next level. This is about standing my ground and making a statement."
Although his life did not flash before him when he hit the canvas at Horncastle Arena, Morgan admitted he feared for the future - though Duco Events soon had his chin up.
"Just because he's taken one loss doesn't mean we throw him off the card," said Duco Events director Dean Lonergan.
"He's an exciting go-forward fighter, he's as entertaining as hell and he's easy to work with."
That endorsement last month was a relief for Morgan, who knows boxing is a results-based occupation.
"I thought it could have been the end of it. But they're [Duco and sponsors] are right behind me," he said, reiterating his determination.
"You feel like you've let people down, they're putting a lot of their time and money into you, you just want to do the best that you can for them as well as yourself."
Shatford said Morgan had no issues bulking up 4kg and felt he was also in shape psychologically.
"He's had enough guts to move up a class. He could have stayed at welterweight and we could have picked an easier fight.
"I want Bowyn to be remembered by the fights he had, not by the opponents he dodged," he said.
Shatford and Morgan reviewed his previous fight and soon identified the problems.
"Bowyn was basically dropping his hands. He was walking in for the kill and the kill didn't happen, he got killed.
"It just goes to show, it's the old story ....you're only as good as your last fight. It only takes one shot to put a guy away and that's exactly what happened."
- Stuff