Marcus Morrison To Stay At 154lbs, Despite 160lb Title Pick-Up

By Elliot Foster

Marcus Morrison has quashed discussion over a weight move after picking up his first professional title.

The Manchester fighter, 23, stopped an overmatched Brazilian inside two rounds last Saturday, exclusively live on Sky Sports, to clinch the vacant WBC International Silver middleweight crown.

But Morrison, who put on a scintillating display against Jefferson Luiz De Souza at the Manchester Arena as part of the undercard to Anthony Crolla’s stunning WBA lightweight title defence against Ismael Barroso to move to 11-0 (8 KOs), has expressed his desire to remain at super-welterweight, where he had been campaigning for his previous 10 outings.

“I’m over the moon [to win my first title],” the Hattersley-based 11-0 (8 KOs) man, who now has three stoppages from three this calendar year, told Sky Sports in the aftermath of his 220-second victory.

“This means the world to me, it’s my first title and I’m heading in the right direction. I’m heading for bigger things and this is just the start.

“I’m absolutely buzzing to join the club of all of the fighter’s out of [trainer Joe Gallagher’s] gym, get my first title and join in the team picture with all the lads with their titles.”

Many thought that Morrison’s move up to middleweight would be a permanent thing, but he has stated that he will be staying at 154lbs and will be hoping that similar opportunities at his more natural load.

He continued: “I moved up to middleweight and I think it was due to other reasons than me wanting to be a middleweight, but I’ll be going back down to super-welterweight and that’s where I’ll be for the foreseeable future.”

His trainer, the aforementioned Gallagher, said that he hopes that Morrison can make the Manchester Arena in to a “fortress” before agreeing with his charge regarding his weight in future.

And his promoter, Eddie Hearn, who received a lot of thanks for delivering the title shot for Morrison, said that his man has a big future whether it be at 154lbs or 160lbs.

“He’s been learning the ropes and went in with a fighter with a good winning record and picked up his first title,” Hearn told Sky’s Andy Scott.

“Whether it be at middle or super-welter, he’s got a big future.

“Manchester has got some great fighters, past and present, and he’s going to be right on their toes.

“Every city needs young fighters coming through, he looks a million dollars and he can really fight.

“It’s going to be an exciting journey for Marcus Morrison, especially in Manchester.”