Tweet
The boy's footwork is second to none. That is a really important part of any young fighter's development - learning never to be static while throwing a punch. I don't think he possessed this kind of footwork when I saw him at the Commonwealth Games about five years back (when he picked up a bronze medal if I remember), so IMO he must be a dedicated trainer (I get the impression also because he's not a very active fighter for his age - he must put a lot of emphasis on learning his business in the gym) who knows his business. He's always improving, and was good to start with.
Morris can throw a combination of three or four pinpoint punches, each from a different angle. He has learnt to be accurate when on the move. Manoeuvring about to throw combinations can throw you off balance but I have not seen him make a mistake yet. He does not waste energy and throw a punch unless he is sure it's going to land. He will get into range to throw a shot but if he can't see the opening, he'll be straight out again before he gets clipped.
He is intelligent and does not wait for the return ticket or need to be stung into action before delivering a shot. If he can land one he'll throw it but if there's a millimetre chance of it not being pinpoint accurate he'll withdraw. Because he's constantly on the move he's a very hard target, and that demoralises opponents.
The boy's jab is sensational - every time he jabs he steps off and throws another shot at a different angle. He doesn't look for the knockout blow but goes for a precision barrage. That's a hallmark of someone who could go all the way.
He's a white kid but he boxes like a black fighter. In his footwork he can be compared with Duke McKenzie or Colin McMillan.
He is an upright fighter with a style tailor-made for the purists. I wouldn't worry at all that he's not perceived to be a big puncher. He hits hard enough for a featherweight and that's all that matters.
With time he will put more power in and punch with a lot more authority. Then he will start stopping opponents. But at this stage it is better for him to go the distance because he'll have that under his belt for when the classier guys come along. He won't panic if he can't get rid of them early. I also like the fact he has a shaven head
I don't know how well he takes a shot because he doesn't stand still long enough to get tagged. That's the beauty of what he does. He's as big a featherweight as I've seen but he does 12 hard rounds at good pace, no sagging, and he was never found wanting for stamina or power in those two fights previous to the last one. If you Brit's saw the last one on ITV you'll see it was a cuts stoppage, just bad luck.
What Maloney has to do is get him a series of international 10-round fights and a two- or three-fight stint in America. The serious sparring he'll find over there will be like a university to him. In two years he'll be ready to make a serious assault on one of the four world titles. Even now, domestically, and even European-wise, he's as good as it gets. He's not a TV fighter yet, but then if he was a millionaire his hunger to work hard in the gym and keep his skill up to scratch would be down the drain. This may sound bold but, I'm saying right now that this darkhorse is winning a world title before Amir Khan.
Andy Morris, remember the name.
Morris can throw a combination of three or four pinpoint punches, each from a different angle. He has learnt to be accurate when on the move. Manoeuvring about to throw combinations can throw you off balance but I have not seen him make a mistake yet. He does not waste energy and throw a punch unless he is sure it's going to land. He will get into range to throw a shot but if he can't see the opening, he'll be straight out again before he gets clipped.
He is intelligent and does not wait for the return ticket or need to be stung into action before delivering a shot. If he can land one he'll throw it but if there's a millimetre chance of it not being pinpoint accurate he'll withdraw. Because he's constantly on the move he's a very hard target, and that demoralises opponents.
The boy's jab is sensational - every time he jabs he steps off and throws another shot at a different angle. He doesn't look for the knockout blow but goes for a precision barrage. That's a hallmark of someone who could go all the way.
He's a white kid but he boxes like a black fighter. In his footwork he can be compared with Duke McKenzie or Colin McMillan.
He is an upright fighter with a style tailor-made for the purists. I wouldn't worry at all that he's not perceived to be a big puncher. He hits hard enough for a featherweight and that's all that matters.
With time he will put more power in and punch with a lot more authority. Then he will start stopping opponents. But at this stage it is better for him to go the distance because he'll have that under his belt for when the classier guys come along. He won't panic if he can't get rid of them early. I also like the fact he has a shaven head
I don't know how well he takes a shot because he doesn't stand still long enough to get tagged. That's the beauty of what he does. He's as big a featherweight as I've seen but he does 12 hard rounds at good pace, no sagging, and he was never found wanting for stamina or power in those two fights previous to the last one. If you Brit's saw the last one on ITV you'll see it was a cuts stoppage, just bad luck.
What Maloney has to do is get him a series of international 10-round fights and a two- or three-fight stint in America. The serious sparring he'll find over there will be like a university to him. In two years he'll be ready to make a serious assault on one of the four world titles. Even now, domestically, and even European-wise, he's as good as it gets. He's not a TV fighter yet, but then if he was a millionaire his hunger to work hard in the gym and keep his skill up to scratch would be down the drain. This may sound bold but, I'm saying right now that this darkhorse is winning a world title before Amir Khan.
Andy Morris, remember the name.
Comment