02.01.07 – Morden¹s Lenny Daws has the opportunity to demonstrate that he is the next big thing in his division when he appears on the Sky Box Office Pay Per View Event on 20th January alongside two current marquee light welterweight operators from Britain. The 28-year-old defends his 140lb British Title against mandatory contender Barry Morrison in the chief support contest of the UK leg of the broadcast, being promoted by Hennessy Sports at the Alexandra Palace..
History making Junior Witter, his Hennessy Sports team mate, tops that bill in a defence of the WBC light welterweight title he won by impressively out-pointing former world champion DeMarcus Corley at the same venue in September. No other Brit has ever held the prestigious green belt at the weight before.
Later that night, Sky will move to Vegas to show Witter¹s long-term rival Ricky Hatton in a challenge for his old IBF title against Juan Urango to complete an outstanding night of genuine championship action in the division.
Daws, renowned for his amazing stamina, will be looking to use the platform to send out a signal of intent from the Ally Pally.
³It¹s good to be fighting on such a massive event,² said Daws, who celebrated a birthday over the Christmas period. ³It¹s the next stage for me now – appearing on a show like this with a big world title fight on it.
³There will be a lot of people watching so it¹s a chance for me to show what I can do. I know I am not at the level of Hatton and Witter yet, I don¹t have their experience, but I am coming through behind them. I already have the British title, but I believe there is a lot more to come from me yet.²
He is already closing in on the European Championship.
The Morden Man is ranked third for the belt with only Hatton – who is eligible as he currently holds no world title – and former Witter victim Andreas Kotelnik ranked above him.
A challenge to current champion Ted Bami, from Brixton, is very much on the horizon, although Bami next defends against Italian Gianluca Branco later this month. It would be a highly charged all London derby that Daws would relish.
³After the Morrison fight I feel will be ready to make that next step up,² he added. ³I would like to fight for the European Title soon, maybe sometime this year.
³I have seen Bami a few times and I rate him. It would be a good contest. He likes to fight and to throw big shots. But if he can¹t bang out those big shots he¹s in a bit of trouble.
³I¹d be confident going into that. I¹d be just as confident fighting Branco as well if he became champion. The way I¹m developing I fancy my chances with anyone in Europe this year.²
Beyond lies the world scene currently occupied by his two domestic counterparts.
³Witter and Hatton are two great, genuine world-class fighters,² said Daws, a father of one. ³It¹s possible that they could be around for me to meet when I get to challenging for world titles, but at the moment they are looking for the massive fights. After that, who knows?
³Obviously, it would be nice to see them get it on. That¹s the only way of settling all the arguments. It¹s a tough one to call.
³Hatton has a very strong work rate. He punches hard and keeps going all night long. On the other hand you have Junior, who would be a nightmare to fight. He punches from every angle, always finds the openings and looks to bang the harder of the two.²