Wolverhampton featherweight will get another shot at the British title.
The farcical refereeing of Derek Chisora v Deontay Wilder means it’s been a rough week for British Boxing’s board of control.
So let’s give them credit for wasting no time in ordering a rematch between Gully Powar and Rhys Edwards for the British featherweight title.
Just five days after the pair fought out a controversial draw in Cardiff, the board opened purse bids for the sequel, due to take place by the end of August at the latest.
A second shot at the British crown was the least Powar deserved and there really was no way he could be denied it, with most believing he did more than enough to win last weekend’s bout.
The term “robbery” is thrown around too often in boxing. It’s one reporters should be particularly hesitant to use unless positioned at ringside, with the same close-up view as the judges. For such reason, we won’t use it here.
That said - and placing all regional bias aside - it was hard not to feel huge sympathy for Powar, who delivered everything but the win on what still felt a breakout night for a boxer who, in his own words, had spent most of his professional career working in the shadows.
This time last year, remember, he had never fought outside the Midlands.
Last Saturday, he walked into an arena of 5,000 people in Wales to fight a Welshman and after a difficult start (common consensus was Edwards took the first three rounds) proceeded to dominate.
This was the first time Powar had ever been beyond eight rounds and just the second occasion he had passed six.
Yet by the 12th, he still looked fresh as the first while Edwards, a far more experienced operator over longer distances, looked worn out.
By the finish, Powar had thrown more than 1,100 punches - 300 more than his opponent - a colossal figure. In every metric he looked and felt like the winner.
The majority draw decision felt deflating but result aside, Powar has many positives on which to reflect. In the space of 12 months he has come from nowhere and proven himself at British level.
Aged just 23, time is on his side and from being the underdog heading into last weekend, next time there will be few betting against him claiming the Lonsdale belt whenever the rematch comes around.
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