BURY'S flyweight boxing champion Ady Lewis is ready to conquer Europe, and then the world, after adding the Commonwealth Crown to his British title.

The Mighty Atom's all-or-nothing clash against former Commonwealth champion Peter 'The Choirboy' Culshaw was stopped, as Lewis had predicted, in the eight round of last Thursday (Sept 11) night's bout.

It was the first time in the history of British boxing that two undefeated champions had faced each other and Lewis left the Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, with his 14-fight unbeaten record intact and two titles in his bag.

And Lewis, the pride of Bury, emerged from his war of attrition against Culshaw with much more than two championship belts.

The smallest professional boxer - he is just four feet ten inches - in Great Britain also earned the total respect of three of former world champions.

Barry McGuigan led the chorous of praise for Lewis's stunning stoppage of the Commonwealth champion, Culshaw.

"The referee was absolutely right to end the fight. Lewis had taken Culshaw's heart away," he reckoned. "Culshaw made the mistake of trying to sit down with the little puncher and fight him. Lewis is strong and robust and produced a brilliant show of courage in sticking to his task."

Lewis, who correctly predicted before the bout that he would stop Culshaw in the later rounds, drew similar admiration from another famous former world number one Jim Watt.

"In a 50-50 fight the winner will be the guy who wants it more and Culshaw showed signs of doubt after his tremendous first round," said the Scot. "In round two he was boxing behind Lewis who gained in strength as the fight wore on. Just before the stoppoage Lewis produced a left hook to the body that took everything away from Culshaw. When the referee stopped it, Culshaw was happy the fight was over." Ringside summariser Glenn McCrory, another fighter to have tasted life at the top of the profession, urged Bury Council to rethink their recently made decision to ban boxing from the borough's premises.

"I think Bury Council should look again at that ban," he reckoned. " They should be showing off Ady's talents. This was a tremendous performance. He recovered brilliantly from the knockdown and in the end there was nothing coming from Culshaw. He was a dejected, beaten man."

The 24-year-old Scouser's plea for another crack at Ady fell on deaf ears and the Mighty Atom is now ready to explode on the European scene as the mandatory challenger for the European crown.

"I'm past fighting Peter again," said Lewis who had few marks on him except a cauliflower' ear. "I've proved myself and it is Europe now."

Ady's mum, Janet, could hardly speak after watching her son's victory. She fought back the tears saying "It's brilliant," as the Mighty Atom rolled across the ring in sheer delight.

But nobody, except Ady's family and his vocal band of supporters, would have put money on the Bury lad after the first round. Even the Sky TV commentators were writing him off.

While the Bury champ, who weighed in at 7 stone 13lbs, was still finding he feet, 7st 13lb Culshaw's plan was to attack and some swift Culshaw rights within the opening 40 seconds left Lewis floored for the first time in his career.

There were shades of a Prince Naseem bout - short, sharp and not so sweet - as referee Micky Vance gave Lewis the statutory eight count and took a long look at the situation.

But the Mighty Atom's supporters knew their lad was made of sterner stuff.

"I did not see the punch coming," explained Ady " I went down and the next second I was back up fighting again."

His dad, Denzil, admitted he thought his 22-year-old son was out cold.

"I thought he was gone when he hit the floor. The referee could have stopped the fight there and then but once Ady got through the first round I knew that was it," he said.

"He has the heart of a champion but I wouldn't have lasted another four rounds, never mind Ady!"

Words like 'gutsy', 'determined' and 'courageous' were applied to Lewis as he came back superbly, fighting not only Culshaw but the loud Merseyside crowd. The champion will not be allowed to have such home support on council property in Bury after councillors reinforced their boxing ban in July, but Lewis's bunch of followers did him proud at Widnes with their now familiar chant of "Ady's going to get you." And he did!

The second round was Lewis's as he ducked, blocked and weaved and, unlike in the first round, the long reaching punches of Culshaw failed to connect.

Lewis drew first blood in round two on Culshaw's cheek as he continued to find the target despite his opponent's 5ft 6 frame and by round four the Liverpudlian was looking increasingly uncomfortable and tired.

Lewis, on the other hand, looked like he could keep going all night for he repeatedly trapped Culshaw on the ropes and landed some fierce punches, all part of the tactic of wearing down his opponent before finishing him off.

Round eight was Lewis at his most potent. He could see Culshaw tiring and the Bury lad had him against the ropes at least six times, pouring in punch after punch.

It was only a matter of time before the referee stopped the fight and on 2 min 50 seconds the Choirboy sang goodbye to his Commonwealth title.

"I feel absolutely fantastic," said Lewis's manager Jack Doughty of Tara Sports and Leisure. "After he got caught I though he re-established himself quickly and I was surprised how quickly he could push Peter back because he is so talented. But Ady is tough. He worked hard, he was steady and, after the first round, in control.

"Culshaw threw everything at Ady but after those first punches he blocked them or they missed. It was down to sheer heart. Ady gets better every fight and we have not seen the best of him yet"

Fame hit Lewis instantly after the fight for he could not move for words of praise and signing autographs, especially for the Liverpudlians who were quick to recognise his talents.

Lewis now plans to take a well earned rest in hotter climes before getting back to the grindstone as the British and Commonwealth champion. for his sights are firmly fixed on further title belts to add to to his already crowded waist.

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