Craig Morris pipped to the post in senior ABAs
Craig Morris was pipped to the post and bowed out of the senior ABA competition at the first national stages after a majority points loss.
The Midland Counties entrant, 21, has switched to Lions ABC in Dudley for his first season at senior level after boxing for his hometown club, Ludlow ABC.
After success at area level, he made the trip to the Civic Centre in Mansfield to fight Ekow Essuman, from Bilborough Community Club in Nottingham.
The 71kg contest yesterday afternoon started slowly with both combatants sussing each other out and Essuman was lethargic, as Morris set the pace.
The second round went to Essuman but he was consistently falling short with the jab, as both fighters looked to tee off with their shots at close quarters.
Essuman was busier but Morris was the aggressor and look to have taken command in the third and last round as his southpaw stance bamboozled his opponent.
The Shropshire slugger stormed in and attacked with the back hand and then switch hit with hooks to punish Essuman, leaving him in charge at the bell.
But he had fallen just short with the judges, with three awarding the bout to Essuman while two went with Morris, leaving him defeated and out of the tournament.
