Shropshire Star

Craig Morris again a knockout in Walsall

Shropshire's Craig Morris repeated the trick as he again scored the night's only stoppage on a show in Walsall.

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The first professional from Ludlow in over 75 years got the job done inside-the-distance for the second straight bout, writes Craig Birch.

He previously broke Viktors Drizlionoks' nose on route to a third round TKO - his first as a pro in his second outing - at Walsall Town Hall in July.

The undefeated 23-year-old used the fourth and last session to force the referee's intervention this time, with Victor Edagha the man in trouble at Walsall Football Club.

The manner of the finish was almost a mirror image of his last fight and it's clear Morris is growing in stature, with a strip down to welterweight only likely to make him more powerful.

The former Ludlow School captain will be aiming to make it a hat-trick of victories in Walsall, back at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday October 10.

Edagha, a London-based Italian, folded as Morris turned the screw in the second round after a busy first, bombing forward to switch hit with hooks that took the steam out of his opponent.

A swift and loaded right hook on the turn landed flush on Edgaha's chin and left him scrambling to regain his senses.

Morris took advantage with a big right hand and a cross body blow to the sternum, but Edagha retreated and was saved by the bell.

He was knocked clean out of the ring in the fourth and last round with punches flying, although referee Terry O'Connor ruled it was a push.

But Edagha clearly didn't want to continue and was badly shipping punches again when the action resumed, after Morris trapped him in the corner and started swinging.

O'Connor finally stepped in with one minute and seven seconds of the session gone to no protests from the away corner, who must have been considering throwing the towel in.

Morris added: "We didn't know much about him, so I didn't really pick up the pace until the end of the second round, when I had worked him out.

"I thought the referee gave him a bit too much time in there, to be honest, but I'm glad I got the stoppage in the end.

"I thought it was a punch that put him through the ropes, but the ref claimed I shoved him."

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