Barry Morrison has become the first Scottish boxer to be crowned British Light Welterweight champion with victory over Lenny Dawes at the Alexander Palace in London last night.

In what will be an early contender for the domestic fight of 2007, the 26 year old from Motherwell no doubt surprised champion Dawes by taking the fight to him from the off, dominating the first half of the fight with a better workrate and the more accurate punching. Time after time, Morrison poured forward as he walked through anything Dawes threw at him in pursuit of his quarry.

Morrison, who had previously only fought past eight rounds once in his 14 fights previous to this British title fight, did begin to tire in the second half of the fight, and this gave Dawes a chance to turn around the fight. He came closest to doing just that in the eighth and ninth rounds, but Morrison somehow survived to enter the last quarter of the bout.

It was then war at close quarters until the final bell, with both Dawes and Morrison trading punches for all they were worth. Incredibly, it was Barry who finished the strongest though, putting in a final round to put the result beyond any doubt.

Any doubt that it is until you remember the fight was taking place in the champion’s backyard with three English judges deciding the outcome.

Judge Phil Edwards scored the contest 115-113 in favour of Morrison, while judge Marcus McDonnell had it 115-114 in favour of the Scot and new British champion.

Judge Dave Parris however scored the contest 117-112 in favour of Lenny Dawes - which will know doubt win him honorary membership of the Morden Massive, but will do his reputation as a competent and impartial judge no favours, particularly north of the border. It used to be you needed a knockout in the likes of Italy to come away with a draw. That’s now increasingly the case in England too. And that’s no disrespect to Lenny Dawes who made it anything but easy for Morrison in the ring.

“It is unbelievable,” said Morrison at ringside afterwards. “I am over the moon, especially to do it in his own backyard. I was very tired - but I came through it.”

So a split decision victory it was, but a fantastic one nonetheless. Barry Morrison entered that ring as the underdog, with all the talk about how Lenny Dawes was being groomed for European glory and then the likes of Witter and Hatton.

Now there is a new name on the British scene. Barry “The Bizness” Morrison. And long may he reign.

(photo - Mick Roberts)