Isaac Lowe nearly quit but now he's ready for Munyai test

Morecambe’s Westgate Warrior thought about hanging up his gloves after the disappointment of seeing a chance to fight on the Tyson Fury-Wladimir Klitschko undercard put on hold after his long-time friend picked up an ankle injury.

However the resort’s rising star is now fully focused on the first defence of his Commonwealth featherweight title as he meets former world title challenger Tshifhiwa Munyai at the Manchester Arena on September 24.

The 22-year-old, who will be fighting on the undercard of the unification fight between lightweight kings Anthony Crolla and Jorge Linares, said: “It was hard with what happened the other week.

“I was thinking about quitting and just about did.

“But it’s nice to have great friends and family and people on social media telling me not to quit.

“I got back in the gym and had only been in a day when this was announced.

“It was just the kick up the backside I needed.

“It’s a fight I can’t mess about with and I know I’ve got to be at 110 per cent.”

A near three-month camp came to nothing for Lowe as he missed out on the chance to fight on the bill of Fury’s first title defence.

It hit him hard both mentally and in the pocket.

The unbeaten prospect, who still hopes to fight on the rearranged Fury-Klitschko undercard later this year, said: “When you’re not working for nearly three months and going away from home it’s hard.

“You miss your friends and family and when fights fall through you can lose a lot of money.

“Sometimes you get down because boxing’s a hard sport.

“But I’m raring to go again and will be better than ever.”

Had he quit, Lowe knows it is a decision he could have lived to regret as at 12-0-1 as a professional, many fight fans and experts believe the Morecambe man can reach the very top.

He said: “I knew I might regret it in a couple of years if I did quit.

“I’m still young and I’ve got a few more belts to win.

“I’m back in a happy place and fully focused again.

“It’s a fight where I know I’ve got to push myself.

“If I cheat at all he will take me out.

“I want to thank to the fans who have been in touch with me. I won’t let them down.”

It promises to be a tough night’s work for Lowe though as he returns to the venue where he stopped Marco McCullough in eight rounds on the night Carl Frampton defeated Scott Quigg back in February.

‘The Atomic Spider’ won the Commonwealth Bantamweight title in England in 2006 against Martin Power, defending it against Lee Haskins and in a rematch with Power.

Munyai’s last two outings have been stoppage wins in Preston, where he trains under Johnney Roye, and the 31-year-old has an experience advantage over Lowe, 10 years senior to the champion and with 19 more pro bouts under his belt.

Lowe said: “It could go many different ways.

“He’s a very, very good counter puncher and if I go to the trenches with him it could be dangerous.

“He may be 31 but he’s stopped his last three opponents so has still got it.

“But I think I’ve got the youth and the speed to hurt him and I’ve shown I improve as the rounds go on.

“Everyone thinks it’s a big step up but I don’t think it is.

“I think I win all day long.”

Lowe is looking for sponsors to support him on his big night. 
Contact 07534 947221, @isaaclowe6 on Twitter or find him on Facebook.

Tickets, priced £40 and £60, will be availble soon with Lowe hoping to have a bus running from Lancaster and Morecambe for the fight.