Thursday 30 June 2016 17:08, UK
Trainer Joe Gallagher has dubbed Marcus Morrison 'my mini Joshua' as the Mancunian middleweight continues to impress.
The 23-year-old (12-0-KO9) is from Hattersley - the same area that produced British boxing hero Ricky Hatton - and although he is several stone lighter, boasts a physique proportionally similar to IBF world heavyweight champion Joshua.
Gallagher told Sky Sports: "I call Marcus Morrison my mini-Joshua. He's a good fighter but he's still only a baby. He was on the books of Manchester City but got released for being too small - then a few weeks later he grew five inches. It's just ironic.
You can tell that in the next 18 months to two years that he's going to be a real force.
"He's learning well. He's on the bag and to the left of him is Anthony Crolla and to the right is Liam Smith, who's a world champion in his weight division. If he can't improve in that environment then it's a case of packing up and going home.
"You could tell from his first TV fight that he liked it and wants to do it more. You can tell that in the next 18 months to two years that he's going to be a real force.
"I think all the fellas are just looking for an excuse to tell the missus that they're off to Vegas again and if the excuse is Marcus or Anthony Crolla or Scott Quigg, that's it - we're off. Bags packed. I'm sure that Vegas has missed the Mancunian lads over there and will be grateful to have them back."
Morrison was last in action on June 18 when he destroyed Konstantin Alexandrov inside a single round - delighting his home fans at the Trafford Centre.
