Former IBF Jr. Featherweight world champion Kiko Martinez
is a world champion again after scoring a devastating sixth round stoppage of IBF
Featherweight world champion Kid Galahad on Saturday night at the Sheffield
Arena in Sheffield, England. Martinez had trouble early in the fight due to Galahad’s
hand speed and angles. The challenger was cut in the second round over the
right eye from a punch. As it appeared Galahad was building a lead on the
scorecards, Martinez dropped the champion hard with an overhand right in the
closing seconds of round five. Galahad was able to get up, but was clearly hurt
at the end of the round. At the beginning of round six, Martinez immediately
threw another overhand right that sent Galahad down for a second time and out
on the canvas. The fight was immediately stopped. Official time of the stoppage
was :06 of round six. Kiko Martinez advances to 43-10-2, with 30 Knockouts. Kid
Galahad falls to 28-2, with 17 Knockouts.
Also on this card:
Alycia Baumgardner scored a fourth round stoppage of
previously undefeated Women’s WBC/IBO Jr. Lightweight world champion Terri
Harper to win the world championship. In what was Harper’s first fight in over
a year due to a broken hand, Baumgardner showed her power in this fight. In
round two the challenger stunned Harper with a right hand that momentarily buckled
her legs. Harper seemed to get her footing in round three, but in round four a
sudden end to the fight came when Baumgardner connected with an overhand right
that knocked Harper out on her feet. Referee Mark Lyson immediately stepped in and
prevented Harper from further punishment even though Harper did not go down to
the canvas. Official time of the stoppage was :23 of round two. Alycia
Baumgardner advances to 11-1, with 7 Knockouts. Terri Harper falls to 11-1-1,
with 6 Knockouts.
European Cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith
successfully made the first defense of his European crown by scoring a twelve
round unanimous decision over Dylan Bregeon. A fight that was at times fought
at a methodical pace, Smith was able to pick up his pace and outwork Bregeon
over the second half of the fight to earn the unanimous decision victory.
Official score were: 120-109, and 119-109 (On two scorecards) for Smith. Chris
Billam-Smith advances to 14-1, with 10 Knockouts. Dylan Bregeon falls to 11-1-1,
with 3 Knockouts.
Undefeated Jr. Lightweight Donte Dixon scored an eight
round decision over Jordan McCorry. At times a slugfest where both fighters
were willing to stand and trade power shots, Dixon’s greater activity controlled
the combat. In round six, Dixon dropped McCorry with a sweeping right hook to
the body. McCorry was able to get up from the knockdown, but would then be
penalized a point due to obsessive holding and not breaking on command from the
referee. As all non-title bouts that are held in the
United Kingdom and Ireland that do not have an impact on regional or world
rankings are scored solely by the referee officiating about, Referee Howard
Foster scored this bout 77-73 for Dixon. Donte Dixon advances to 6-0, with 3
Knockouts. Jordan McCorry falls to 19-8-1, with 4 Knockouts.
In a battle of unbeaten Welterweight prospects, Dom Hunt
scored a ten round decision over previously undefeated James Flint. A highly competitive
fight throughout, Hunt’s cleaner punches and generally being able to get his
punches off first ultimately proved to be the difference in the fight. As all
non-title bouts that are held in the United Kingdom and Ireland that do not
have an impact on regional or world rankings are scored solely by the referee
officiating about, Referee Steve Gray scored the bout 98-93 for Hunt. Dom Hunt advances to 8-0, with 1 Knockout. James
Flint falls to 9-1-1, with 2 Knockouts.
Bantamweight William Cawley successfully made his
professional debut by scoring a one-sided four round decision over veteran
Stephen Jackson. Referee Howard Foster scored the bout 40-36 for Cawley. William
Cawley advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Stephen Jackson falls to 1-7, with 1
Knockout.
Women’s Featherweight Stevi Levy remained undefeated by
scoring a four round decision over Polina Golubeva. Levy was in control from
the outset and saw it through to the end of the bout. Referee Steve Gray scored
the bout 40-36 in favor of Levy. Stevi Levy advances to 5-0, with 0 Knockouts. Polina
Golubeva falls to 1-4, with 1 Knockout.
Unbeaten Light-Heavyweight Khalid Ayub scored a four
round decision over Stanko Jermelic. The highlight came late in the third round
when Ayub dropped Jermelic with a counter left hook. Jermelic was able to
survive the round and go the distance. Referee Howard Foster scored the fight
40-35 in favor of Ayub. Khalid Ayub advances to 2-0, with 0 Knockouts. Stanko
Jermelic falls to 0-12, with 0 Knockouts.
Women’s Jr. Lightweight Raven Chapman began the evening as she moved to 2-0 in her young career by
pounding out a six round decision over very “Game” veteran Karina Kopinska.
From the opening bell, Chapman applied pressure and tried to break Kopinska down with a
body/ head attack, but to her credit, Kopinska made it to the final bell. Referee
Steve Gray scored the bout 60-54 for Chapman. Raven Chapman advances to 2-0,
with 1 Knockout. Karina Kopinska falls to 14-45-4, with 3 Knockouts.
Boxing is
truly a sport as this observer has said over the many years that I have covered
the sport where often the best approach one can take as an observer is to
expect the unexpected. Both Kid Galahad and Terri Harper entered their respective
world championship defenses on this card as significant favorites over their opponents.
Those opponents Kiko Martinez and Alycia Baumgardner were each able to
upset the apple cards in their challenges and as 2022 approaches, what were in
the plans for Galahad and Harper in potential unification bouts in their
respective weight classes has now obviously been changed.
While obviously, the question that will be asked is whether
or not both will seek rematches in the new year. Although one cannot dismiss the
possibility of both Galahad and Harper invoking their rematch clauses, it is important
to keep in mind, both of these fighters suffered brutal knockouts and as much
damage as knockouts like what occurred in these two fights can damage a fighter
physically, so too can it damage a fighter mentally and both will likely need time
to recover from their losses. As for which fighter scored the bigger upset
here, yours truly believes both of these results were unexpected, but for the thirty-five
year old Martinez, a fighter who was eight years removed from winning his first
world championship, to become a two-division world champion under circumstances
where some treated his challenge of Kid Galahad as a mere afterthought is
likely a frontrunner for Upset of the Year for 2021. Not only because he emerged
victorious, but more importantly the manner in which he achieved victory.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison
All Rights Reserved.
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