Yafai Wins Easy, Walker Scores the Upset, Flynn Draws with Baker
Olympic gold medalist and rising flyweight prospect Galal Yafai (5-0, 4KO) barely broke a sweat in scoring a first-round stoppage over Tommy Frank (15-3-1, 3KO).
Everything lasted longer than this fight – the ring walk, the fighter’s introduction, and the referee instructions. Frank, an accomplished BBBoC British titlist and WBC International Silver titlist, was extremely dismissive of his opponent’s amateur accomplishments.
That proved to be a huge mistake as a very angry Yafai quickly attacked with the straight left hand that put Frank on the canvas. With his power meter on full, he re-engaged after Frank got up by landing more punishing left hands, forcing the corner to stop the fight.
This performance is why Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn believes he is ready to fight someone within the top ten. During the post-fight interview, Yafai expressed wanting a title fight.
Yafai is levels above the domestic circuit and should be put in the ring with guys that will help move him up the rankings.
CONAH WALKER UPSETS CYRUS PATTINSON FOR THE WBA MINOR TITLE
Welterweight Conah Walker (12-2-1, 3KO) scored the biggest win of his career against prospect Cyrus Pattinson (6-1, 4KO).
Both men came out looking to test the other fighter’s will. The fight quickly turned into a give-and-take phonebooth battle that excited the crowd. In round three, Walker landed a massive right hook on the chin that dropped Pattinson to the canvas.
After narrowly surviving the round, Pattinson took the advice of his corner and boxed on those toes to get control of the contest. However, he tasted the canvas again in rounds five and six as both men were throwing bombs.
The knockdown in the sixth could have been ruled a push. Nevertheless, Pattinson came roaring back by attacking with hooks and uppercuts to the body. However, Walker wasn’t going to be denied and landed thunderous right hands and brutal body shots.
After taking unbelievable punishment in the eighth round, Pattinson’s corner did not want him to take any more punishment and called off the fight. Walker’s relentless pressure, power, and combination punches were key factors in the victory. Also, he walked away with the WBA International title.
JORDAN FLYNN AND KANE BAKER REMATCH ENDS IN A DRAW
In a rematch that produced back-and-forth action, junior lightweights Jordan Flynn (9-0-1, 1KO) and Kane Baker (19-10-2, 1KO) ended in a draw.
Like their first fight, this was fireworks from the start of the bell as both men went on the attack early. Flynn’s combination of punches and angles made his opponent a little gun-shy. However, Baker quickly got over it and attacked the body coupled with a few hard right hands.
In round two, Flynn landed a crushing right hand that dropped Baker to the canvas. Yet, Baker was far from defeated. After surviving the round, he came marching back into the fight with relentless pressure.
Down the stretch, Flynn made the adjustment by using those legs to create an opening and went on a relentless body attack.
In the last round, drama arose as both men engaged in war. The referee took a point away from Flynn. That deduction proved costly as the referee ruled the fight a 94-94 draw. A trilogy will more than likely be in order as these two fighters produce instant action.
