Jessica McCaskill Easily Outclasses Kandi Wyatt in Seventh Round KO
While waging war in the belly of the MGM Grand Casino, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, undisputed welterweight champion Jessica “CasKilla” McCaskill (11-2, 4 KO’s) staged the second defense of her four titles. McCaskill retained the belts after out-boxing and out-classing Kandi “Krush” Wyatt (10-4, 3 KO’s) en route to a seventh round stoppage. Yet it should be mentioned that Wyatt was actually a late replacement for Victoria Bustos. The Argentine fighter was unexpectedly removed from the fight equation by unforeseen travel issues related to COVID protocols. In her place, Wyatt slipped in.
Entering the bout, the women shared near identical records and both had faced elite competition before. In fact, McCaskill was fresh off her rematch and second victory over women’s boxing titan Cecilia Braekhus. CasKilla has also tested her wits against and gave undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor all she could handle. Likewise, Wyatt certainly picked up a trick or two in her dustups with Christina Linardatou and Kali Reis. Yet, clearly those prior experiences were not enough to overcome the champion.
ONE-WAY ACTION
The difference in skill and ability was nearly immediately apparent at the opening of the bell. In fact, Wyatt showed a very good chin by withstanding the river of hard right hooks and uppercuts that she was drowning in. Even though she was being hammered regularly, Krush did not shrink from the action and freely let her hands go. Trouble was the champion was landing the better punches. With the coming of the second round, McCaskill refocused her attack from the head to mainly the body.
During the fourth, CasKilla alternated between the head and body very well. Wyatt was getting in her offense but it was paling in comparison. At the end of the period, McCaskill’s mean-spirited work-rate had left Wyatt with a notably bleeding nose. The fight underwent an undeniable shift in the sixth. Technically nothing changed in terms of the fight dynamics. The only difference was now Wyatt was showing more ill effect from the punches.
Instead of just walking through them, now she was pausing and grimacing more. Referee Celestino Ruiz demanded that Krush show him something for the entire round. Unsurprisingly, Ruiz jumped in and halted the action at the top of the seventh. Technically speaking, it was far from the best stoppage, but it was clear that Wyatt was losing, wilting and hopelessly down on points. Barring a minor miracle, she was not going to win this bout. Realizing this, the official saved her from any further damage.
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By: Bakari Simpson
