Padraig McCrory, McComb, and Walker Win Decisions
In a super middleweight showdown, Padraig “The Hammer” McCrory (18-0, 9KO) remained undefeated with a victory over Steed Woodall (18-2-1, 11KO).
It was bombs away early as both men took turns hurting each other in the first few rounds with hard right hands. McCrory finally settled in and began to box, sliding side to side and switching stances to land his money shot – the straight right hand.
However, Woodall took those punches like a sponge and began to return fire with powerful hooks that stunned his opponent. The drama continued into the middle rounds as The Hammer landed a hook that knocked Woodall off balance and caused his glove to touch the canvas for a knockdown.
In the closing moments, Woodall came alive with hard shots against his opponent. Yet, McCrory refused to wilt and fought hard until the final bell.
Two judges’ scorecards were 96-93, and one had it 98-92 in favor of McCrory. It was a solid win as The Hammer kept his undefeated record intact, but he needs serious work and is not ready to fight any of the big names in the division.
SEAN MCCOMB BOXED HIS WAY TO A VICTORY OVER ALEJANDRO MOYA
In front of the home fans in Ireland, junior welterweight Sean McComb (17-1, 5KO) continued his march up the rankings with a victory over Alejandro Moya (17-2. 10KO).
McComb quickly took control of the fight with the jab, straight left hand to the body and foot placement. He fought well in the pocket by using the angles to rip off blistering combinations before sliding out of the way of any return-fire.
The WBO #14-rated Irishman couldn’t miss the jab and did a good job of keeping his lead foot on the outside of his opponent. It wasn’t a complete shut-out as the Spanish challenger managed to land a few good shots that busted McComb’s nose.
Down the stretch, McComb fought at a comfortable pace. However, he decided to fight off the ropes in the last two closing rounds, which provided opportunities for Moya.
Nonetheless, he closed the show strong en route to scorecards reading 97-93, 97-93, and 99-92. This was a good victory for McComb, granted it was against a pressure fighter in Moya, but he showed discipline and improved defensive skills.
KURT WALKER FLAWLESS AGAINST FERNANDO DURAN
Amateur standout and junior lightweight prospect Kurt Walker (8-0, 1KO) pitched a shut-out against veteran Fernando Duran (15-15, 14KO).
The 2020 Olympian looked like a seasoned professional in this fight as he used his advantages in height, reach, and ring IQ to nullify the aggression of the Honduran. There wasn’t a lot of action in this fight as Walker landed sharp counterpunches and was supremely accurate with the jab the entire bout.
Duran showed some toughness as he continued to come forward, attempting to make it a dog fight. However, he failed to mount any offensive against the Irishman.
Walker’s defense was better than expected, as his footwork kept Duran off balance. Given his record, it’s no surprise that Walker didn’t get the stoppage. As it is often said in boxing, sometimes it is best to win and look good later.
The referee scored the fight 80-72 in favor of Walker, who showed growth, patience and potential.
TAG JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT KURT WALKER JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT SEAN MCCOMB SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT PADRAIG MCCRORY ESPN TOP RANK
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