Belfast’s Colm Murphy is the new Commonwealth featherweight champion with a stoppage win over Tanzania’s Saleh Kassim at The Mill in Newtownabbey.
Murphy, who will step up to super-featherweight to face Dublin’s Jono Carroll for the IBO belt on the ‘Jazza’ Dickens-Anthony Cacace undercard on 14 March, came through unscathed in a fight he always seemed on course to win.
Advertisement
Kassim was pulled out at the end of the sixth round by his corner who informed referee Reece Carter of a hand injury, but in truth this fight was only going one way with Murphy in command.
The 26-year-old becomes the first Commonwealth featherweight champion from Northern Ireland since Billy ‘Spider’ Kelly in the 1950s and improves to 16-0 in the process with attention now turning to his Dublin date with Carroll.
“He came out swinging, but we watched him and knew he would come forward,” Murphy said after his victory.
“I made him miss a lot in the first round and could feel him breathe heavy, so I kept by defence tight, worked him to the body and was coming on stronger.
Advertisement
“I put in a good performance there and have another big challenge ahead of me, moving up in weight for another 12-rounder. I’ve nothing to lose here against a great fighter, so I’m all for it.”
Murphy takes control after ambitious Kassim start
Kassim opened with plenty of ambition, letting his hands go from the off but Murphy quickly took the centre of the ring and began to establish himself off the jab to nullify Kassim’s plan to get up close and work on the inside.
Murphy was on top, but left himself open on occasion when caught with right hands, yet there didn’t seem to be enough meat on those shots to stop the Belfast man in his tracks, who was perhaps happy to gamble.
Advertisement
While Kassim got through with a solid left in the fourth, Murphy’s response had the greater impact as the visitor was on shaky legs and keen to cling on.
The Tanzanian was then docked a point in the fifth for use of the head, while Murphy stepped on the gas in the sixth, putting his punches together against a visibly wilting challenger whose corner appeared to be throwing in the towel midway through the round, but withdrew it before capturing the attention of the referee.
However, it was a sign of distress from the visitors, and it came as no surprise they decided enough was enough at the end of the round as Murphy took the title before a significant step-up against former world title challenger Carroll in March.
More boxing from the BBC
Read the full article here