GARDA NIALL KENNEDY from Wexford is the new heavyweight champion of New England.
The 33-year-old Gorey fighter upset the odds and the hometown champion with a hard-earned but well-deserved split-decision victory over Alexis Santos in a headline fight on a Lou DiBella card at Foxwoods Resort and Casino, Connecticut.
Kennedy dedicated a momentous career triumph to his newborn son, M.J, who remains in hospital but in fine fettle having been born prematurely.
‘Boom Boom Bas’, who strolled to the ring to the tune of The Boys of Wexford sporting a record of 8-0(5KOs), controlled the early proceedings with sharp work to the body and tidy head movement, with Santos [18-1, 15KOs] looking to land only power shots up top in the opening stanza.
The former Wexford minor and U21 footballer continued his body assault in the second, winning the round conclusively with neater, more effective work – Santos’ body again the predominant target on either side of fleeting, heavy exchanges between the pair.
Santos’ pace slowed in the third as he attempted to contend with his larger opponent’s deceptive movement and elusiveness, with Kennedy coasting to another early round with no shortage of style.
And that was where the plain sailing ended as far as the Irishman was concerned; the Lawrence, Massachusetts 28-year-old finished the fourth on top, his clubbing hooks finally making inroads beyond Kennedy’s guard as the former Irish Intermediate champion began to tire with a full six rounds plus change remaining.
The fifth picked up where both men had left off: Santos, by now the aggressor, dominated the frame with Kennedy having conspicuously wilted, his body shots now lacking any sort of verve, his breathing noticeably more pronounced. The champion was, however, warned for a low blow.
Halfway through the following round, it appeared ‘Boom Boom’ had weathered the storm only for Santos to come on strong once more in the final minute, his pressure enough to take it on the cards and, more pertinently, assume control of the contest.
But when both fighters met the bell to begin the seventh, it became apparent Kennedy’s relentless body assault had begun to take its toll; Santos barely through a punch in anger, while Kennedy – imbued by a second wind having seen his adversary take a step backwards – almost nonchalantly clawed his way back into what was transpiring to be a compelling heavyweight contest.
The Irishman’s output increased further in the eighth as he regained the ascendancy, rediscovering the pop to his shots that had kept Santos at bay in the early exchanges.
Great action thru 8 rounds; close, competitive battle between Alexis Santos & Niall Kennedy https://t.co/7Im6EWbzUi
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) September 16, 2017
Fading and befuddled somewhat, Santos let fly another low blow in the ninth, but it was one too many: he was docked a point having been formally warned a few rounds prior, and having subsequently dropped his fourth round on the bounce – this one likely on a 10:8 scoreline – he entered the 10th and final stanza in need of a knockout and exuding desperation.
Of course, in a see-saw battle of its nature, it was never likely that Kennedy would see out the final three minutes without having his whiskers tested. A lunging Santos went on the rampage, a number of thunderous shots bouncing off his opponent’s granite chin, his head too finding its target much to Kennedy’s disgust, but apparently unbeknown to the referee.
Par for the course, at this stage, another of the hometown fighter’s power shots strayed south of Kennedy’s waist, this time on the referee’s blindside as a combined 450-odd pounds careened around the ring during a frenetic finish.
To say Kennedy ‘survived’ would do him a disservice. He looked troubled but not hurt, in spite of Santos’ best efforts.
And so to the judges’ scorecards we went, the Yellow Belly pointing towards the initials ‘M.J.’ on his trunks, head bowed as he awaited the verdict. The first judge saw it 96-93 in his favour, the second awarding it to Santos on the same scoreline. “How?” a bemused Kennedy asked of the referee, who replied: “I don’t score the fights.”
The third, too, saw it 96-93, but while fears of what would have been a far-from-scandalous hometown decision lingered momentarily, the words ‘AND NEW’ were to send the Irish minority into hysteria.
Kennedy almost hit the roof before charging towards his corner, leaping into the arms of trainer Paschal Collins – or perhaps vice versa, on reflection.
#Ireland #Boxing HW @niallbaskennedy Kennedy 9-0 defeated Santos 18-1 Friday:https://t.co/QC4ZMtJE7T #boxeo #video #ko @murphysboxing #TTR pic.twitter.com/aaenCr7YO0
— the13thround.com (@the13thround) September 16, 2017
Kennedy put the victory in perspective during his post-fight interview with Iceman John Scully:
I have my beautiful son in hospital fighting a battle, so I’ll fight any battle in this ring, against any man. We don’t know how good we are yet, but I promise you, it’ll take one man with massive balls to stop me.
The Wicklow-based garda adds the New England title to the Massachusetts State strap he has perched atop an IKEA mantelpiece back home.
He’s now 9-0(5KOs) as a professional, while Santos slips to 18-2(15KOs).
Congrats to @niallbaskennedy and @packycollins; the Irish heavyweight/police officer won tonight because he wanted it more. Cheers! pic.twitter.com/5dljUUaNtG
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) September 16, 2017
