Repeat? Revenge?
No matter your view on their controversial conflict on the York Corridor in 2020, the Tyrone McKenna [23(6)-5(2)-1] and Mohamed Mimoune [24(5)-6(0)] saga ended conclusively tonight in Belfast.
The house favorite was put down and out inside 5 rounds by his French opponent in a fiery encounter on the SSE Odyssey Area.
McKenna had prevailed on a debated resolution when the pair initially met within the semi-finals of the Golden Contract competitors, with loads of highway being run since then – however a rivalry remaining.
‘The Mighty Celt’ retired late final yr following his Battle of Belfast with Lewis Crocker however was tempted again to face an embittered Mimoune whose profession following that defeat noticed him develop into an away nook opponent on small Florida exhibits, dropping two and profitable one.
The Frenchman, nevertheless, didn’t struggle like a gatekeeper tonight, tearing into McKenna and, following a nasty eye harm, he went to a different stage and introduced a painful finish to the competition.
Livid from the opening bell, McKenna landed an enormous proper hand thrown along with his full physique however was buzzed by a flurry from the customer.
Mimoune bought the higher of the second spherical, the Tolouse lefty upping the work-rate and peppering McKenna who was trying to struggle lengthy within the early phases.
The Frenchman’s left eye gruesomely flared up early within the third following a conflict of heads. With the complexion of the struggle, fully modified, Mimoune started to roll ahead aggressively, earmuffs on. Given the chance to tee-off, McKenna obliged.
The struggle started within the fourth as Mimoune poured on the strain and getting on prime of McKenna. A low blow momentarily stopped the assault however a authentic bodyshot put the Lenadoon maniac down seconds later. Damage badly, McKenna rose slowly and someway withstood the barrage from Mimoune earlier than providing some gamesmanship, roaring and calling on his previous rival earlier than touchdown photographs from his boots. Mimoune did wrestle his method again on prime, nevertheless, and the tip got here early within the fifth.
A brief, sharp shot to the solar-plexus from Mimoune put McKenna down and the depend, within the struggle and maybe his profession, struck ten.
Mimoune didn’t endear himself to the house followers by mimicing kicking grime on McKenna, a-la a Mexican luchador, as he struggled to beat the depend however the pair embraced quickly after and got here collectively to share a message of assist for Palestine.
There was additionally enormous disappointment within the chief assist as Armagh favorite Fearghus Quinn [9(3)-1(1)] was knocked out violently within the second spherical by Scot Aston Brown [7(2)-0]. Following a strong first spherical, an enormous proper hand put Quinn down closely and that, sadly, was all she wrote.
Going through late substitute Bahadur Karami [4(1)-15(1)-3], Caoimhin Agyarko was introduced the complete eight. The Belfast gentle middleweight was at all times in management in opposition to the admirably sport Iranian and took a 80-72 win to maneuver to fifteen(7)-0
The all-Irish showdown between Dylan Moran [20(9)-2(2)] and Owen O’Neill [13(1)-0] resulted in sensational trend. Scheduled for eight rounds, it was throughout after 19 seconds. A succession of left palms from Waterford’s Moran discombobulated O’Neill and, slumped in opposition to the ropes, referee Eamonn Magill made the fitting name to leap in and intervene.
Child-faced Belfast featherweight Jack O’Neill generated loads of noise within the area and efficiently negotiated Bradford’s Jake Pollard [1(0)-75(4)] to get his professional innings underway with a 40-36 win.
Cookstown’s Teo Alin bought the televised-portion of the cardboard began, brawling via Engel Gomez [8(4)-34(6)-3] whereas rangy Belfast middleweight Gary Arthurs additionally bought off the mark, pecking previous Edgar Romero [13[10)-27(9)-3], each taking 40-36 selections.
Lastly, Strabane middleweight Cathal McLaughlin [1(0)-0] was spectacular in his professional bow, gorgeous Martin Shaw [4(1)-26(11)-3] with a variety of heavy photographs as he took a 40-36 debut win.
Valencia-based Wexford welterweight Dean Gonzalez-Furlong [2(1)-0] fought on Irish soil for the primary time and pounded the tight guard of Paul Scaife [1(0)-45(5)-1] for the complete 12 minute en-route to a 40-36 win.
Additionally making his house debut, Matty Boreland [2(1)-0] landed loads on sport Mexican Erick Omar Lopez [16(10)-13(1)-2] however the Coleraine super-bantam went the 4 spherical distance, additionally profitable 40-36.
Opening the present, native light-middleweight John Boyd [3(0)-0] scored his second win in eight days, controlling his six rounds with Jordan Grannum [11(0)-141(3)-5].
