Kal Yafai makes a Statement in American debut
Birmingham's WBA super flyweight world champion Kal Yafia was victorious against David Carmona in Fresno America (25/5/18). Yafai’s World title wasn’t on the line tonight, as would-be challenger David Carmona missed weight on Friday, but Kal fought like he was trying to make a statement, and that’s what the Brummie boy did.
Yafai took his record to 24-0 (15 KO) with a strong performance, mixing it up with Carmona (21-6-5, 9 KO) and putting him on the canvas in the first round, fourth round, though a replay showed it was a low blow and twice in the fifth. Yafai had a point taken off him in the fifth round as he was a judged to have hit Carmona while he was down on the second occasion.
Carmona, who was nearly four pounds overweight at the weight in the day before, fought hard and gave a real effort, but he was outgunned by the fresher Yafia. The end came as Yafai was able to consistently land his power shots, and score with ease which just wore Carmona down.
In the end, it was Carmona’s corner pulling him from the fight after the seventh round, where he was looking flat-out exhausted due to the pace. Yafia, 28 said after the fight “What a way to start your U.S debut, putting on a show like that. Being hurt in the first round, getting buzzed, readjusting, coming back and breaking a very, very tough Mexican apart”. “My hands are sore, they’re in a bad way. That’s always the case, especially when you're hitting a hard guy like that. You just have to get on with it”.
Yafia is expects a big fight next, Roman Gonzalez could be a possible target, or a unification match against IBF super flyweight champ Jerwin Ancajas
Dexter’s Thoughts
Kal Yafia impressed in the States over the weekend and made a big statement that he is a true world champion. Kal put on a great display of boxing proving he can take it as well as dish it out. He is looking to unify the titles and I really hope Matchroom can get him these big title fights. Yafia is flying the flag for British and Birmingham boxing and I think we may be looking at Birmingham’s first undisputed World champion.