Sunday, August 8, 2021

Boxing Challenge: Galahad Dominates Dickens for IBF Crown

   In the backyard of Matchroom Boxing leader Eddie Hearn, the rematch between Kid Galahad and James Dickens ended very much as their first fight did in 2013-Galahad controlling the fight, busting Dickens up, and winning via late-round stoppage when the Dickens corner refused to allow their man to come out for the 12th and final round.

The result meant that Dickens lasted exactly one round longer than in their first round, suffered a beating so bad that not even myself, who almost always would say with one round to go why not try for a miracle, could say the corner was wrong in concluding the fight.

The beating that Galahad gave to Dickens was the type of beating that can end in tragedy as a prolonged pounding from an average puncher is far worse neurologically than a more spectacular knockout and with Dickens neither having strong power or shown any indications of landing any miracle bomb, I completely understand why the fight was waved off.

The win gave Galahad the IBF featherweight title that Josh Warrington vacated rather than fight Galahad in a rematch of their 2019 affair that Warrington won a close split decision and could set a match against countryman Leigh Wood, who upset Xu Can last weekend and who lost to Dickens which allowed Dickens to qualify for the vacant title fight.

Galahad would make sense for Wood with both fighting for Matchroom or the winner of the Josh Warrington-Mauricio Lara rematch with both being strong fights for the UK crowd.

Galahad is a fighter that is far from unbeatable but at the same time will give anyone in the division a rough evening because he is solid enough to not make mistakes and avoid firefights against bigger punchers.

As for Dickens, he is clearly a cut below the world-class level and I'm just befuddled after watching Leigh Wood take apart Xu Can on how did Dickens defeat Wood in 2020? 

In the boxing challenge, I scored two points for the Galahad win with Ramon Malpica picking Dickens to win.

I moved my lead to 105-93 in the challenge.

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