Boxer’s first win as pro
POPULAR GOREY boxer Niall ‘Basil’ Kennedy will be afforded a special homecoming in his home town tonight (Tuesday) after winning the first fight of his professional career in America on Sunday.
The Wexford heavyweight collected the vacant Massachusetts State title with a final round knockout against Jesse Barboza, a three-time New England Golden Gloves amateur champion.
The bout took place in Boston and it was a major achievement for Kennedy to triumph in his first eight-round professional contest.
A former Elite Senior finalist in the amateur ranks, he was the dominant figure after a relatively uneventful first round.
From that point on the Gorey Garda bossed the exchanges though as he grew in stature and confidence.
He put Barboza under pressure early in the second round, and Kennedy was unlucky not to force a stoppage.
The third round was a closer affair before Barboza posed some problems at the start of the fourth, only for Kennedy to weather the storm.
It was a case of entering the unknown for ‘Boom Boom Baz’ when he entered the seventh round for the first time in his career, but his superior fitness was clear for all to see.
And while Barboza tried to seize the initiative in the last round, Kennedy landed one sweet uppercut and that was followed by a barrage of punches which left his rival counted out as he fell against the ropes with nothing left to offer.
Now Niall will be feted in Breen’s Bar, Gorey, tonight (Tuesday), with a big crowd expected to congratulate him on this superb win.