KID’S KIKO’D

But Galahad will get chance to reclaim world crown after shock knockout

KID GALAHAD will be offered the chance to reclaim the IBF featherweight title after his shock defeat to Kiko Martinez.

Galahad was in total control before Martinez floored him at the end of the fifth round (right), and finished him in the sixth, to become a two-weight world champion at 35.

Promoter Eddie Hearn was stunned by Galahad’s loss, in front of his home fans at Sheffield Arena, and claimed it was the biggest upset he had ever witnessed.

He says Galahad, real name Barry Awad, can have a rematch with the veteran Spaniard if he wants to jump straight back in the ring with him. “Unbelievable,” said the Matchroom supremo. “In 35 years of watching boxing, I have never seen anything like that, anything!

“Kiko got battered, his legs buckled in the first minute, and I was thinking to myself, ‘This could be over in the first or second round’.

“This the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen.

“Deep down, I really didn’t see Kiko winning the fight, and after round one, two, three, four, I certainly didn’t see him winning the fight. That’s what was so unbelievable about him winning.

“There were no signs, it was a destruction up to that point. This was just absolutely out of nowhere. I still can’t believe it.

“The rematch could be in Spain. Kiko Martinez is with

Matchroom and it would be good to give Barry another chance – he was dominating the fight.

“We will speak to Kiko, we will speak to Kid Galahad. We will see.”

Galahad, 31, boxed well before Martinez turned the fight on its head at the end of the fifth when he floored the Sheffield fighter with an overhand right.

Galahad got up, but Martinez ended it six seconds into the sixth with another big right hand.

The surprise loss (above) was only the second of Galahad’s career – he recovered from his first against Josh Warrington, in June 2019, to become world champion in August.

Hearn believes he is good enough to come back again and added: “Kid Galahad is always up against it.

“He doesn’t have a style that will thrill you every time, but he’s really, really good. He was really good, he’s a brilliant fighter.

“I was thinking before that knockout that I don’t know who could beat him out of the other champions.”