LIVERPOOL, England – Jack Turner stopped Juan Carlos Martinez Urbina after three one-sided rounds at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.
Prior to the contest the hard-hitting Turner had impressively dispatched all but one of his 13 foes faced. The rising star from Liverpool has perhaps the pound-for-pound heaviest hands in the UK, and he dealt with the overmatched Urbina in typical fashion. Turner, 24, told BoxingScene in the build up that he had taken inspiration from one of the UK’s most heavy handed of little men: The one and only “Prince” Naseem Hamed and Hamed, one suspects, would have enjoyed the Turner’s showing.
The now 14-0 (13 KOs) Liverpudlian had no respect for the traveling Nicaraguan and hurled his wild hooks from the off. Urbina looked tiny in comparison to Turner, and the difference in power was clear to see. Urbina, 26, would fire in a jab that would bounce off the head of Turner, who responded by thudding his right hand across Urbina’s rib cage. The pair were miles apart in terms of ability, and late into the opener Turner had his man down for the first time. A well-timed left hook sliced through Urbina’s guard and sent him tumbling down to the canvas. Urbina was lucky the bell sounded seconds later because he almost certainly would have been finished, but was allowed to return to his corner.
The second was again tough to witness; you could again hear the punches from Turner belt against the body of Urbina who helplessly tried to hold on in order to stop Turner’s relentless attacks.
The Nicaraguan was again down on the floor, and it was the same shot - a left hand - late in the round sending him to the deck. The bell again saved Urbina, but indelible writing was on the wall. Turner was now bullying Urbina in Round 3, pushing him around the edges of the ring and digging in shots to the body and head.
Urbina, 10-4-1 (4 KOs), was hurt badly by a quick left hook on the inside and grabbed hold of Turner to stay upright. The Nicaraguan was deducted a point for his consistent holding, but it mattered not. Turner finished the round by throwing a hard right that buckled the legs of Urbina who lay on the ropes. Yet again the bell sounded to save the Nicaraguan from a brutal finish, but this time his corner had seen enough.
As the bell sounded to signal the start of the fourth, Urbina’s corner signalled that the man had had enough, and the contest was waved off. Turner instantly leapt to the top rope in celebration. Tougher tests lie ahead, but Turner is certainly an exciting prospect at junior bantamweight.
