LONDON – Jimmy Sains and Tiah Mai Ayton picked up impressive stoppage wins at the York Hall in London, England.
The hard-hitting Sains was matched with Troy Coleman for the English middleweight title, and displayed his punch power from the off, walking down Coleman who retreated to the ropes. Sains, now 11-0 (10 KOs), sank a left hand to the body – a shot that Coleman certainly felt – and that set the tone for the rest of the contest. Sains, 24, upped the tempo in the second, aggressively pressing the action with his powerful jab. Coleman, 30, remained calm, but was taking heavy shots to the body and around the ears. The shots didn't seem to be having a big effect on him, but they certainly would down the stretch.
Sains’ aggressive start started to pay off in third, as his power finally started to have an effect on Coleman. Sains landed a hard left that shook Coleman, who again retreated to the ropes. Sains pressed forwards, again landing a hard left hand that forced Coleman to grab hold. Sains sneakily crashed home a left hook as the referee Lee Every called break, and was given a telling off for his actions. Things started to get really tough for Coleman in the fourth, as Sains came on strong, bullying Coleman around the ring with nothing coming back. Sains seemed to have Coleman hurt several times, and as a final right hand landed on the sound of the bell, Coleman staggered back to his corner. The writing was on the wall and Coleman’s corner did the right thing in pulling their man out, saving him from the inevitable. Coleman falls to 14-4 (6 KOs) with the defeat.
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Valdebenito, 32, was instantly on her bike as Ayton landed a thudding jab early in the opening round. Ayton remained calm, allowing Valdebenito to circle the ring before planting home her stiff right hand. Ayton started the second with more intent, she seemed to have found her range and landed a chopping right hand that dropped Valdebenito early in the session. Valdebenito returned to her feet, but it seemed Ayton couldn’t miss, nailing Valdebenito with several more rights, although this time she didn’t crumble.
Early in the third, Ayton again landed a solid right that brought a wince from the crowd. Valdebenito looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights, continuously running to the corners before she was again tagged by Ayton. The inevitable ending came late into fourth, things got a little scrappy as Ayton bullied Valdebenito from pillar to post. Ayton smashed in a hard jab as Valdebenito retreated to the corner and landed a scrappy right that seemed to bundle Valdebenito over. The Argentine climbed to her feet and complained that an elbow had dropped her but referee Sean McAvoy was having none of Valdebenito’s complaints, and strangely waved off the contest at 1:59 of Round 4 – although the bout was only heading one way. Ayton now stands at 3-0 (3 KOs) with the victory, but tougher tests lie ahead.
