Jordan Gill produced a right hand from the gods as he knocked out of Karim Guerfi in the ninth round to claim the European featherweight title at the O2 Arena in London.
Gill had been on the verge of defeat after being floored in the seventh and was tacking a battering in his own corner until he uncorked one right hand that knocked the Frenchman out.
It was an incredible turnaround as Gill, who had a huge swelling over his right eye, seemed unable to even walk out of his corner he was so unsteady on his legs.
Guerfi had been blown away in a round by Lee McGregor on his previous trip to the UK, but he rebounded from that to win the European title two weights up at featherweight and he started well here, getting through with a right in the first that stood him back on his heals.
Gill found his feet more in the second as he drew Guerfi on to his shots, but the champion was holding his ground well and making Gill work hard.
After a close third, Gill took over in the fourth as he started moving around Guerfi to open up gaps for his looks. In the fifth, an exchange saw Gill land a solid right that hurt Guerfi and send him back to the ropes and it was only when Gill strayed low with one shot that the Frenchman found a reprieve.
But Guerfi came on strong in the sixth, standing off Gill and getting though with some big rights. And when he landed, he went back for more as Gill seemed frozen in range and shipping punishment.
Gill began the seventh well, but was caught in range by a big left hook that dropped him to the floor. Suddenly Gill looked on the verge of defeat, as he sat on the ropes while Guerfi unloaded and when the held and fell to the floor, Guerfi seemed to bang Gill’s head into the canvas.
For most of the eighth, Gill stayed stuck in his corner and when he ventured out, his legs seemed unable to carry him. He landed one good right but was under continuous pressure, especially after Guerfi landed a big right.
The ninth was going the same way, with Gill stuck in his corner before he uncorked one huge shot that landed cleanly. Guerfi took one step backwards then fell back.
Referee Thomas Walser did not bother to count, waving it off at 2:59 of the ninth.
Ron Lewis is a senior writer for BoxingScene. He was Boxing Correspondent for The Times, where he worked from 2001-2019 - covering four Olympic Games and numerous world title fights across the globe. He has written about boxing for a wide variety of publications worldwide since the 1980s.
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