A DEVASTATING right hook from challenger Ryan Barrett provided a stunning finale to the English super-featherweight title showdown in Jersey on Saturday evening.
The pale skinned Londoner smashed defending champion Femi Fehintola to the canvas just under two minutes into the third round of their top of the bill encounter at the Hotel de France in front of a crowd approaching 600 diners. Motionless, the Bradford-born fighter needed oxygen in the ring and attention from medical officials, including Jersey’s Dr Carl Clinton, to bring him round, followed by a precautionary trip to the General Hospital after he left the ring still looking shocked and dazed.
It was an unexpected finish to Jersey’s first professional boxing tournament for 20 years, as Barrett, although having undoubted quality, had been drafted in as a late replacement. But, if it was a decidedly unwelcome climax for promoter Dennis Hobson’s Fight Academy then it underlined the serious and often unpredictable nature of professional boxing.
Fehintola spent the night in hospital but after tests yesterday morning was allowed to fly back to the UK. The three supporting fights had all lasted the distance and gone to form, with former Jersey Leonis favourite Danny Maka pleasing his home crowd in clearly winning his bout over ring veteran Peter Dunn, though it was far from an easy introduction; English bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell outpointed the strong-finishing and game Frenchman Alain Bonnell, while his Fight Academy partner Gavin Smith did the same in the opening contest against Manoocha Salaari, though only by a narrow margin.
Pictured: Challenger Ryan Barrett lets out a victory roar seconds after flooring champion Femi Fehintola to win the super-featherweight championship of England at the Hotel de France on Saturday night. Jersey’s Dr Carl Clinton, standing left of ring, is already on his way to attend Fehintola, as is manager Dennis Hobson, yellow top
