Steven Cairns delivered an impressive stoppage of Arnie Dawson on the undercard of Jazza Dickens-Anthony Cacace in Dublin, Ireland.
Cork’s Cairns, now 14-0 (9 KOs), was taking a step up in class against Dawson, who fights out of the famous Peacock Gym in London, England.
Dawson, now 8-2 (4 KOs), had given Mitchell Smith a competitive fight in his first defeat back in October, but was no match for Cairns. The Irishman seemed a weight above Dawson at times, continuously pushing his foe around the ring. Cairns’ power seemed to get to Dawson and in the ninth the inevitable happened. Cairns, 23, had his foe down three times, all three from hard right hands landing over the top of Dawson’s guard. Despite Dawson’s bravery, the referee Giuseppe Quartarone compassionately saved the 23 year old from further harm, waving the contest off at 1:38 of the ninth.
Before then, Eoghan Lavin picked up the BUI Celtic middleweight title with an eighth round finish of Liam Walsh. The contest was an entertaining one, with both men trading leather throughout. It was competitive, and heading into the final round the fight was in the balance. Lavin, now 8-0 (4 KOs), decided to take it out of the judges’ hands, smashing a right across Walsh’s face. Walsh fell into the ropes and Lavin pushed forwards, landing another right before a left hand sent Walsh down heavily. The referee had seen enough, and called a halt to the contest at one minute and 22 seconds of Round 8. Walsh fell to 9-1-2 (4 KOs) with the defeat.
Gary Cully made his junior welterweight debut on the card after suffering defeat to Maxi Hughes down at lightweight 15 months ago. Cully, now 19-2 (10 KOs), dominated throughout on his return, often unloaded with combinations as Garcia, now 17-18-4 (5 KOs), lay on the ropes. Despite Cully’s dominance he could not finish the tough Mexican, and settled for decision victory by scores of 60-54.
Irish amateur standout Bobbi Flood made his professional debut in the junior middleweight division against Hungarian Bela Istvan Orban, 6-20-2 (4 KOs). Flood is touted to do good things in the professional ranks and is trained by Stephen Smith in Liverpool, England. Flood, who was fighting in his home city of Dublin on his 21st birthday, made light work of his opponent, first dropping Istvan with a well placed left uppercut before finishing the job with a right hand once his opponent had returned to his feet. The time of the stoppage was 1:08 of Round 1.
The heavyweight Thomas Carty picked up a shutout victory against Russia’s German Skobenko, 6-19-2 (2 KOs). Carty, now 11-1 (9 KOs), was fighting for the first time since suffering his first career defeat against Dajuan Calloway at Madison Square Garden almost a year ago to the day. The Irishman suffered an ACL tear and was forced to withdraw after just two completed rounds. Carty, 30, looked a little off the pace – understandably after suffering such a severe injury – but dominated to take the contest by scores of 60-54.
