Popular Cardiff cruiserweight Craig ‘The Kid’ Kennedy finished the year with a third round win over replacement opponent Iain Jackson, at the Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales on Friday 13th December.
Kennedy’s original opponent, Wayne Brooks, pulled-out of a Welsh cruiserweight title clash a couple of days before, so ‘The Kid’ had to adapt to a new, if lesser, opponent.
A large crowd came-out to see the local favourite and he didn’t disappoint. After a steady pace, for the first two rounds, he lit-up the venue with a beautiful, hard flurry to end the contest. A right to the body followed by a stinging left-hook had Jackson in trouble and a quick flurry dropped him. Referee Reece Carter counted-out the beaten Jackson.
Fighters like Jackson (3-17-2) help the small hall shows survive by being brave enough to step-in, at the last moment even when facing larger men like Kennedy.
Craig Kennedy (7-0) has had a sparkling first year, to his professional career, under the guidance of former WBO featherweight champion Steve Robinson. This was Craig’s seventh win and 2014 will surely see him going for titles and potential fights with local rivals Wayne Brooks and Hari Miles.
In a clash of local fighters, welterweight Peter Ashton deservedly beat Tom Price over four rounds. Ashton got back to winning ways using an effective jab and steady body attack. Price put-up a decent showing in the first two rounds and got home with his own right hands but the slicker work was coming from Ashton, who countered well. Triallist referee Martin Williams officiated in the ring, and Reece Carter scored it 40-37 from ringside for Ashton who now has a record of 2-1. Price is still in search of his first win at 0-3.
Francis Luke Robinson, son of trainer Steve, got back to winning ways with a four round decision over Matthew Ashmole of Swansea in a light-middleweight contest.
Robinson employed an effective orthodox jab and was always a step-ahead of his opponent due to superior reflexes and speed. Reece Carter scored it 40-36 to Robinson from ringside. After eighteen months out, it was a good return for Robinson, whose record now reads 5-1 while Ashmole falls to 0-16.
Ring entrance of the night went to 18-year-old Romeo Romaeo, who back-flipped over the ropes. The Spencer Oliver trained youngster, from Bristol, beat Poland’s Krzysztof Rogowski over four rounds. Romeo weighed just above the super-featherweight limit.
Rogowski certainly came to win and had some success but overall Romaeo, fighting mainly out of the southpaw stance, was able to land the cleaner shots while evading most of what was coming back. The fight was a bit scrappy at times, with Rogowski employing some rough-house tactics on the inside. Romaeo needed to be a bit busier rather than moving, but this was a good learning fight for him.
Romeo is a work in progress but the speed, agility and shot selection is there. He came-up against a determined opponent though was rightly given the verdict.
Referee Reece Carter scored it 40-36 to Romeo Romaeo, who is now 2-0 while Krzysztof Rogowski’s record now reads 6-5.
The show, promoted by Mark Prior (Warrior Promotions), ended-up with only four bouts from the original line-up. The curse of Friday 13th was in play but the show was well attended with the favourites all avoided slip-ups.
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