Upsets in London: Kid Galahad and Terri Harper knocked out

Kid Galahad and Terry Harper weren’t supposed to lose this past weekend in London.

The pair entered their title fights as champions - and exited as dazed ex-titleholders.

Galahad entered his bout with former two-time champion Kiko Martinez a monumental favorite. No surprise there. Galahad (real name Barry Awad) had looked good winning the IBF featherweight title over one James Dickens last August. The only blemish on his record was a narrow decision loss to Josh Warrington in 2019. Many figured his fight with Martinez was nothing more a tune-up than anything serious.

Martinez, on the other side of 35, had dropped two of his previous six fights. Most expected him to lose to Galahad – and for a little over 14 minutes, things didn’t look promising. Galahad hurt and outboxed Martinez with ease.

Don’t count those chickens too early. Martinez, bloody and buckling at times, pressed forward. Near the end of round five, the Spaniard unleashed a wicked right from his native country. Galahad collapsed to the canvas as if a train had hit him. He beat the count and was fortunate the round was almost over. He staggered to his corner like a woozy bar patron who had one too many.

He had. That one rattled his senses. All it took was one more. Galahad got off his stool to begin round six. He still looked wobbly. Martinez took two steps forward and fired a straight right that flattened Galahad. The fight was emphatically over.

“It was the most stunning thing I’ve seen in thirty-five years of watching boxing”

said promoter Eddie Hearn

An hour before the main event, undefeated WBC super-featherweight champion Terri Harper was cheered wildly as she stepped between the ropes. Her opponent, little know Alycia Baumgardner, winner of 11 of 12 professional fights, was coming down in weight and given little chance to win.

Her chances improved in rounds one and two as she outboxed and countered Harper. Baumgardner buckled Harper’s legs with a big right. Harper seemed to get back some semblance in round three, but that was only temporary. Seconds into the next stanza, Baumgardner landed a hellacious right off the side of Harper’s head. The power of the shot sent Harper to dreamland while still standing. She wavered and turned away from her opponent. Referee Mark Lyson jumped in to save her, but not until Baumgardner landed one more punch as Harper staggered to the ropes.

“I dreamed of this moment,” said Baumgarner.

Stunning.

Always dream because sometimes they come true.

Just ask Alycia Baumgardner and Kiko Martinez.