Jay-Jay Wilson shocked the Belfast crowd with a devastating first-round knockout of Donegal’s Darragh Kelly, handing the Irishman his first skilled defeat in simply 37 seconds.
‘The Moville Mauler’ Kelly was stopped by seventh-ranked light-weight Jay-Jay Wilson in the primary occasion at PFL Belfast.
Wilson had initially been scheduled to face Derry’s Paul Hughes, however the bout was rearranged after Hughes withdrew with a knee harm.
The New Zealander, who was getting back from a defeat by Archie Colgan final October, slipped Kelly’s early jabs earlier than touchdown a left kick and following up with a strong left hook that ended the competition virtually instantly, silencing the SSE Enviornment.
“I landed the facet kick, set my base and as soon as I noticed it join I sat on the hook, and that was all she wrote,” stated Wilson after the victory.
Regardless of coming into because the away fighter, Wilson embraced the event and the gang.
“Eire, I really like you guys… regardless that you had been in opposition to me,” he stated, earlier than concentrating on Alfie Davies for a possible June bout in San Diego.
Assured in his preparation, Wilson added: “I do know what I am able to… I put my confidence within the work I do within the health club.”
The victory marked a major second for ‘The Maori Child’, who additionally spoke about representing his background and provoking others.
“If I can do it, anybody can do it,” he stated. “I need to paved the way for troubled youth.”
Within the co-main occasion, Ballymena’s Rhys McKee marked his PFL debut with a hard-fought victory over Alex Lohore, incomes a unanimous 30-27 resolution after a aggressive three-round contest.
Having been managed early by grappling, McKee grew into the combat, discovering success together with his jab and hanging within the second spherical.
The decisive second got here within the third, when McKee dropped Lohore with a proper hand earlier than ending strongly to safe victory.
“It was unbelievable… what an evening in Belfast,” McKee stated.
“All I needed was to be enthusiastic about combating once more and PFL answered.”
The 30-year-old, whose bout was solely confirmed in March, admitted it was a problem however by no means thought of turning it down.
“When PFL asks you to combat in your house metropolis, what are you able to say? You must do it.”
McKee additionally mirrored on the importance of competing in entrance of a house crowd.
“That may stick with me for the remainder of my life. These nights are uncommon, it’s important to take them in.”
Wanting forward, he added: “I am coming for the PFL rankings… put Rhys McKee up.”
