Kyle Williams clinches English crown
Kyle Williams picked himself up off the canvas to lift the English bantamweight title on Saturday evening.
The Midlands Area king wrestled the crown from champion Thomas Essomba in an epic battle at the Willows Banqueting Suite, Willenhall.
Topping the BCB Promotions Emerging Stars show, the 26-year-old from Wolverhampton showed guts to obtain glory against his granite-chinned opponent over 10 absorbing rounds.
Williams started brightly and was easing into the fight when, with seconds to go in the opener, Essomba unloaded a left-hand bomb to the back of the challenger’s head which sent him sprawling to the canvas.
Visibly shaken, Williams was saved by the bell six seconds into a standing eight count and his corner team of Errol Johnson, Paul Mann and Taffy Evans worked wonders to ensure he was back on steady feet at the start of the second.
Williams shook the knockdown off and got back to executing his game plan to perfection. He went on to control the middle rounds and managed to drop his Cameroon-born opponent in the seventh.
A short burst of well-placed shots saw Essomba touch the canvas, complaining of a slip.
The outgoing champion finished strongly, but at the end of an epic battle, Williams was awarded a split decision victory.
There was also title success for Williams’ stablemate, Lauren Johnson. The only female professional boxer from Wolverhampton was crowned International Challenge middleweight champion with a deserved points win over Hungary’s Klaudia Vigh.
There were also wins for Brierly Hill debutant, Connor Lee Jones, Wolverhampton cruiserweight Antony Woolery, Swadlincote welterweight,Connor Parker, Polish welterweight Damian Kiwior and Ludlow’s IBO Continental welterweight champion Craig Morris.
