Last Saturday night’s (August 19th) Matchroom card may not have featured renowned fighters, but it did spotlight emerging talents. Galal Yafai, the youngest of the Yafai siblings (which includes Gamai and Khalid Yafai), headlined the card and delivered a remarkable performance by stopping opponent Tommy Frank in the 1st round of their match.
The clash between flyweights Galal Yafai (5-0, 4 KO’s) and Tommy Frank (15-4-1, 3 KO’s) quickly intensified as Yafai pressed Frank against the ropes within the opening seconds. The two engaged in several exchanges, with Yafai gaining an advantage by consistently backing Frank into a corner.
In less than 30 seconds, Frank found himself in a clinch with Yafai, who managed to break free and deliver two powerful hooks, the second of which sent Frank to the canvas for the first knockdown of his career.
As the first minute concluded, Galal Yafai remained animated, landing pivotal blows that visibly affected Frank. Although another knockdown wasn’t officially counted, it was evident that Frank was struggling, with his legs occasionally betraying him.
The next minute saw Tommy Frank enduring a one-sided beating as Galal Yafai unleashed a barrage of punches, many of which connected. Around the 1-minute and 40-second mark, Frank’s corner recognized the severity of the situation and threw in the towel, leading to Yafai’s victory through a 1st-round stoppage. This win allowed Yafai to maintain his WBC International title, showcasing his dominance and positioning him as a formidable contender in the flyweight division.
While Galal Yafai is still relatively new to the professional boxing scene with only five fights under his belt, his victory over Tommy Frank signifies him not just as a prospect, but also a potential world title challenger. Having previously already won an Olympic gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Yafai is now appearing to quickly deliver on the tremendous potential that he’s shown throughout his amateur career.
The remainder of the card featured other prospects aiming to make their mark in the sport. Unbeaten welterweight Cyrus Pattinson (6-1, 4 KO’s) suffered an unexpected defeat in the 8th round against fellow Brit Conah Walker (12-2-1, 4 KO’s), a setback he could potentially rectify through a rematch.
Heavyweight prospect Solomon Dacres (7-0, 2 KO’s) secured another victory by unanimous decision against Chris Thompson (12-5-1, 7 KO’s), showcasing progress on his path to becoming a future heavyweight contender. Although he didn’t achieve a knockout win, Dacres demonstrated growth since turning professional in 2021.
On the same card, super featherweight prospect Jordan Flynn (9-0-1, 1 KO’s) disappointed as he battled to a draw against Kane Baker (19-10-1, 2 KO’s). In their rematch, Flynn failed to make a strong impression despite knocking down Kane in the 2nd round. The point deduction in the 10th round may have influenced the drawn decision. Overall, it was a closely contested match that reflected the heated nature of their first encounter, spanning 10 rounds.
