Walsh eventually sees off Kays to retain Commonwealth title
Cromer’s Liam Walsh made a successful first defence of his Commonwealth super-featherweight crown by stopping Jon Kays at Robin Park Arena in Wigan this evening. Kays proved stubborn opposition for the unbeaten Walsh but eventually succumbed to body shots and was counted out towards the end of round ten.
Walsh, who was in front by baffling margins on the judges’ scorecards after nine completed rounds (90-81, 88-82 and 88-83), boxed within himself for long periods and was guilty of taking his foot off the gas after he floored and almost halted the plucky Kays in the fourth. In contrast, BoxRec News had Kays in a three-point lead before he came unstuck.
The rangy Kays from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester (9st 2 10oz) threw crisp, straight punches behind a high held guard from the off but was shaken by a left hook from the more conservative Walsh in the opener. Undeterred, Kays continued to get off first with his shots and a decent burst forced Walsh to briefly cover up against the ropes in round two. Kays’ better workrate also caught the eye in the third and the unheralded challenger received further encouragement when an accidental clash of heads opened up a cut above the champion’s left eye.
The cut served as a wake-up-call for the talented Walsh, who frustratingly boxed within himself for long periods. Kays was gradually growing in confidence but as he attempted to work Walsh’s body, he was caught napping by a left hook which shook him to his boots. Liam needed no invitation to steam in and a scintillating two-fisted burst dispatched a shellshocked Kays to the seat of his pants. For a moment, it seemed that Kays would sit out the count until he hauled himself upright at eight and survived to be bell.
It appeared a matter of time before Walsh would put the finishing touches to his maiden title defence. However, just as he did when winning the Commonwealth title against Maxwell Awuku in October, Walsh’s concentration went awry in the middle rounds. Kays’ better workrate and ring generalship as he occupied the ring centre brought the challenger right back into contention.
There was little urgency about Walsh’s work as he frequently switched from orthodox to southpaw and back again, with seemingly no apparent logic for doing so. An unlikely upset suddenly seemed a real possibility when a right hand from Kays dazed Walsh midway through the eighth forcing the Cromer prospect to hold whilst his head cleared. It prompted a shift in tactics from Walsh who produced his best spell when outboxing Kays off the back foot to clearly take the ninth.
Walsh gave the impression throughout that he could step out of second-gear whenever he liked but seemingly needs to be stung into action to produce his best work – a worrying character trait as he steps up in class. A sudden injection of pace and spitefulness proved sufficient for Walsh to eventually curtain Kays’ gallant challenge in the tenth. Now fighting with greater urgency some authoritative body punching from Walsh, culminating in a left hook to the ribcage, sent Kays sprawling to the canvas face-first where he was promptly counted out by referee Victor Loughlin.
Walsh, who possesses bags of talent when he decides to use it, improves to 11-0 (8) and could yet be the sleeper in Britain’s competitive super-featherweight division, Kays, who put a far sterner challenge than many anticipated, slips to 13-2.
