Keeler KO’d after all-out war with Doran

Luke Keeler went from the cusp of glory right back down to crushing defeat tonight live on on Sky Sports.

The Dubliner’s rematch with Tom Doran was four minutes and thirty-seven seconds of pure middleweight war with Keeler sending his man to the canvas heavily in the first before the Welsh boxer roared back with three knockdowns to end the contest in the second stanza.

The bout opened the televised portion of the undercard to Callum Smith’s challenge for Hadillah Mohoumadi’s European super middleweight title at the Echo Arena in Liverpool and it certainly didn’t disappoint with Tony Bellew labelling it “the best two rounds I’ve ever seen in a British boxing ring.”

The clash was a hotly-anticipated rematch to last year’s Prizefighter semi-final where the Connagh’s Quay fighter overcame an injury-afflicted Keeler. This time round the Irishman showed the power his right hand holds, but was caught as he looked to finish the bout.

Keeler began jabbing sharply and floored Doran with a huge right hook and swarmed the Welshman, shaking him to his boots. Doran however, turned it around with a short left hook as the Ballyfermot boxer rushed in, dropping him heavily. The remainder of the round saw the Prizefighter winner dominate as Keeler sought to hold on.

The second round quickly descended into a firefight again, and it was Keeler who unfortunately came out second best, being felled by another left hook. ‘Cool Hand’ bravely rose but was down again as Doran jumped on him. The towel was quickly thrown in by Paschal Collins but referee Ian-John Lewis was already waving the bout off.

The disappointing loss sees Keeler drop to 10(5)-2(1), while Doran improves his unbeaten record to 17(7)-0 and adds the WBC International belt to his wardrobe.