Knockdowns cost Paddy Gallagher dear in entertaining title fight

Two knockdowns cost Paddy Gallagher dear in London tonight.

The Lenadoon welter was looking to take a step toward along the world title trail with victory on the top of a York Hall bill, but ultimately lost out to a majority decision to Freddy Kiwitt.

‘The Pat Man’ was hoping to claim WBO European ranking title and thus a Top 15 ranking, but those prizes were claimed by ‘Pretty Boy’ who registered a 93-95, 95-95, 94-95 scorecard win. 

Gallagher pressed and pressed against a fighter that was happy to hit and move and played his part in yet another entertaining bout, but suffered a fifth career defeat. 

Two visits to the canvas, first in round five and then in the eighth, suffered by the likable and entertaining puncher ultimately cost the former Commonwealth Games gold medalist. 

The fight was entertaining and close enough to make a rematch a possibility, but it might be one the self-managed Kiwitt may not want.  

Kiwitt looked to jab in the first stanza with Gallagher looking content to try work out his foe. The Belfast man worked the body when he got in range and managed to open a small cut over the right eye of his opponent.

Gallagher upped the tempo in the second and in typical fashion was happy to take a few to land some big shots. Two loaded right hands landed clean and although Kiwitt was enjoying some success of his own it appeared as if the pace set by the physically imposing Belfast man would reap reward down the line.

It was smash and grab by Kiwitt early in the third but the ever entertaining Gallagher was making his opponent work, managed to slow his foe down, and enjoyed success in the last minute of the round.

Both had success in the fourth with a real pattern emerging. Kiwitt was boxing and moving and possibly doing enough to take rounds, but Gallagher was making him work, scoring in the aggression stakes and landing the bigger shots when he did get in range.

Encouragingly for the Belfast support Gallagher seemed to get on top in round five, but hope turned to worry when the 28-year-old managed to introduce the Irish man to the canvas.

The 29-year-old wasn’t overly hurt, but his reaction proved he knew just how important the 10-8 round would prove to be in such a close fight.

Gallagher dominated the majority of the seventh, but just when the tide may have looked to turn the opponent stood and let a late flurry late on to show he wasn’t fading.

‘The Pat Man’ took two right hands early in the eighth, but again looked to be taking over as he bullied his foe as the round progress.

However a flash knockdown late in the stanza seemed to leave  the former BBBofC Celtic champion needing a knockdown or even a knockout. Again Gallagher wasn’t hurt and it appeared he wanted to argue slip with the referee, but knew it wouldn’t serve any real purpose.

The Belfast man put all he had into the last three, but Kiwitt’s proved his fitness, took some big shots, managed to stay out of major trouble all whilst enjoying some success of his own.

As result the Liberian claimed a massive win.