YORK heavyweight hitter Leo Atang dropped and ruthlessly stopped Cristian Uwaka in a single round at the Sunderland Live Arena. At just 18, Atang looks the business, albeit against understandably limited opposition.
As DAZN commentator Adam Smith referenced, Uwaka had travelled some distance from Portsmouth up to the North East. His weight suggested a blown-up heavyweight status, too. Grinning Atang dismissed him with minimal fuss.
Atang’s telephone pole jab was working early as Uwaka tried to mount attacks from a novice-like stance. A chopping right hand had Uwaka down in round one and receiving a quick count from referee Neil Close.
Uwaka, 1-6-1 (1 KO), was down again from another barrage, sending him melting to the canvas. The journeyman rose and seemed clear-headed, but the official had seen enough, calling it off at 2-31 of this ambitiously scheduled four-rounder.
“I was so focused on the fight I forgot you had to do all this talking after,” smiled Atang, improving to 2-0 (2 KOs).
“I still tried to be calm, look for the openings and stuff like that. Being calm, finding the openings and not just going for it, waiting for the right time and the right moments.
“Of course, I was nervous; it means so much to me. Boxing is my life. Next? Just activity, straight back in the gym on Monday, working on all the mistakes I made in there. I’m nowhere near the finished article yet.”
Tony Bellew echoed Barry Jones’ ringside commentary, calling for Atang to weed out the backslappers and stay focused on his goals.
