Belfast’s Colm Murphy is the new Commonwealth featherweight champion with a stoppage win over Tanzania’s Saleh Kassim at The Mill in Newtownabbey.
Murphy, who will step up to super-featherweight to face Dublin’s Jono Carroll for the IBO belt on the ‘Jazza’ Dickens-Anthony Cacace undercard on 14 March, came through unscathed in a fight he always seemed on course to win.
Kassim was pulled out at the end of the sixth round by his corner who informed referee Reece Carter of a hand injury, but in truth this fight was only going one way with Murphy in command.
The 26-year-old becomes the first Commonwealth featherweight champion from Northern Ireland since Billy ‘Spider’ Kelly in the 1950s and improves to 16-0 in the process with attention now turning to his Dublin date with Carroll.
“He came out swinging, but we watched him and knew he would come forward,” Murphy said after his victory.
“I made him miss a lot in the first round and could feel him breathe heavy, so I kept by defence tight, worked him to the body and was coming on stronger.
“I put in a good performance there and have another big challenge ahead of me, moving up in weight for another 12-rounder. I’ve nothing to lose here against a great fighter, so I’m all for it.”