Kal Yafai dominated Luis Concepcion to be crowned the WBA Super Flyweight champion at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night. Yafai became Birmingham’s first World champion with a class performance against the two-weight World champion, landing the fight on the cards with scores of 119-108 120-108 117-110.
Concepcion failed to make the weight at Friday’s weigh-in so the title was only on the line for the Brit, and he made sure he took his chance with both hands and underlined his dominance with a knockdown in the tenth round on the way to becoming Britain’s 13th World champion.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s going to take a while to sink in. I knew I was going to do it, it was just a matter of how. I just did what I needed to do, got through it. I still feel that I have a lot more in me and plenty more to give, this win will take me up to another level now.
“I always knew I was capable of a win like that. I really didn’t think he was that great in there, I felt from round one that I was winning he rounds comfortably, doing what I needed to do and making sure that I had plenty in the tank in the championship rounds.
“He was tough and physical but he wasn’t as strong as I thought he would be on the inside and he didn’t punch as hard as I thought he would. He had decent power, but not the power that I thought he would.
“Every Olympian and Olympic champion wants to become a World champion – I missed out on the Olympics but this is amazing, and I’ve had a great payday – but this is more than any payday you could ever give me.
“I could have been moved quicker really, I’ve had injuries and we’ve had to wait for the big fights. I think it has come at the right time though and the proof was in the win tonight. I’ve boxed a two-weight World champion and I’ve won very comfortably.
“I feel that I won near enough every round. I did a lot of good things but I did some bad things but I’ll correct them and get back in the gym after Christmas.
“I can’t wait to headline in Birmingham as a World champion, my hands are a bit sore so I might be out for a little bit, but the second I can get in the gym I will be back working and getting ready to defend this belt for the first time.”
