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“Fairly Boy” Kwon Received Il additional shook up the bantamweight division by ending #2-ranked contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon with a devastating shovel hook on Friday, 17 December.
After Stephen “The Sniper” Loman beat #3-ranked Yusup “Maestro” Saadulaev earlier within the evening, Kwon knocked out the previous ONE Bantamweight World Champion within the co-main occasion of ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II on the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Within the opening spherical, the South Korean pressured Belingon early, backing him into the Circle Wall whereas throwing punches and kicks. From the again foot, “The Silencer” teased his taller opponent with spinning wushu kicks.
Belingon used his footwork to get off the fence, however Kwon adopted him like a morning shadow. Flustered, the Filipino shot in and wrapped his foe up, however “Fairly Boy” confirmed improved takedown protection to remain on his toes.
Kwon’s confidence grew after defending Belingon’s takedown, and he walked his opponent down as soon as extra. However this time, when he kicked, “The Silencer” grabbed his leg and dragged him to the canvas.
Belingon couldn’t maintain Kwon down, nonetheless. The South Korean stood up, circled away, and commenced tagging the veteran with punches that got here on the ends of his wiry arms as if he had been a modern-day Tommy Hearns.
To counter, Belingon shot, however Kwon sprawled. The Filipino swung, however “Fairly Boy” defended. And at last, “The Silencer” started discovering his mark.
For the ultimate minute of the spherical, he traded punches with the 26-year-old in an change that had each fighters shaking out their mouthpieces.
The 2 bantamweights continued to press the motion at first of the second body. Belingon fired off proper arms at Kwon’s head and physique, however the South Korean blended up his assaults, which included high and low kicks, straight punches and uppercuts, after which the ending blow.
Simply as “The Silencer” lunged right into a wild overhand proper, Kwon dipped to his left facet and wound up a shovel hook that hit and bounced off the previous World Champion’s rib cage.
Immediately, Belingon winced and went down as referee Justin Brown stopped the bout after 52 seconds of the second spherical.
The victory nudged Kwon’s document to 11-3 and should have earned the rising star a spot within the top-five bantamweight rankings.
Or higher but, he would possibly simply get a shot on the winner of the conflict between ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes and #1-ranked contender John “Arms of Stone” Lineker in 2022.
Learn extra: ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II – Full Outcomes For Each Battle
