Feargal McCrory’s valiant attempt to unseat WBA super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach ended in the eighth round at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, DC. McCrory went out on his shield.
After defeating Hector Luis Garcia in November of last year to capture the title, it was a momentous return for the native of Washington, DC.
The county Tyrone man had his own goals and tried everything he had to secure the upset, so his maiden defense was not an invitation for unifications but rather a display.
McCrory was unable to take advantage of this chance, but he was forced to give up when the barrage of blows grew too much and his corner pulled him out.
Not that it was a one-way street. It was essential that the Coalisland boxer leaped on the champion to counteract his speed and talent in order to generate the shock.
In an attempt to establish his frame and turn this into a close-quarters battle, McCrory charged in right away, giving Roach little space to maneuver.
Yet Roach, like all great champions, found a way. Despite being startled in the beginning, he quickly adjusted and succeeded in making McCrory take a step back, allowing him to make a quick right and get the necessary gap.
In the second, he made a move from the ribcage to the head, setting up a future move, and in the third, he scored his first knockdown.
To be fair, it was a flash knock that looked to catch McCrory off guard, but the damage was undeniable in the fourth when an uppercut opened the way for a terrible punch to the ribs.
McCrory sprang up, but he fell down again quickly due to the identical hit, which led to a 10-7 round that he managed to finish while gasping for oxygen.
The vows to give it everything up in the ring were not empty threats, as McCrory confronted the American squarely in the fifth round. Remarkably, though, his right arm was strapped to his ribs, indicating that genuine harm had been done and that it was not overlooked.
His gallantry bid persisted, but by the eighth, with that arm at his side, Roach was able to tee off with the left, knowing there was no turning back and McCrory standing tall with his chin exposed.
Although Tyrone was here for the belt, he will come out of tonight with a lot of credit, which is not very comforting.
Roach, for his part, is hungry for more and is already planning a confrontation with another champion in the category.
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