Kal Yafai makes successful title defense in Birmingham

Despite a game effort from his challenger, who displayed a tremendous chin and a lot of resilience, Kal Yafai made a predictably successful first defense of his WBA “world” super flyweight title today in Birmingham.

Yafai (22-0, 14 KO) won on scores of 118-108, 119-107, and 119-107. It was a virtual shutout for Yafai, who dropped Suguru Muranaka (25-3-1, 8 KO) in the second round, and was docked a point in the eighth for low blows. He won all 12 rounds on two scorecards, and 11 of 12 on the third.

The 27-year-old Yafai recently stated a desire to face Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez later this year, if Gonzalez is successful in regaining the WBC title from Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in an expected rematch.

Also on the card today, Sam Eggington (21-3, 13 KO) won the European welterweight title, knocking out defending titleholder Ceferino Rodriguez (24-2, 12 KO) of Spain in the 10th round.

Yafai’s younger brother Gamal was also victorious, winning the WBC international super bantamweight title with a seventh round stoppage of Sean Davis. Gamal Yafai (12-0, 5 KO) hasn’t been known as a puncher thus far in his career, but he battered Davis (12-1, 0 KO) in this one. Davis was down in the third round, twice in the fifth, and three more times in the seventh.