Boxing Fight: “Give me Amir Khan!” shouted Florian Marku after a dramatic fourth-round stoppage of Chris Jenkins to retain the IBF international welterweight title.
In the early rounds, the Albanian was pushed by former British champion Jenkins, who was cheered on by a big and vociferous crowd in Newcastle on the undercard of Savannah Marshall’s world championship defence against Femke Hermans.
However, in the fourth round, a massive right hook from Marku to Jenkins’ head kicked off a devastating sequence of punches that resulted in referee Steve Gray calling the fight off, giving the former mixed martial arts fighter a record of 11(7)-0-1.
Those in attendance included British fighter Chris Kongo, who had been considered as a possible next opponent, but Marku quickly shifted his attention to some of the division’s greatest stars, including former world champion Khan.
“Please don’t discuss these kinds of names since these guys avoided me on my path up,” Marku added, referring to the idea of fighting Kongo next.
“Now that I’m making a lot of noise and winning a lot of games, everyone starts calling me out.” Listen, I want Nigel Benn’s son [Conor Benn], Kell Brook, and Amir Khan. Give me these individuals, and you’ll see how I fight with them.
“Don’t mention anyone else, give me one of them and you’ll see what I can do.
“I’m still learning, don’t forget I’m only three years in the boxing game and Chris won the British title and many people avoid it. But listen, give me Amir Khan next – I’m going to break him.”
Jenkins (28(8)-5-3) of Wales got out to a strong start, landing some early punches and keeping Marku on his toes with a variety of attacks.
After an inadvertent headbutt in the third round left Marku with a gash above his left eye, he forced the pace in the fourth, resulting in a stunning knock-out with Jenkins unable to answer to a barrage of blows.
“I started rushing because I thought the cut was too big and I was frightened the referee would stop me,” Marku explained. “That’s why I began to pick up the pace.
“I demonstrated something we learned today. I didn’t show many, but nobody has ever stopped him in four rounds like this – show me who?
“Chris Jenkins, I have respect for him – congratulations. He accepted the fight with me, I wanted to show the UK fans that I didn’t come by luck where I am today. I give my heart when I go to the ring. Today, I out-boxed the boxer.”
In a super-middleweight bout, Zak Chelli (11(6)-1-1) stunned late replacement opponent Zak Kilgannon (11(3)-1) with a dramatic sixth-round stoppage victory.
Chelli, who had been cut earlier in the round due to an unintentional clash of heads, hit Kilgannon with a powerful overhand right and followed it up with a two-punch combination that sent him to the canvas, earning the 26-year-old his first professional loss.
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