Ex-footballer Simon Ibekwe scored one of the most brutal knockouts you will see this year on Friday night in Pattaya, Thailand.
The 30-year-old from Redditch locked horns with Germany’s Daniel Baer in the chief support for Tyson Fury’s non-televised bout with Mariusz Wach at the Max Muay Thai Stadium.
On paper, the heavyweights appeared to be evenly matched, but the contest was over in just 28 seconds when Ibekwe detonated a dynamite right hand on Baer’s chin.
The shot sent Baer tumbling to the canvas face-first as the action was immediately waved off.
Speaking post-fight, the victorious Ibekwe said: “First of all, I would like to give all the glory to my lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
“Christ is king. Second of all, I would like to thank everyone for turning up.
“I know Tyson was the main event, but guess what? I’m the main event now.
“I have been out of the ring for just over a year.
“There has been a lot of frustration, and unfortunately that’s what I demonstrated.
“Daniel is a good fighter; he came in here with double my experience, but I’ve got a good team behind me.
“Talk is cheap. Daniel said he is fast, but I know I am fast. Everyone I have sparred with knows what I am about.
“And now I think everybody knows who I am.”
From football to boxing
Ibekwe improves to 7-0 as a professional with his fourth win inside the distance.
Before turning his hand to boxing, Ibekwe made a name for himself with his feet, earning trials at West Ham and Everton as a youngster.
He eventually drifted into non-league football and fell in love with boxing, racking up 21 amateur bouts.
In the unpaid ranks, he won several regional titles, including the West Midlands championship with Redditch’s Studio ABC.
Ibekwe is now setting his sights on domestic opposition, and called for a fight with former Southern Area champion Johnny Fisher in the immediate aftermath.
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