By James Slater: David Haye may have failed in his quest to take Wladimir Klitschko’s world titles last night in Hamburg, but another British fighter picked up a most impressive win on the under-card in Germany. British-born, California-based cruiserweight contender Ola Afolabi sent London’s Terry Dunstan down in dramatic fashion towards the end of the very 1st-round, a massive right hand to the head reducing the 42-year-old to a badly hurt, unconscious KO victim.
The end came at 2-minutes and 40-seconds of the opener, and the man known as “Kryptonite” lived up to his nickname. Now 17-2-3(8), the 31-year-old hopes to get himself a return fight with reigning WBO cruiserweight champ Marco Huck. Dunstan, in terrific physical condition for a 42-year-old, had won his last four but is now 24-4(14).
In the past, in his December 2009 challenge of Huck most notably, Afolabi has been accused of being too lazy in fights. The classy contender vowed last night that those days are behind him, and he is hoping his impressive display against Dunstan will get him noticed and pave the way for a second crack at a major belt. It is Huck he really wants, though, and if he fights the Serbian-born German the way he fought last night, Afolabi could give “Kap’n” Huck a real argument.
Ola hurt Huck in the 5th-round of their 2009 fight, but he was unable to take advantage of things. Now looking a more aggressive fighter, completely without any “sparring partner syndrome,” Afolabi is definitely a force to be reckoned with. As experienced as many fighters who have lots more pro fights than he has, due to how he spars so many rounds with the Klitschkos, Afolabi is a boxing bag of tricks. Never stopped in his near ten-year pro career, Afolabi has a loose-limbed, James Toney-esq style and he also has one-punch power – as he showed last night and also in taking Enzo Maccarinelli out in his breakthrough fight in March of 2009.
If he puts it all together at the top level, Ola might well become a world champion. But will Huck be interested in a return with the man he won a 12-round UD over? It is to be hoped Afolabi keeps himself busy whatever happens. He is a good fighter, a talented fighter, and, as he showed last night, he can be an exciting fighter.