McKenna pips Anuo for title in Super Fight League 17

MUMBAI: Wily American Tom McKenna soaked in a barrage of leg-kicks from Anup Kumar before unleashing two incisive knees to the face and a rear naked choke, forcing the defending bantamweight champion to tap out and relinquish his title in a little less than a round at the Super Fight League 17, in Mumbai, on Friday.

Coming into the bout with a 4-1 win-loss record, Kumar began his title-defence on the offensive, trying to attack McKenna's left leg incessantly. But the fighter from Kentucky bode his time before seizing and making most of the submission hold he got on Kumar.

Iranian Saeed Asghartabar and India's Amitesh Chaubey locked horns in what was the night's most entertaining battle.

Coming from a kick-boxing background, both fighters stayed on their feet, trading kicks and punches in a duel where Amitesh had more of the say in the first two rounds.

By the beginning of the third round, the duo ran out of steam and it was a wonder they managed to see it through. Chaubey's aggressive ploy paid dividends, winning him a unanimous decision with the judges.

Results:

Featherweight: Abdul Muneer beat Pawan Goyat; Middleweight: Harvinder Rana lost to Satinder Bankura; Welterweight: Charnjit Singh beat Yash Kumar; Lightweight: Amitesh Chaubey beat Saeed Asghartabar; Female strawweight: Daizy Singh beat Ola Ahmed; Heavyweight: Daniel Singh lost to Mohamed Karim ; Bantamweight: Anup Kumar lost to Tom Mckenna.