KID GALAHAD finally clinched a featherweight world title with a bloody destruction of Jazza Dickens.
The 31-year-old was beaten by Josh Warrington in 2019 but the Leeds icon vacated the strap in January, leaving Galahad and his old Liverpool foe to clash for the vacant red and gold strap in Eddie Hearn’s back garden.
And the Dominic Ingle-trained switch hitter methodically sliced and slashed away at the brave Scouser’s face until his corner rescued him before the twelfth round started.
Sheffielder Galahad needed ten rounds to stop the 30-year-old in 2013 and needed three more minutes this time to shatter Dickens’ nose and slashed a seeping wound over his swollen eye.
After grabbing the gold after 18 months out, Galahad said: “I have waited 19 years for that, I am a full-time professional, no days off, no time out. I am over the moon.
“I have had 18 months out and I have just smashed a future world champion from pillar to post.
“I moved home at 15, into a crappy flat next to the gym with five other boxers with rats running around the floor, and now I am a world champion and I can get my mum a nice house.”
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Galahad had looked desperately drained making the 9st limit at the media events during the week.
So it was no surprise Dickens made the brighter start with a string of left backhands scoring in the opener.
Galahad was always trying to tread on Dickens’ toes from the orthodox stance but the Liverpool man was wise to the old trick.
Fellow Scouser Tony Bellew was ringside barking advice and encouragement to his neighbour and a left uppercut had the retired Bomber roaring toward the end of the second.
Galahad worked his way back into the contest in the third but was rocked by a fourth round left hook that stiffened his legs.
By the sixth Dickens’ nose looked shattered and was oozing blood and Galahad was settling into the fight and pacing himself for the final stretch.
Dickens snatched the seventh with a brilliant three-punch combination at the end of the session. Galahad ate two uppercuts and a left hand, Dickens was defying his broken nose to deliver precision punches when it mattered most.
By eight and nine Dickens was fading, his breathing and eyesight hampered by the battered nose Galahad kept tagging.
Both men landed crisp one-twos in the tenth and Dickens’ support whooped when he landed a pinpoint left hand to Galahad’s tough chin.
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And then the referee docked Galahad what could have been a potentially life-changing point for repeatedly stepping on Dickens’ lead foot.
The penalty sparked Galahad up another level and he punished Dickens in the eleventh, his white shorts and gloves bright pink with the spurting blood of his wounded prey.
And Dickens’ corner could not send their man out for more harm and withdrew him with a wise showing of compassion over pride.
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