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Filipino based Queenslander Jack ‘The Assassin’ Asis (33-18-5 18 KOs) stopped hot prospect and reigning Australian junior lightweight champion Kye ‘Mr Frenzy’ MacKenzie (14-1 12 KO’s) in eight thrilling rounds after trailing massively on the scorecards in Newcastle on Friday night.
Asis, who is unbeaten in over four years and 13 fights, now holds the IBO world junior lightweight title.
After a first round feeling out process, MacKenzie cut loose in the second and began punishing Asis with relentless combinations.
Asis was gamer and punched with the heavy handed Australian but the difference in size and strength between the two men was extremely noticeable, and MacKenzie’s fire power appeared to be too much.
Asis battled back bravely in a tremendous fourth round where both fighters exchanged punches until the bell, but MacKenzie continued to get the better of the action.
Rounds five and six were more of the same and Asis – like previous MacKenzie victims Clive Atwell, Waylon Law and Matty Gartlett – looked to be on his last legs, doing everything just to keep himself in the fight.
Asis battled back in the seventh in what was his best round since the opener but MacKenzie’s body attack was strong and he showed no signs of tiring. Then in round eight Asis suddenly turned the tides, landing a short right-hand counter that stunned MacKenzie. Asis then landed a volley of unanswered punches that McKenzie had no answer or defence to.
Asis unloaded with both hands on MacKenzie until referee Garry Dean stepped in and saved MacKenzie from further punishment.
The ending was sudden and dramatic and left the crowd stunned. Referee Garry Dean and MacKenzie’s trainer Lincoln Hudson both said after the bout that it was the best fight they had been a part of.
The victory was huge for Asis’ trainer Brendon Smith, father of Brayden Smith, who tragically died after injuries sustained in a March fight with John Vincent Moralde. A tribute to Brayden featured prior to the opening bouts of the evening, making it an emotional victory for Asis and his team.
On the undercard, Chad ‘Hollywood’ Bennett defeated Argentinian lightweight champion Pablo Martin barboza with a fifth round knockout via a body shot. The fight was all Bennett, who successfully cut the ring off and hurt Barboza to the body before putting him away in round five.
This fight was meant to be for the vacant IBO lightweight title, but was a catch-weight non-title fight after Bennett couldn’t make the lightweight limit.
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