PADRAIG McCrory went down fighting at the Caribe Royale in Orlando as Edgar Berlanga returned to his knockout ways with a stunning sixth round finish.
McCrory started well, taking centre ring and firing out his jab. His Puerto Rican opponent, who went unpunished for a clear elbow and several low blows, took his time to get into the fight but then gradually forced the challenger onto the back foot. His physicality, speed and power meant he was in control of the contest by the end of the fifth.
The pro-Berlanga crowd were on their feet midway through the sixth when their favourite had McCrory pinned to the ropes. The Belfast fighter counter-attacked brilliantly but Berlanga refused to let him off the hook and landed a thumping right hand that sent McCrory crashing to the canvas. Referee Christopher Young called it off at 2.44 as the towel came in from McCrory’s trainer Dee Walsh.