Kay Prosper lost out in his bid for Sandor Martin’s European Super-Lightweight crown in Barcelona tonight.
The Lutonian saw out the 12 rounds, having never gone that distance before, but the decision was unanimous on the judges’ scorecards 119-107 117-109 117-110, while some pathetic refereeing from Jose Lazaro Carrasco Jr added extra frustration.
Even Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn called out the performance, saying: “I thought the ref was poor, to be honest. I know Kay Prosper didn’t win many rounds, but he wasn’t allowed to do a lot of work. He was warned a lot, his hands were pulled down a lot, he was warned about hitting low and he hit low a couple of times as well, but he was up against it.”
Prosper, whose last fight was a defence of his English crown in Dunstable 13 months ago, also found the experienced Martin was largely elusive.
But the 36-year-old challenger, in only his 17th pro bout and his first ever televised fight, started brightly until he was momentarily rocked with a short right hook in the third.
The Hockwell Ring ace bloodied the nose of the champion in the fourth round, but the more accurate and stinging work came from the Martin, albeit in sporadic bursts.
Prosper let his hands fly midway through the eighth, backing Martin onto the ropes, but that wouldn’t do for the frustratingly fussy home ref. Off came a point with the Lutonian, just as bemused as everyone else, protesting, “I ain’t done nothing”. Disgracefully, Prosper would have another chalked off in the 11th for landing on Martin’s waistband.
Before that, the Englishman was wobbled again, but he quickly regained and chased the champion fruitlessly around the ring.
Carrasco Jr spoke to Prosper again in the final round, presumably for having the temerity to try punching the champion and there were arguments with the man in the middle afterwards about his officiating, but the challenger had lost for only the second time in his career.
