If you’re a fight fan (and we know you are) and you like knockouts (and we know you do), you might consider circling May 8 on your calendar—in bright red ink.
Kanat Islam looks to counter Jonathan Batista during their fight in November. Islam won by first-round knockout, his 17th stoppage in 20 pro victories. (Robert Sullivan/Premier Boxing Champions)
On that night, little known 154-pound prospects Kanat Islam and Juan De Angel will look to become a little more well known when they headline a Premier Boxing Champions card from Lakeland Events Center in Lakeland, Florida (Bounce TV, 9 p.m. ET/PT).
The scrap is scheduled for 10 rounds, but it will be a monumental upset if it goes that far. Here’s why: Islam (20-0, 17 KOs) and Angel (18-3-1, 17 KOs) have registered knockouts in nearly 90 percent of their victories.
In fact, Islam has been involved in just one fight that has gone the distance; in addition to his 17 stoppages, two of his opponents were disqualified. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Angel, who hails from Barranquilla, Columbia, has seen 16 of his last 17 contests end before the final bell. That includes a third-round knockout loss to Gilberto Ramirez (then 24-0) in April 2013.
Not only do both fighters pack a lot of firepower, but they tend to display it quite early: Islam, a 31-year-old native of China living in Pahokee, Florida, has won 15 of his bouts inside of three rounds rounds (including seven first-round knockouts), while Angel has stopped 13 opponents before Round 4 (including five first-round KOs). What’s more, the two heavy hitters have combined for 12 first-round knockouts.
In other words, if ever you were to heed the “don’t blink” advice that often accompanies a bout between two sluggers, this would be it.
