2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Paddy Gallagher (8-2 4KO) impressively stopped his incredibly brave opponent, Tomas Bartunek (3-3 2KO) from the Czech Republic, in 2 minutes and 44 seconds of the 4th round tonight at the Waterfront Hall. “The Pat-man” also had Bartunek down in the third, although was caught himself when trying for the stoppage.

Gallagher began the fight using his boxing skills well, landing his impressive jab at will and using good body movement to avoid his 19 year old opponent’s counters. Gallagher’s jab and left hooks were starting to cause considerable swelling to the baby-face of Bartunek, and by the midway point of the second round, Bartunek was visibly tired as well.

With 30 seconds to go in the second, Gallagher caught Bartunek with a beauty of a body shot, and then pounced on his hurt opponent against the ropes. However the bell saved the young Czech. Bartunek had not sufficiently recovered during the minute’s break, as Gallagher had his man down at the beginning of the third.

A long Gallagher right hand left Bartunek stumbling back to the ropes. Showing good intelligence, Gallagher changed the target of attack from head to the body, forcing Bartunek to his knees. Bartunek showed great willpower to get up, and survive the body assault of Gallagher, only to then hurt Gallagher with a desperate right hand of his own. Gallagher was made to see out the final 30 seconds of the round holding on.

However, that was as good as it got for Bartunek, as Gallagher was to stop in the fourth in spectacular fashion. A flash left jab and straight right hand, flush on the chin of Bartunek appeared to knock out the Czech whilst standing up, as he fell like a tree cut by an axeman. Miraculously somehow, the brave Bartunek got up at the count of 6, and the referee allowed him to continue.

With the stoppage in sight, Gallagher jumped on his opponent, mixing hooks to both the head and body, as Bartunek could only cover up. Referee John Lowey was forced to save Bartunek at the 2 minute 44 second mark. Gallagher should be happy with his performance, a good workout like he hoped for, against an opponent who definitely came to fight and was brave to the bitter end.