Abubaker on points - now for more titles
Winning team…Abubaker and Manning. Pic: Inga Zulyte
AMIR Abubaker peeled off his eighth straight win on Saturday – but his wrecking ball punches failed to shatter tungsten tough Robin Zamora.
On Anthony Manning’s show at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms, he came close. The Nicaraguan southpaw was cut, given a count and endured an uncomfortable time. But he bit on his gumshield and saw the six rounder through, losing by a 60-53 landslide.
He proved the perfect test for Midlands light-middleweight champ Abubaker who is now on the cusp of much bigger things.
The Coventry barber has made a habit of trimming opponents down to size in double quick time, but needs to bank rounds. Before facing Zamora, he had only travelled six rounds once.
The visitor had credentials that suggested he could survive the Kurdish KO artist’s power, having beaten top prospect Dylan Cheema and given fine welter Owen Cooper a torrid distance fight.
The 26-year-old veteran of close to 60 fights is made from the kind of iron that is not easily bent. Last time out, Abubaker (11st 5lbs) blitzed Callum Hill for the Midlands belt in five rounds. He drew blood from Zamora (11st 4lbs), who lost for the 13 time on the spin, and at times seemed poised to overwhelm his foe, but couldn’t find the punches to finish him.
“He had him hurt, beat him up a bit, but didn’t finish the job,” manager Manning said. “As far as being durable and showing his attributes, he did that in spurts.
“Amir just needed that bit extra to seal the deal. The other lad was feeling the pace and bleeding.”
Manning admits there are still elements to be added to Abubaker’s game before the Iraq born powerhouse hits the dizzy heights he predicts he is destined for.
“I’d like to have seen more variation with the left hand and jabbing,” Manning said. “The jab will take you around the world, the right hand will take you round the block.”
It was not the customary Abubaker fireworks, but he’s learned a valuable lesson. Not all boxers can be bulldozed.
The ambitious fighter wants the English title next and Manning is pulling out all the stops to make that happen.
He added: “We are looking at that title and watching it closely.”