Kay uncorks special shot for stunning KO

Kay Jiminez…one round winner. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

I THINK I’m guilty of underestimating Kutaiba “Kay” Jiminez, a Syrian fighting out of Birmingham’s McCracken gym.

Maybe I made too much of the second round stoppage defeat Jiminez suffered in a 2023 Telford knockout tournament. With his unbeaten run ended in such conclusive fashion, I believed the light-middleweight’s options were limited.

Yet Kay produced something special – forgive the cereal pun – at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on November 30.

He uncorked a peach of a right hand – a picture perfect punch - to poleaxe Jersey’s Kane Morgan in just 54 seconds.

Admittedly, Morgan is still looking for his first win after three outings (one draw) and Jersey is better known for its potatoes than pugilists, but the one shot power Kay showed was impressive.

Having watched Jiminez from ringside, I didn’t believe he possessed that “lights out” ability. He’s aggressive, entertaining and has a good, noisy following among Birmingham’s Syrian community. But I didn’t detect that pep.

It was his first inside-distance win in six fights (one loss).

“He is heavy handed,” Spencer McCracken Snr assured me this week. “He hasn’t really shown it. It’s hard to show it against journeymen who shut-up shop. It also takes time for the power to show itself.

“For Bethnal Green, we had an opponent pull out. The guy who came in looked a better fight for us. We thought he’d come and have a go and that made him vulnerable.”

Jiminez is certainly a colourful addition to the West Midlands pro circuit. The “Gladiator” was born in Aleppo to a Syrian father and Spanish mother, spent time in Marbella, then moved to London before settling in Birmingham.

He’s a four time Syrian national champ who also had amateur bouts in Spain and England, where he boxed for London’s Hooks Boxing Club. Wearing a vest, Kay won 47 of 55 bouts, which is a commendable record.

As a pro, he peeled off lopsided wins against journeymen before Tottenham’s Michael King burst his bubble in the glitzy “Box Off” tournament.

“He let his heart rule his head in that one,” Spencer said. “He got emotionally involved, there was a bit of needle – I think they knew each other from the London gyms. He ran into a shot and that’s what happens.”

Now the 32-year-old’s career is back on track and the McCrackens are considering options. The team is prepared to gamble.

“We sat down with him last week,” Spencer said. “We’re not going to look for home shows against men he’s expected to beat. We want to try and get him out there in competitive, 50-50 fights.

“I know his limitations, I know what to do and what not to do. It’s time to push on.”