May wins Friday night fight, but loses title

It took Nathaniel “Cheeky” May just over 40 seconds to win his fight against Ciso Morales at the WA Italian Club on Friday night.

The co-main event of the CDL Boxing Promotions’ Western Alliance 19 event though was not for the IBF Australasian Featherweight Title, after May was stripped of the belt on Thursday evening for not making weight for the fight.

The 21-year-old was 2.7kg over the 57.15kg weight limit, meaning his title was revoked and the fight would not be for the championship.

But this did not stop May from being determined to win his fight, with a body blow early in the first round putting down his Fillipino opponent and giving the Bunbury boxer his 15th professional victory.

A powerful left blow to the body had Morales on all fours in front of his own corner.

Coach Pete Stokes said he was disappointed May did not make weight for the bout after a great eight-week lead up to the event.

“He had a perfect training camp leading up to the fight, but it all boils down to his nutrition,” he said.

“He did have a cold in camp, but that does not stop him from losing weight.”

The title forfeit is a severe blow to May’s future prospects, as the Bunbury fighter was expected to compete for an IBF international title later this year.

Stokes said May’s next fight would be in October, when the gym hosted a fight night at the Eaton Recreation Centre.

Stokes said newly-crowned Australian middleweight boxing champion Wes Capper was his preferred option to headline the fight night.

Capper won the title on Friday night at the same boxing event, defeating NSW fighter Wade Ryan by split decision in a hard fought 10-round bout.

May’s next opponent will be decided within the next month.