‘Knockout of the Year’ contender earns title shot for Petchpanomrung

Petchpanomrung knocked Abdellah Ezbiri out with his trademark left head kick to book himself a second fight with featherweight champion Robin van Roosmalen later this year.   It was a walk-off KO, with Petch strolling to a corner of the ring after flooring Ezbiri and only briefly glancing behind him to confirm what he know: that Ezbiri wouldn’t be getting up.   Ezbiri proved his quality when he won the GLORY 47 Featherweight Contender Tournament late last year.    This fight was expected to be a stiffer test for Petchpanomrung than it turned out to be. The French featherweight was game but the young Thai’s timing and power were just too much for him.    Heavy kicks to the body had Ezbiri reluctantly diverting his defensive attentions to his torso.   When Petchpanomrung later forced Ezbiri into a corner, the French fighter expected the follow on left kick to go to the body. It didn’t. It went to his head and ended the fight.    The winner had been promised a title shot by GLORY and that opportunity now goes to Petchpanomrung.    According to GLORY matchmaker Cor Hemmers the fight will take place in the USA in the summer.   Petchpanomrung Kiatmookao def. Abdellah Ezbiri, KO (Head Kick). R2, 1:40