Caparello makes statement with pummelling of McKay
Undefeated Victorian prospect Blake Caparello (5-0, 2 KOs) continued his steady rise through the Australian light-heavyweight ratings when he knocked out knock-about journeyman Kane McKay (8-9-2, 4 KOs) in the 8th round to capture the vacant WBF Australasian cruiserweight title at the Malvern Town Hall.
The taller and much stronger Caparello dominated the fight from the opening round and ended it with a devastating flurry of hooks with only 5 seconds remaining in the eighth round. McKay, who was backed up against the ropes effectively threw the fight when he offered Caparello a free-shot with his hands down and chin out. Caparello duly obliged and McKay was left hanging on the ropes and out on his feet.
Luckily for McKay the ropes provided a more than steady backup as he would have went down heavily. So savage was the concussion that McKay needed a couple of minutes to recover and an overnight stay at the hospital for safety precautions. Referee Malcolm Bulner never even bothered to count. The 23-year-old Caparello continued on his winning ways while McKay lost for the seventh consecutive time in 19 fights.
Caparello continuously caught McKay with big overhand lefts that on several occasions nearly floored the Geelong-resident late in the fifth and sixth rounds. McKay was staggered numerous times but survived the onslaughts by clinging onto Caparello or leaning onto the ropes; sometimes even a combination of both. It was clear from the fifth round onwards that Caparello was easily ahead McKay was simply trying to limit the damage.
Caparello showed great signs of maturity as he waited for his moments to attack, rather than rushing in and trading like he had done in previous fights with Aaron Ross and Joshua Tai. Of the very few punches that didn't land flush on McKay, a majority of them landed on the reddened and bruised arms of McKay.
McKay made a brief attempt at rallying with Caparello in the seventh, landeding several right hook to the side of Caparello's head and body. But besides those brief moments, it was all one way action in favour of the Victorian light-heavyweight champion. When the final bell sounded, Caparello ran for the corner, thrusting his arms into the air in victory. McKay was asked by ring-announcer Howard Leigh why he gave Caparello so many free shots but McKay – who had only just regained consciousness, did not remember doing so.
At the time of the stoppage, judges Bryan Membrey scored the fight 68-66, Peter Flaherty scored it 68-66 and Samantha Bulner had it 69-64, all in favour of Caparello.