Patrick Hyland’s world-title dream was crushed in less than five minutes by champion Gary Russell Jr at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut on Saturday night.
Dubliner Hyland was a massive underdog heading into the WBC world featherweight championship bout, with Washington-born Maryland native Russell priced as heavily as 1/40 by US bookies and the champion delivered on those odds as he made light work of the gutsy but out-classed challenger in a short bout.
“We executed a level of defensive discipline, we stuck to the game plan, we stayed sharp, stayed behind the jab, kept him at bay and then capitalised on his mistakes” - Gary Russell Jr
Both fighters had suffered only one loss heading into the contest - Hyland’s coming against still-undefeated Dominican Javier Fortuna in 2012, while Russell came out the wrong side of a 2014 majority-points loss to two-time Olympic champion Vasyl Lomachenko.
The 27-year-old champion was stepping into the ring for just the third time since that defeat, while 32-year-old Hyland was coming off the back of a four-fight winning run since his sole loss as a pro.
The night was bound to be an emotional occasion for the Tallaght native, however, as the bout was just his second contest since the death of his father and former trainer Paddy last summer.
With Paschal Collins, brother of two-weight world champ Steve, now in his corner, Hyland adopted a cautiously-patient approach in the opening round against Russell, with the Dubliner keeping his guard high and tight as he eased into the bout.
Russell, a slick southpaw, displayed his lightening hand speed from the opening bell in an early sign of what was to come.
The champion was briefly cautioned for a low shot midway through the opener, but there was no intent and no official warning.
It wasn’t long before those fast hands delivered with more spite, however, as Russell dropped Hyland with a head-body combination early in the second.
A left to the abdomen opened up Hyland for a quick and heavy right hand to the head and while the Dubliner was quickly back to his feet after a count, a flurry of punches - ending with another big right hand - put Hyland down once again.
Again the brave Irishman sprang back to his feet but he was obviously hurt and it appeared to be only a matter of time before referee Danny Schiavone would call a halt. That he duly did after 1min 33secs of the second round following yet another flurry of punches from the champion with Hyland falling towards the ropes.
The Dubliner was obviously hurt after the knockout, but he appeared to be okay when receiving immediate medical attention.
“We put the work in in the gym. We put the work in, we train hard,” said Russell immediately after his win.
“I get cursed at just about every day by my dad, I feel like I’m the worst fighter sometimes leaving the gym, but we’re our worst critics.
“We push ourselves to the limit and that’s why we got the win tonight,” added the champion, who admitted that he was ready for a sterner test from Hyland before he caught the challenger early on.
“You never know what to expect in a fight like this, that’s the purpose of training camps,” said Russell, speaking to Showtime. “We prepared for the duration of the fight, we was ready to go 12 rounds long and hard if we had to.
“We executed a level of defensive discipline, we stuck to the game plan, we stayed sharp, stayed behind the jab, kept him at bay and then capitalised on his mistakes,” added Russell, who immediately looked ahead to a unification bout against Wales’ IBF world champion Lee Selby or Mexico’s WBA world titlist Leo Santa Cruz.
The latter is expected to take on Belfast’s Carl Frampton in a summer showdown.
