Gallacher is comeback king for title

Kyle Gallacher Photo/File

Wanganui kickboxing exponent Kyle Gallacher rebounded from the disappointment of missing another New Zealand cruiserweight title last month to knock out a major heavyweight name in Auckland on Saturday night.

Competing in the co-main event of the card at ASB Stadium, the 2m-tall Gallacher dropped Tony Angelov twice in the fourth round in a dramatic comeback after he had been put down himself by punches and a knee on the ground in the first round.

"Former heavyweight champion, he's a very experienced fighter, one of the best in New Zealand," said Gallacher.

"I was actually in a lot of trouble, he dominated the first two rounds."

Recovering from the barrage, Gallacher kept the swinging Angelov at bay with the long reach of his hands and feet.

"Third round it started to slow down and I picked my pace. He had been trying for the knockout, I think it was the elbows that slowed him down."

Putting his opponent down in the fourth, Gallacher then ended the fight when a brutal straight right hand left the stunned Angelov knocked out without his body realising it slowly dropping his hands and then sinking to the canvas.

"First knockdown was a head kick and the next one was the 'one-two'."

In his 20th fight and his fifth as a professional, the impressive win was the perfect return to form for the Assassins Guild fighter after being held to a draw in his fight with Pati Afoa for the WKBF New Zealand cruiserweight belt in November.

Gallacher is now training for a trip to Adelaide in six weeks to enter the 8-man "Knees of Fury" tournament.