‘The Animal’ shows his teeth

A tough, bullying performance saw Ennis kickboxer Ethan ‘The Animal’ Kerin go 2-0 in full contact competition on Sunday when the Phoenix Kickboxing Club fighter beat Stephen Murphy in a heavyweight tilt at an event in the Menlo Hotel, Galway.
Only his second time in the ring, Kerin showed poise, power and a phenomenal workrate to outmuscle and out-class his taller opponent using sweeps and turning kicks throughout the three two-minute rounds to devastating effect.
Weighing in at 108kg, the Ennis fighter did not have long to blow out the cobwebs up against his tough opponent who fights out of the Black Dragon club in Gort. Standing 6’3” Murphy’s plan to use his long jab proved ineffective in the face of Kerin’s superior strength and movement.
The Ennis fighter, cornered by trainers Adam Leyden and Seamus Geoghegan, never took a backward step and by the end of the second round it was clear he was well on top on the judges’ cards. In fact Murphy was lucky to still be on his feet after several devastating body shots that left him struggling for breath.
The third round again was dominated by ‘The Animal’ who shocked the hometown audience supporting his opponent with his seemingly bottomless gas tank that allowed him maintain his onslaught over six minutes and clinch the decision victory in fine style.