Fighter of the Week (8/28-9/3): Samuel Antwi
On a relatively quiet weekend of boxing, that's most memorable highlight was a sprained ankle. There was one "truly sensational" KO that came late in the final round that propelled the winner to world title talks. In a make-or-break fight for both Samuel "True Sensation" Antwi, of London UK, and Mason Cartwright, Antwi answered all questions that left his man unconscious in the final moments when things may have been slipping away and scored the biggest KO victory of his Career. In addition to the vacant 154-pound British title, Antwi also takes home our Fighter of the Week award and has secured another big payday.
After Lyndon Arthur scored a dramatic KO, the stage was set, and fans were excited to see what Samuel Antwi and Mason Cartwright had in store. No one could have imagined the dramatic ending. , 31-year-old Antwi, 17-2 (8), saved the night with a knockout in the final thirty seconds. The Londoner took the early rounds using his jab and his movement. Much more off the backfoot and lateral. Antwi edged out round after round, using his jab and setting up power shots. He scored plenty off clean right hands and left hook, but they seemed not to fade the rugged Mason Cartwright 19-4-1(8), Cartwright, 31 years old of Cheshire, UK, landed plenty of good shorts of his own but was taking two to get one as Antwi was running away with the fight on the cards. Winning no less than seven of the first eight rounds. Antwi begins showboating, taunting, and bolo punching. However, Cartwright was losing the battle, but the war was very much in doubt as a right hand wobbled the Londoner in the ninth. Cartwright again had Antwi in a world of trouble in the 10th and had something going. Entering the championship rounds, Antwi had it on points if he could make it through the fight. However, the momentum was fully in favor of the Chesire native, who landed more thudding power shots, forced the action in on Antwi, and eeked out a competitive 11th. Needing a knockout it appeared Cartwright pushed the action, and an exhausted Antwi, who is skilled on the inside, had no legs left. The two traded on the inside, with about 30 seconds left, a truly sensational left hook, followed by a right hand dropped and ended the night for Cartwright and kept him unconscious on the mats in a very scary moment.
Antwi is now on the verge of the world title fight. He is perhaps one big win away from fighting either Jermall Charlo, or if he vacates or stripped, whoever claims those titles. The win over Cartwright was absolutely necessary to keep the Londoner in the world title picture. A fight against Josh Kelly makes all too much sense and would propel the winner to a title fight. Other fights like Jose Benavidez and Troy Willaimson could be made and get Antwi where he wants to be. However, the fans will want Antwi and Cartwright to run it back after their thrilling September 1 affair. However, that is unlikely to get Antwi closer to a world title, so it likely won't happen for that reason.
