Carlos Prates, a promising welterweight talent, secured his fifth consecutive knockout victory against the seasoned fighter, Neil Magny. However, the method of his triumph stirred up a bit of controversy. During the earlier exchanges, Prates had Magny scrambling which set the pace of the fight. The knockout punch, a left hook, seemed to barely skim the edge of Magny’s temple rather than landing a direct and clean hit, which is often the characteristic of such decisive knockouts.
Interestingly, the controversial left hook landed on the upper part of Magny’s head rather than his chin. It’s well-known in the fighting world that a shot accurately landed on the chin can cause a fighter to lose balance or become disoriented. However, a solid, well-placed punch to the head can have an entirely different, more immediate, and often more drastic effect. This scenario played out in Prates’ fight against Magny.
This particular knockout resulted in a flurry of speculation among fans, which took to social networks to voice their doubts. Some began questioning Magny’s determination in the fight, while others audaciously suggested that the outcome of the match might have been predetermined or manipulated. These criticisms were not without responses, though.
In the post-fight interview, Prates, who’s also known as ‘The Nightmare’, confidently challenged these criticisms. He expressed that a punch to the face results in dizziness, but a blow to the head yields a different kind of reaction, essentially cutting off the legs of the fighter. He further added that critics would change their tune if they were on the receiving end of such a punch.
Adding depth to his defense, ‘The Nightmare’ brought up his previously fought match with Li Jingliang. In this battle, Prates had also dominated by landing a similarly hit knockout strike to Jingliang’s head, leading to Jingliang’s subsequent fall. He hoped to illustrate to fans that his recent victory wasn’t an anomaly but backed by a proven technique.
Regardless of the public discourse, what cannot be disputed is the impressive winning streak that Carlos Prates is currently riding. Each of his victories has not only improved his ranking but also showcased his clinical and formidable knockout power, which is now recognized throughout his division.
The decisive moment in this controversial fight came about at 4:50 of Round 1, when Prates landed a commanding left punch. The Brazilian fighter’s victory over Magny, notwithstanding the controversy, reaffirms his skill and his emergence as a powerful force in the welterweight division.
The match against Magny has engraved Prates’ name in the top 15 welterweight competitors. His knockout streak, which is as impressive as it is fearsome, is poised to propel him further in the division and with his continued dominance, the prospect of a title shot is becoming increasingly possible.