You don’t play boxing.
Every time I see an epic KO, I remember that poignant quote from Sugar Ray Leonard. On Saturday night at Amalie Arena, Lucas Bahdi stole the show with one of the most vicious KOs you’ll ever see in any combat sport.
Bahdi had lost every second of the fight with 20-year-old Ashton “H20” Sylve before he landed a hellacious three-punch combination that sent the latter face-first on the canvas.
Take a look at the finish:
Immediately after the finish, the boxing and combat sports community exploded on social media.
ATS Fight posted the following photos and called it the KO of the Year. Ariel Helwani, who was on color commentary for the fight, and Dan Rafael agreed.
Fellow prospect Floyd Schofield took to X to point to the result, indicating Sylve isn’t on his level.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry is the obvious main event, but it is tough to imagine anything in that fight that overshadows Bahdi’s KO.
The KO was vicious and viral because of the savage punches and the way Sylve hit the canvas, but it was also notable because it was a massive upset. Bahdi came in as a plus-225 underdog and looked every bit of the role for most of the fight.
Sylve seemed to allow himself to slip into cruise control. Sylve’s defensive principles slipped as he carried his lead left hand low. Bahdi took advantage of the opportunity and landed the decisive combination.
Quite honestly, Bahdi doesn’t look like a real contender. The veteran took advantage of a young fighter’s carelessness and inexperience. The aspect of this to keep an eye on is the long-term fallout and its potential lasting impact on Sylve’s career.
He was seen as one of the brightest prospects on the MVP brand, but the KO he suffered was so devastating that there are questions about whether he’ll ever be the same. KOs can have a psychological effect on fighters.
When the KO is on the level of the one Sylve suffered, it’s almost expected. Rafael made this declaration after the fight.
If you’re wondering for context how bad the KO was, ring announcer Michael Buffer asked for prayers for Sylve’s restoration.
Thankfully, Sylve didn’t need a stretcher to exit the ring, though he didn’t look steady on his feet, and his family members were visibly upset; he interacted with fans and even signed an autograph.
Sylve will undoubtedly take some time off to recover physically and mentally. If and when he returns, all eyes will be on him to study his mental and physical form.