Leonardo Perdomo, the Cuban boxer known as "El Zambo de Cienfuegos," knocked out the American Steven "The Panda" Banks in just 44 seconds of the first round, at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC 66) held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
The fight, contested in the professional bare-knuckle heavy weight category and set for five rounds, did not last even a full minute of action.
From the opening bell, Perdomo took control with a sweeping right hand and a series of body shots that sent Banks to the canvas for the first time. Banks tried to recover, but Perdomo didn't give him any breathing room. He kept applying pressure with jabs and right hands, leading to a second knockdown that forced the referee to stop the fight.
"Leonardo Perdomo continues to impress," declared the official event commentator.
What makes the victory even more remarkable is the physical disadvantage that Perdomo overcame: Banks weighs 290 pounds (131.5 kg) compared to the Cuban's 263.2 pounds (119.4 kg), and has a height advantage of four inches—6'5" against 5'11". None of that mattered.
After the match, the fighter from Cienfuegos approached the camera to challenge other boxers. "The Zambo is here!" he shouted.
In April, during an interview, Perdomo challenged everyone in bare-knuckle boxing: "I am number one now. In the entire world. The number one from Cuba to the world”, a claim that is more than supported by his career.
Outside the ring, Perdomo has been a topic of conversation.
In March, at the weigh-in for BKFC 87 in Miami, he created a shocking moment by appearing chained at the feet, hands, and neck, a scene heavy with symbolism.
The chains represented oppression, and on that grand stage, she decided to break them as a symbol of liberation. "Down with communism, long live a free Cuba!", she shouted, a scene that was widely shared and celebrated.
Filed under: