Kid Galahad (boxer)

Kid Galahad (born Abdul-Bari Awad; 3 March 1990) is a British professional boxer. He is a former British, European and Commonwealth super-bantamweight champion. His ring name was chosen by Brendan Ingle after a character played by Elvis Presley in the 1962 film of the same name.^[1] Galahad is currently serving a two-year ban from boxing due to doping.^[2]

Early life

Galahad was born in the Qatar capital of Doha. His father was in the Qatar Armed Forces and was released as part of an agreement with the Americans after the conclusion of the Gulf War. At the age of three, Galahad came to England with his parents (both from Yemen) and eventually ended up in Sheffield. At the age of thirteen he took up boxing with trainer Brendan Ingle.^[3][4]

Titles in Boxing

• WBC International Super-Bantamweight Champion
• BBBofC British Super-Bantamweight Champion
• EBU Super-Bantamweight Champion
• Commonwealth (British Empire) Super-Bantamweight Champion

Boxing career

Galahad decided to take up boxing to keep him off the streets so he didn't follow his siblings and end up in jail and being involved in gang violence. After he started going to his local gym to get bigger he noticed a boxing ring, after shadow boxing for a few minutes he decided he wanted to be a boxer. After a chance meeting with his hero Prince Naseem Hamed he was told by Naseem that if he wanted to be great in boxing and wanted to be a champion he should train at the Brendan Ingle gym, so after driving around for an hour Galahad and his mother found the gym.

Galahad made his professional debut on 5 September 2009 at the Colosseum in Watford England in which he defeated Delroy Spencer on Points.

Galahad's Second Professional fight took place on 3 October 2009 at the Leisure Centre in Altrincham England where he defeated Pavels Senkovs on Points after 4 rounds.

He then scored his first stoppage Victory on 21 May 2010 defeating Dougie Curran by TKO in the second round.

Galahad raked up a record of 10–0 before defeating Jason Booth by Unanimous Decision on 18 February 2012 to earn his first title the WBC International Super-Bantamweight Championship

Galahad defended his championship once against Josh Wale by TKO afterwards he vacated the title.

Galahad scored two more wins, defeating Ivan Ruiz Morote and Isaac Nettey both by TKO to earn a shot at the BBBofC British title which he won by defeating James Dickens by TKO, he would later vacate the title.

On 22 March 2014, Galahad won the European Super-Bantamweight championship with a unanimous twelve round decision over Sergio Prado.^[5]

On 10 May 2014, Galahad won the vacant Commonwealth Super Bantamweight Championship by beating Fred Mundraby by TKO (Corner retirement) after round 4.

Galahad faced Adeilson Dos Santos on 20 September 2014 at the Ponds Forge Arena for the vacant IBF World Youth Super-Bantamweight Championship. Gallahad controlled the fight, out boxing Dos Santos with fast jabs, hooks and combinations sending Dos Santos to the canvas in the first round and tenth round. Gallahad won the fight by unnanimous decision.

In October 2014 Galahad vacated the European title to pursue a World title.

In May 2015, Galahad was banned for 2 years following a failed drugs test. He tested positive for banned substance stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.^[6] He maintains his innocence saying his brother put the steroids in his protein shake after Galahad refused to give him money, and appealed against a ban, but it was rejected by UKAD and the ban upheld, backdated to run from 20 September 2014.^[7][2]

Professional boxing record

18 Wins (9 knockouts, 9 decisions), 0 Losses, 0 Draws[8]
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Win	18-0	Adeilson Dos Santos	UD	12	20 September 2014	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England	Won vacant IBF Youth Super-Bantamweight title.
Win	17–0	Fred Mundraby	RTD	4 (12), 3:00	10 May 2014	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England	Won vacant Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight title.
Win	16–0	Sergio Prado	UD	12	22 March 2014	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England	Won EBU Super-Bantamweight title.
Win	15–0	James Dickens	TKO	10 (12), 1:34	14 September 2013	Magna Centre, Rotherham, England	Won vacant British Super-Bantamweight title.
Win	14–0	Isaac Nettey	TKO	5 (8), 2:35	8 June 2013	Glow, Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent, England
Win	13–0	Ivan Ruiz Morote	TKO	4 (8), 2:50	8 December 2012	KC Sports Arena, Hull, England
Win	12–0	Josh Wale	RTD	9 (12), 3:00	12 May 2012	Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield, England	Retained WBC International Super-Bantamweight title.
Win	11–0	Jason Booth	UD	12	18 February 2012	Magna Centre, Rotherham, England	Won vacant WBC International Super-Bantamweight title.
Win	10–0	James Ancliff	TKO	4 (6), 2:58	8 October 2011	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England
Win	9–0	Paul Griffin	TKO	1 (8), 1:31	17 September 2011	Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Win	8–0	Pavels Senkovs	PTS	6	23 July 2011	Wembley Arena, London, England
Win	7–0	Sid Razak	PTS	4	30 April 2011	Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, England
Win	6–0	Dai Davies	PTS	4	16 April 2011	M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, England
Win	5–0	John Riley	KO	1 (4), 2:53	26 November 2010	Reebok Stadium, Bolton, England
Win	4–0	Ian Bailey	PTS	6	25 September 2010	Robin Park Centre, Wigan, England
Win	3–0	Dougie Curran	TKO	2 (4), 2:53)	21 May 2010	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England
Win	2–0	Pavels Senkovs	PTS	4	3 October 2009	Leisure Centre, Altrincham, England
Win	1–0	Delroy Spencer	PTS	4	5 September 2009	Colosseum, Watford, England	Pro Debut

References