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Sam Maxwell stands over Sabri Sediri after knocking him down in the final seconds of their WBO European super lightweight fight in Leicester. Photo: YouTube

English boxer Sam Maxwell climbs off the floor to KO showboating French opponent in last-gasp win

  • English fighter scores sensational win in super lightweight contest after twice being knocked down
  • France’s Sabri Sediri taunts his opponent thinking he had won but is dropped by a crushing right hand

You wouldn’t believe it unless you’ve seen it. Sam Maxwell, who was down on the scorecards having been floored twice in his super lightweight fight against Sabri Sediri, roared back to win the contest by a sensational knockout in the dying seconds of the bout over the weekend.

The knockout came after his French opponent began showboating late in the 10th round thinking he had won the fight. Sediri dominated the first nine rounds and looked well on his way to an upset victory having floored Maxwell twice during the fight. Maxwell was unable to land a telling shot to trouble his opponent at Leicester Arena. Case closed? Not quite.

With seconds of the fight remaining, Sediri started taunting his opponent, dropping his hands and exposing his chin. He even feigned wobbly legs and smiled at Maxwell. Without warning, Maxwell delivered a devastating right hand 15 seconds before the end of the 10th round that sent the cocky Frenchman to the canvas.

Stunned by the punch, Sediri got back on his feet before stumbling back into the ropes as the referee waved off the contest. Meanwhile, Maxwell screamed in delight as his team hugged their hero for scoring the unlikeliest of victories.

The 30-year-old Hackney-born boxer took full advantage of the situation to keep his unbeaten record intact, extending his record to 11-0 with nine KOs and was naturally delighted with his win. He also lifted the vacant WBO European super lightweight title to make his victory even more sweet.

“I knew the right hand was waking,” Maxwell told BT Sport Boxing. “We just knew it in our corner. I just let it go, I just believed in it.

“I think he switched off a little bit and I just took my chance,” said the English boxer, who was knocked down twice for the first time in his career. “The start of the fight threw me completely off. I felt I was edging back into it [fight] and I was waiting for one last big round, which I got.”

Sam Maxwell screams in delight after knocking out Sabri Sediri. Photo: YouTube

Asked what was going through his mind after getting knocked down in the early rounds, Maxwell replied: “We trained so hard. I think my fitness played a massive part. I just caught cold.

“The first one [knockdown], surprised me but I knew in my head, if I stuck to my game plan, I would win. I knew it was going to be close in the end. He switched off in the end and I knew I needed a big last round and I got it.”

Sediri, who hails from Amiens, Somme, suffered his first loss as his record dropped to 10-1-1. More importantly he learned the biggest lesson in boxing: never celebrate too soon. It ain’t over till it’s over so the saying goes.

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