PHILADELPHIA — “5-and-0” is what the fans of Long Branch boxer Jasai Kirkpatrick chanted after the final bell rung on Friday night to point out the unbeaten fighter’s new record.
The victory by unanimous decision was no surprise for anyone at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. Even if there were doubters early on, a knockdown at the end of the final round of the scheduled four-round fight sealed it for the 24 year old.
“Overhand right,” Kirkpatrick said later. “My coach Keith (Colone) kept telling me to throw that the entire night. After that, it kept on landing repeatedly, he’s like ‘keep on throwing it’ and that’s what I was trying to do.”
It was clear from the opening bell that Kirkpatrick’s opponent Nick Monty (1-7) was going to have a long night. The light welterweight orthodox fighter started the bout landing jabs, counters, and straight rights but his nose was bleeding going into the second round. By the second round, the referee had to check his corner. Later in the fight, the referee called for the doctor to check Monty’s nose, but he was able to continue.
The clear difference were the nasty body shots Kirkpatrick began to land in the second round. The high-guard of Monty was ineffective, eventually forcing him to throw less punches as the fight continued.
“I noticed that on my own,” Kirkpatrick said. “I seen that he was guarding up top and I was like ‘cool, he’s not gonna keep on expecting when I throw it to the body’ so that’s what I kept on doing.'”
It was clear Kirkpatrick wanted a knockout win because he started loading up before punches.
“I wanted to get him out of there bad as hell,” Kirkpatrick said with a laugh. “But (he’s a) tough opponent. It was good. It was minor things I could’ve picked up on that I’m going to perfect next time.”
With each punch landed, flurry, and slipped punch of Kirkpatrick was met with cheers from his fan base, which took the trip from the Jersey Shore to the City of Brotherly Love. Shirts with the initials “Jk” flooded his ring walk and corner. From family to friends — Kirkpatrick fans were in the building.
“I can’t tell you who pulled up, it was a lot of people,” Kirkpatrick said. “Always having my family here, it’s a blessing. I like seeing my family all in one spot. It’s amazing.”
Kirkpatrick moved to Virginia when he was 6 after he was born and raised at the Shore. For Kirkpatrick, representing the entire state of New Jersey “means everything” to him. He got into boxing as a kid when he used to play fight with his grandmother. He said she raised him to be “rough.”
His coach from Virginia put him on to his now-coach Keith Colone, who trains Kirkpatrick in Newark.
“Feel good,” Colone said. “This is one of his best performance right now. Kid was tough, came to fight, it’s good he got the rounds in.”
His goal is to be more active and to have at least an 8-0 record by the end of the year. He said his style doesn’t resemble anyone but his own. When it came to his recent fight, though he didn’t see any film on him, Kirkpatrick said he’s “seen every scouting report that boxing gave me, I can adapt very quickly.”
As the hopes to have more fights remain, Kirkpatrick keeps a day job working in a warehouse. When he’s not doing that, his trainer Keith says he’s fully committed to his career.
“His work ethic is excellent,” Colone said. “He goes to work five o’clock in the morning, and then after work, he’s an hour and 20 minutes away, comes back to the gym, works out for three hours, go back home and do it all over again. Comes back home 10:30-11 o’clock every night.”
“My end goal is based on my family,” said the 5-0 Shore boxer.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Unbeaten Long Branch pro boxer puts on a show in South Philly
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