Polish Boxer Retires After Crazy Fight That Had 10 Knockdowns

Poland may not be host to many recognizable world-class boxers, but when it’s all said and done, it may end up being host to boxing’s most insane fight of 2019.

A wildly entertaining and roller coaster fight between Robert Talarek and Patryk Szymanski featured not one, not two, not three, not four, but 10 knockdowns. Perhaps just as crazy is the fact that the fight ended before the fifth round’s conclusion as Talarek managed to stop Szymanski.

If you weren’t able to find a way to watch a boxing fight from Poland, here’s a quick summary of every knockdown in the fight:

Knockdown 1: Talarek moves forward, but Szymanski landed a quick, counter right jab to drop Talarek just 30 seconds in the first round.

Knockdown 2: Szymanski connects with another right hand upstairs, knocking Talarek down less than a minute after the first knockdown.

Knockdown 3: Talarek was able to recover from the first round and able to land a right hand that stunned Szymanski and quickly went down afterwards.

Knockdown 4: Less than a minute remaining in the second round, Szymanski lands a devastating overhand right to knock Talarek down a third time in the fight.

Knockdown 5: With just 20 seconds remaining in the second round, Szymanski lands three consecutive right hands that has Talarek tumbling down headfirst through the second rope.

Knockdown 6: Most of the third round is uneventful, but Talarek turned his fortunes around with a body shot that sent Szymanski to the canvas.

Knockdown 7: Still hurting from the body shots, Szymanski goes down again during an exchange.

Knockdown 8: Nearly halfway through the fourth round, Talarek works the body and lands a pair of left hands to Szymanski’s ribs to drop him a fourth time in the bout.

Knockdown 9: Continuing his success working the body, Talarek lands a pair of right hand shots to the ribs that sent Szymanski to the canvas.

Knockdown 10: The fifth round was a constant back-and-forth battle with both men hurting each other with crazy shots. It was Talarek who delivered the final blow, a right hand to the side of Szymanski’s head. Szymanski dropped to one knee and was slow to get up. Szymanski eventually got back up before the 10 count, but the referee waived off the crazy bout by the time he counted to nine. 

With so many knockdowns, the scores were astonishingly low, with Talarek winning 35-34 on two of the three scorecards and the third judge scoring the fight a 34-34 draw. After the fight, Szymanski decided to call it a career after 20 pro bouts and a 19-1 record. Szymanski once held the WBC Youth World and Republic of Poland junior middleweight titles.

— Highlights from last night’s spectacular, back-and-forth WAR between Patryk Szymanski and Robert Talarek in Poland.

— Ten knockdowns in five rounds. pic.twitter.com/bkGMBIhHKH

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) April 7, 2019

Below are the full results of the April 6 boxing card from Katowice, Poland:

• Robert Parzeczewski defeated Dmitrii Chudinov by TKO, round 2 to win the Republic of Poland International Super Middleweight Title
• Damian Wrzesinski defeated Kamil Mlodzinski by split decision (96-93, 96-93, 97-93) to retain the Republic of Poland Junior Welterweight Title
• Martin Bakole Ilunga  defeated Mariusz Wach by TKO, round 8 to win the vacant Republic of Poland International Heavyweight Title
• Robert Talarek defeated Patryk Szymanski by TKO, round 5, 1:45 (35-34, 35-34, 34-34)
• Andrew Robinson defeated Damian Jonak by split decision (77-75, 75-77, 78-74)
• Mateusz Rzadkosz defeated Tomasz Gromadzki by majority decision (78-75, 78-74, 76-76)
• Nikodem Jezewski defeated Shawndell Terell Winters by majority decision (78-75, 76-75, 76-76)