PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago’s Super Middleweight champion Kirt Sinnette has lost his bid to win the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International Lightweight title.
Sinnette was knocked out in the fourth round by London-based African champion Joey Vegas of Uganda after changing his tactics from as early as the second of the 12-round bout.
Sinnette, 38, was leading in the first two rounds using his jabs to contain his 30-year-old opponent in the main draw at the Woodbrook Youth Facility at the weekend.
However, midway the third round, Sinnette survived a standing eight-count after Vegas countered a right hook which caught the Trinidadian on his jaw and sent him crashing to the canvas.
The former Olympian came out in the fourth round chasing his younger opponent and without the advantage of his jabs for protection.
Vegas once more saw the opening and unleashed a quick combination as Sinnette hit the ground again only to barely survive a second standing eight-count.
However, the dazed local fighter was not fully recovered to make it to the end of the fourth round as Vegas pounced with a killer combination that landed him on his back.
Guyanese referee Eion Jardine, realising the T&T champion was in trouble waved the contest off at two minutes 30 seconds into round four.
“In my humble opinion I did not see Kirt Sinnette show up to his best; .it is not the Kirt Sinnette that I am accustomed to because I know that  the Kirt Sinnette that I am accustomed to would have dealt with that fight differently,” said promoter Giovanni Potts .
“Joey Vegas got hit and he was hurt in the second round and he was dazed and after that you saw he changed his stance. He changed his attack and he ended up the aggressor in the fight.”
In addition to claiming the WBC International belt, Vegas is now expected to get a shot at the WBC Lightweight title.
However, Sinnette is expected to have another shot at the title as a result of a rematch clause.
“The safety net in all of this is that we always tie title fight like this to a rematch,” said Potts.
“So there will be a rematch clause in there. So it’s well protected and Kirt has the opportunity to come again and get a shot at the title.”