LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — The boxing world barely had 24 hours to digest David Lemiuex’s shocking defeat before witnessing James Kirkland’s (27-1, 24 KOs) comeback get derailed with an embarrassing 1st round TKO loss to lightly regarded Nobuhiro Ishida (22-6-2, 7 KOs).
Kirkland began the fight stalking after the much taller Ishida, who back-pedaled and used his left hand to gauge the proper distance to counter. Just 20 seconds in, Ishida dropped Kirkland to his knees with a straight right-left jab combination.
Kirkland got up with a determined look and went right back at Ishida with straight lefts. Ishida responded in kind with straight rights which moved back the Mandingo Warrior. Not adept at fighting backwards, Kirkland stood straight up and was summarily drilled with another straight right-left jab combo that caused him to barrel backwards into the ring post for a second knockdown.
Kirkland again got up and was greeted by a barrage of power shots. Kirkland’s attempts to exchange with Ishida resulted in him being wobbled by a straight right. A clinch brought a brief reprieve before Ishida crashed home the same blow to deposit Kirkland flat on his back, prompting referee Joe Cortez to call a halt to the beating. Kirkland was still lucid and vehemently protested the stoppage, stating later that each fall were simply “flash knockdowns.”
“I don’t know why they stopped the fight. There is not a three knockdown rule in Vegas,” Kirkland lamented. “I’m really upset right now. That was a messed up call. I was telling him I wanted to keep fighting. He [Ishida] wasn’t anything. He had no power. This was messed up.”
Last night’s bout was Kirkland’s third fight in two months.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
Absolutely shocked, wonder how this will encourage rest of his Kirklands opponents, Hes using the one intimidating fighters, this may disbandin the fear He instals in them…
lol @ him saying that He doesnt know why the Cortez stopped it haha Come on man
Shame He lost though… Maybe We just seen that Hes chiny
Yeah man I did not see this coming, especially considering he was able to walk through Joel Julio’s shots. If Kirkland’s legit, he’ll learn and come back from this. Very embarrassing though.