Shannon Courtenay Rebounds From 1st Loss With 1-Punch KO of Dorota Norek
Shannon Courtenay returns in a newer, lighter division and turns back Dorota Norek with an explosive seventh round knockdown to earn TKO victory
Picture By Mark Robinson
LONDON (December 4, 2020) — Shannon Courtenay suffered the first loss of her young career back in August at the hands of the recently crowned interim WBC Super Bantamweight champion. Ball unexpectedly dropped Courtenay in the first round of an 8-round bout fought at the 126-pound max for Featherweight.
Courtenay (6-1, 3 KOs) returned to action tonight at Bantamweight – 118-pounds – to face Polish brawler Dorota Norek. Norek (6-2, 1 KO) came into the bout 2-0 in 2020.
Courtenay instantly solved Norek’s full-on assault style. Norek rushed the 5-foot 5-inch Courtenay multiple times, forcing the Watford, Hertfordshire native back into the ropes. Courtenay landed some straight punches as Norek made her way inside firing away with slapping arm punches. The punches started getting Norek’s attention immediately.
Halfway through the first round Norek’s aggressive declined, and Courtenay started to win the exchanges at the two stood center-ring.
The stark contrast in Norek’s approach resulted her getting hurt upstairs in Round 2. Courtenay closed the round punishing her opponent’s body with hooks from both hands.
Norek lost all of her momentum by Round 3. Forced to fight off her back, she was nailed by a flush left hook to close the round. In the subsequent round Norek scored with her right hand and repeatedly through her check left hook as Courtenay pursued her. Courtenay regained some patience in Round 5, walked towards Norek in a more composed manner and mixed in a variety of feints.
Courtenay’s feints threw off Norek’s timing with her check hook in Round 6. Norek was still on her back foot and wildly throwing shots to fend off the taller Courtenay. The two engaged in a number of exchanges to close out the round.
Picture By Mark Robinson
The constant pressure paid off for Courtenay in Round 7. Norek’s focus was on evading the constant attacks, her punches were thrown as deterrents, but she suddenly decided to stand and trade. Courtenay followed her out as she went to move away, and before she got to a corner Courtenay rocked her with a powerful right hand to the face. The punch knocked Norek down with her upper body laying across the bottom rope. She pushed herself off the ropes to sit on her knees as referee Robert Williams joined her on the canvas to perform his 10-count.
Norek made it to her feet early, but motioned to Williams that she didn’t desire to continue. The bout was halted at 1:35, and Courtenay picked up her sixth win and third stoppage via the technical knockout.
Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
