Khalid Yafai targets super-flyweight unification after mandatory challenger burst both eardrums
KAL YAFAI does not want to hear a peep from promoter Eddie Hearn until he has secured him a super-fight after his mandatory challenger burst both his eardrums.
Britain's WBA super-flyweight champion scored a unanimous decision over Dominican slugger Norbelto Jimenez on Saturday night in front of a hostile US crowd.
But the classy 30-year-old did not have to listen to any abuse from the partisan supporters after he suffered damage to both ears.
The 26-0 ace also suffered a nasty cut from a clash of heads but he kept his cool to secure the win and set up a meeting with one of the biggest names in the division.
The champ said: “I am struggling to hear right now. I perforated both of my eardrums. It wasn’t easy, fighting in front of a very hostile crowd.
"I have a bone to pick with Eddie Hearn, my promotor, he put my fight in the United States for the second time. I am fighting in Providence but little did I know that it is full of Dominicans!
“My hands and my ears hurt. I am hearing double right now. It’s echoing in my ears.
"No excuses though, I won easily on the cards. I am not getting a ton of love here but thanks to all the Dominican fans who came out. Providence has welcomed me very nicely for the last two weeks, maybe not tonight though.
"I could see double vision in my eyes, too, from the blood dripping in my eyes. This is my first time being cut. So yeah, learned a lot of things tonight.”
Yafai's rival champions are Juan Francisco Estrada (WBC), Jerwin Ancajas (IBF) and Kazuto Ioka (WBO).
And there are mega-fights available against ex-champ and super-fly superstar Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and former four-weight champion Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez.
And Birmingham hero Yafai will be a serious handful for any of the big guns.
He said: “I want the Estrada fight. I want all the big fights. All the big guys.
"I love the Estrada fight. But any of them: Estrada, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Roman Gonzalez, Kazuto Ioka. I want the big fights.
"It’s all good. I won easily. Now on to the big fight. I want Rungvisai, Estrada, Chocolatito. Those kinds of guys must be next."