Ambang explosive in Superfight Series opener

‘Bang Bang’ is the nickname and ‘Bang Bang’ was the game as Francois Ambang took Stephen Richards out in the second round of their GLORY Superfight Series 19 contest by way of a thunderous overhand right.

Ambang and Richards, who was making his debut for GLORY, were the first fight of the evening. Long and rangy Muay Thai stylist Richards wanted the fight at a distance where he could pick Ambang off, while Ambang was constantly looking to get in and let his big hooks go.

It was Ambang who won the battle of ranges. Richards was only occasionally able to keep him on the outside and when he did, Ambang displayed some very impressive head movement and footwork to duck and dive his way out of trouble and back into his preferred range.

Combination punching earned big results for Ambang and he had Richards rocked a couple of times in the fight. Just past the halfway mark of the second round Ambang had backed himself into a corner and Richards was pawing with his jab when Ambang suddenly exploded and hit him with a right hand.

As Richards moved backwards Ambang went after him. A leg kick went in to distract Richards then Ambang tapped a couple of lazy jabs out to measure distance and bait Richards into responding. Richards obliged by throwing a big right hand but Ambang was way ahead of him, sidestepping it and launching an overhand right which Richards took full on the jaw.

He went down in highlight-reel fashion, stiffening up and falling backwards like a felled tree. Ambang ran to a neutral corner and the referee gave Richards the count, although  it was clear that he would not be getting back up.

“It felt so good to win like this in my home state of Virginia. I want to thank God, my family and my training partners. It was hard for me to lose to Raymond Daniels the way I did, to see that replay all the time everywhere, but now I am back,” he said backstage post-fight.

“I am ready to fight anyone. I am here to be a contender and get into title contention so whoever GLORY want to give me next, I am ready.”

Ambang def. Richards, KO, R2 2:14