Boxing In Australia: Leapai Halts Beck In Southport

Red hot heavyweight Alex Leapai scored a bull's eye in the biggest bout of his career to date, stopping American veteran Owen Beck last night at the RSL Club in Southport, Queensland.

Leapai was on his heels in the early going as former world title challenger Beck took the initiative but the Tennessee man could not hold the advantage in this engagement, scheduled for ten frames.

Round by round the Logan City resident chipped away at Beck's advantage, getting ever closer where Leapai could leverage his strength and youth advantages.

By the fifth, Leapai was drilling the tourist with both hands but Beck drew on his long experience to survive the heavy weather without capsizing.

But Beck's ability to withstand the shelling evaporated by the sixth as Leapai forced a stoppage at 2:50 of the session after a relentless assault.

Leapai moves to 20-3-3 (16) and runs his unbeaten streak to 12 bouts while Beck drops to 29-6 (20), having lost his last three contests after failing to go the distance.