Exclusive Boxing Interview: Mark “The Dominator” De Mori

By Jim Everett June 17th, 2009 All Boxing Interviews

© Mark De Mori

The heavyweights were once the glamour division of boxing but in recent years has come under harsh criticism for lack of talent, excitement and a true unified champion. Eastern European heavyweights currently dominate the division and the U.S. are pushing their best candidates forward with Eddie Chambers and Chris Arreola hoping they can get a piece of the alphabet titles.

The heavyweight division is in desperate need of new talent, a young fighter that can come up the ranks and be entertaining to watch. Enter Mark “The Dominator” De Mori from Perth , Australia . He’s a 27 years old orthodox fighter, 6’2”, 233 lbs and at first glance looks more like a body builder than a boxer, but don’t let his muscles fool you because in addition to his dominating right he can box well and is able to get very low as he bobs and weaves his way forward.

Admittedly De Mori was a one dimensional fighter early in the pro ranks, dominating his opponents most by knockout, but after suffering a knockout loss he took some time off to become a more complete fighter. The time off and on the job training has worked well for “The Dominator” as he improved his record to 15-1-2 (13).

SaddoBoxing had the privilege to get an exclusive interview with De Mori to get a closer look at this up and coming heavyweight. More...

Boxing In Australia: Friday Night Results

By Bruce Dingo November 22nd, 2008 All Boxing Results

Last night at the RSL Club in Blackburn in suburban Sydney, hard punching local cruiserweight Dominic Vea, 9-1 (7), retained his OPBF crown for the second time with a third round technical decision over 42 year old New Zealand man Bob Gassio, 11-12 (3).

Gassio rode an eight bout win streak coming into the contest but failed to make weight and lost his chance at the OPBF belt even if he had defeated Vea. Having fought at 221 pounds just 13 days previously, it's no surprise that the Auckland man could not get below 207 pounds at the weigh-in on Thursday.

Vea's only loss came at the hands of Daniel Ammann by majority decision for the Australian title two years ago, also at the Blackburn RSL Club, but was avenged in May of this year during a OPBF title defense.

Also on the bill, ex-Australian Light Middle and Middleweight Champion Josh "The Chainsaw" Clenshaw, 26-13 (13), outpointed Auckland based Pakistani Kashif Mumtaz, 3-7-1 (2), after eight rounds at super middle.

At Town Hall in Malvern, super middleweight Luke Maloney, 12-3 (0), had a tough challenge for the Victoria State title but pulled out a split decision against Frank Ciampa, 7-12-(3), to win his ninth straight contest.

Shannon McMahon, 15-3-1 (6), kept hold of his Victoria State Light Middle belt with an eight round UD against Auckland veteran Paz Viejo, 10-33-2 (1).

Boxing In Australia: Two Title Fights On This Friday In Mansfield

By Bruce Dingo September 1st, 2008 All Boxing Articles

This Friday sees a good show in suburban Brisbane as the OPBF Heavyweight and the Australian Light Welterweight titles are up for grabs at Mansfield Tavern in Mansfield, Queensland.

Towering heavyweights Colin Wilson, 34-23 (20), and Nathan Briggs, 19-5 (16), have fought twice already with Wilson taking both contests by knockout in 2005 and 2006.

For the rubber match, Wilson puts up his OPBF crown, won from Alex Leapai via split decision in June.

Ironically, Leapai won that belt from Briggs via eighth round knockout in November of last year.

33 year old slugger Briggs, who won the Aussie title in just his fourth pro contest in 2001 before losing the same during a first defense, is riding a three bout win streak and aside from the Leapai loss, has gone 8-1 since the second Wilson fight.

Before winning the OPBF crown, 36 year old southpaw Wilson, who has held the Australian crown on two previous occasions, dropped four straight contests and looked to be headed out the door and this third fight against Briggs is a must win for "Kid Coalminer".

Australian Light Welterweight Champion Chris McCullen, 11-1-1 (5), won that belt for a second time with a third round stoppage of John Cotterill, 22-5 (10), in March and the two will do it again on the bill at Mansfield Tavern this Friday. More...

Boxing In Australia: Weekend Results

By Bruce Dingo July 6th, 2008 All Boxing Results

There were two fight cards of consequence this weekend Down Under and we start on Friday's action in New South Wales where there was a high level cruiserweight clash in the Sydney suburb of Blacktown.

WBO Oriental Champion Lawrence Tauasa, 30-5-1 (17), won the 14th of his last 15 bouts and picked up the vacant PABA belt in the process by knocking out visiting Bolivian slugger Saul Farah, 32-6-2 (26), in the third round.

Farah, who saw an eight fight win streak go down the tubes, had failed to make weight, coming in eight pounds over the 200 pound cruiserweight limit and was unable to take possession of the titles had he won.

The hyper-busy South American had fought just two weeks ago in Bolivia and was engaging in his seventh bout this year after participating in 15 matches in 2007. More...

Boxing In Australia: Friday Night Results

By Bruce Dingo June 28th, 2008 All Boxing Results

It was a massive night of fisticuffs last night Down Under and with so much action to choose from, it's difficult to know where to start!

But start we must and that takes us to the Sydney area where at the Catholic in Campbelltown, NSW, there was a big showdown at middleweight between IBO Champion Daniel Geale and challenger Geard Ajetovic.

Geale was coming off a masterful boxing performance last December against previously undefeated slugger Daniel "The Rock" Dawson to win the vacant IBO belt and but the Mt. Annan stylist was facing a tough challenge in this one.

Ajetovic, a native Serbian who has fought his entire career in England, had completed his last six bouts without a loss following a narrow disappointment to European Champ Christopher Canclaux in a non-title bout two years ago.

When the bout started, it was clear that Geale possessed the sharper skills and ring generalmanship, but the dangerous Ajetovic closed distance and badly the champion in the fifth round. More...

Boxing In Australia: Kickett Returns, Augustus Wins Again Down Under

By Bruce Dingo May 31st, 2008 All Boxing Results

There was a good bill last night at the Central Coast Leagues Club in Gosford, NSW last night featuring the much anticipated return of the country's hottest prospect, lightweight William Kickett.

Returning after four months out due to falling through a window and injuring his right hand, 21 year old "Cool Willie" battered Filipino Jurland Ceniza, 6-7-1 (3), in a one-sided contest before the action was stopped at 2:58 of the third frame.

Only a professional since March of 2007, Kickett, 10-0 (5), has already won the Australian Super Feather title and went up to light welter where he defeated the far more experienced former two-time world featherweight title challenger Tommy Browne last December.

Able to fit into several weight classes competitively, Kickett's future appears to be filled with potential big domestic matchups but his rehabilitation from the accident will likely continue at least through one more bout.

American super journeyman Emmanuel Augustus was also on the bill and won his second consecutive bout since relocating to the Sydney area. More...

Boxing In Australia: Tauasa, Iannazzo Victorious

By Bruce Dingo April 19th, 2008 All Boxing Results

There wasn't a lot of action Down Under last night, but there were two important bouts, one each in New South Wales and Victoria.

Cruiserweight Lawrence Tauasa retained his IBF Australasian belt, needing only two rounds to bring the challenge of opponent Eduardo Jesus Oscar Rojas to a halt at the RSL Club in the Sydney suburb of Rooty Hill.

The 5 foot 9 inch tall Samoan Tauasa outweighted the Argentine import by nearly 4.5 kg and went through his journeyman challenger without much difficulty before producing a stoppage at 1:05 of the second frame.

Tauasa improves to 29-5-1 (16) and the former Australian Cruiser Champ has now won three bouts in a row at 91 kg following his three year stint as a heavyweight.

Rojas, 12-13-7 (6), had turned pro as a welterweight and the well-traveled 30 year old Buenos Aires man has faced such luminaries as Frederic Klose, Walter Dario Matthysse and Daniel Bruwer during his nine year career. More...

Boxing In Australia: Hlatswayo Retains IBO Belt In Sydney

By Bruce Dingo April 6th, 2008 All Boxing Results

Friday night Down Under saw two important contests, the first of which took place at the Croatian Club in the Sydney suburb of Punchbowl and featured IBO Welterweight Champion Isaac "The Angel" Hlatswayo defeat challenger Robert Medley for the second time in less than six months.

The pair fought their initial bout last October In Penrith and Hlatswayo put on a clinic, dropping the previously unbeaten former Australian Light Middle titlist in the fifth before coasting to a wide points verdict, retaining the IBO belt for the first time.

This time the action was only slightly more competitive as the six foot tall Medley seemed to have improved but still was unable to solve Hlatswayo's edge in speed and aggression, despite a four inch height advantage.

Medley hit the canvas in the very first frame but battled back to impose his will at times afterward. The champion however, would not be denied and from the midway point on, Hlatswayo put the pedal to the metal and raked Medley with combinations, forcing a stoppage at 1:49 of the tenth frame. More...