Boxing In Australia: Hlatswayo Retains IBO Belt In Sydney

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.

The 30 year old South African improves to 28-1 (10) while Camden, New South Wales man Medley sees his record to 19-2 (13).

In other bouts at the Croatian Club, Aussie Middleweight Champ Junior Talipeau, 11-0 (4), rubbed out William Hadlow, 5-10-4 (1), via third round KO, a feat matched by hot prospect Davey Browne, 12-0-1 (4), against Pongsiri Sithkrupon, 6-3 (3), to annex the IBF Pan Pacific Youth Super Bantam title.

South African Light Heavy titlist Daniel Bruwer, 18-1-1 (15), kept active by posting an eight round points victory over winless novice Komgrit Nanakorn, 0-6 (0).

Also on Friday evening, super middle KO artist Victor Oganov, 28-1 (28), won his second in a row following his loss to Fulgencio Zuniga for the vacant IBO title last summer by knocking out Kenyan slugger Kariz Kariuki, 15-7-2 (14), in the second to win the WBO Asia Pacific and PABA titles at Shark Park in Townsville, Queensland.