Boxing News Boxing News
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.
Geale, 19-0 (12), fought his way out of trouble and held on during the later rounds when Ajetovic, 16-2-1 (8), pressed the action, taking a 120-109 and 117-111 (twice) unanimous decision win to retain the IBO belt for the first time.
Also on the bill, Frank LoPorto, 8-3-2 (4), retained his Australian Light Middleweight crown with a ten round UD against Peter Mitrevski, 19-6-1 (8).
Hot super feather prospect Billy Dib, 20-0 (11), stopped Rey Anton Olarte, 4-5-1 (0), in the third and Robert Medley, 20-2 (14), returned to the ring for the first time following his second failed IBO Welterweight title bid to champ Isaac Hlatswayo by finishing off opponent Ade Alfons, 12-7-3 (3), in the fourth.
Heading north, we hit the Mansfield Tavern in Mansfield, Queensland where OPBF Heavyweight Champ Alex Leapai, 9-3-2 (7), lost his belt to former Australian Champ Colin Wilson, 34-23 (20), via split decision.
Despite losing a round for low blows, veteran southpaw Wilson pulled it out via the wildy divergent scorecards of 117-110, 111-117 and 114-113!
Going back to New South Wales, IBO Pan Pacific Light Middle titlist Ryan Waters, 12-2-1 (8), retained his belt while adding the vacant WBO Oriental strap by beating New Zealand’s Steve Heremaia, 10-2 (5), at the Rugby Leagues Club in the Sydney suburb of Cronulla.
Local man Waters had a difficult fight on his hands from his South Auckland opponent, who saw an eight bout win streak snapped by scores of 118-1110, 116-114 and 115-113.
We finish up this report at Town Hall in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern, where light heavyweights Jonny Walker, 13-3-1 (8), fought to a draw with Sosaia Vaka, 8-3-2 (1), over the still vacant WBF Asia Pacific title.
On the undercard, super middle Luke Moloney, 10-3 (0), outpointed Mike White, 10-6 (2), after eight rounds.
