Boxing In Australia: Weekend Results

It was a great weekend of boxing Down Under but the most important results actually took place well before the week ever ended as there was a superb fight card this past Wednesday at The Cube in the Sydney suburb of Campbelltown.

Local man Leonardo “Lenny Zappa” Zappavigna, 18-0 (13), solidified his status as the top light welter in Australia with a dominant IBF Pan-Pacific title defense over ex-IBF Super Feather Champion Gairy St. Clair, 41-9-2 (18), on a 12 round unanimous decision.

Zappavigna was just too quick and too big for the iron-chinned St. Clair, who was outpointed 120-107, 120-108 and 119-108. At just 21 years od age, Zappavigna clearly has a very big future in the sport.

IBO Middleweight titlist Daniel Geale, 21-0 (13), is perhaps the sharpest boxer in Oz but the 28 year old from Mt Anan didn’t need the toolkit in a non-title affair against chinny Canadian Ian Mackillop, 25-11-3 (14), who was belted out in the very first round.

An interesting clash at heavyweight took place at The Cube as ex-Australian and OPBF titlist Colin Wilson, 34-24-1 (20), and undefeated prospect Solomon Haumono, 15-0-1 (14), went at it.

It was a massive dustup and when the smoke cleared after ten rounds, the judges couldn’t determine a winner, producing a draw at 96-95, 96-96 and 94-96.

Former IBO Super Feather titlist Billy Dib, 22-1 (11), bounced back from a failed bid to unseat WBO Featherweight Champ Steven Luevano in October by defeating Davey Browne, 15-1-1 (4), at featherweight.

Dib was ahead on points when Browne was declared unfit to continue from a bad cut after seven rounds due to an accidental clash of heads. With the victory, Dib is now the IBF Pan-Pacific and Interim WBC Youth Champion.

Also in Campbelltown, light welter Solomon Egberime, 18-2 (9), outpointed Moses Seran, 20-12 (10), after six rounds.

Friday was pretty busy, giving us three fight cards to review.

Mansfield Tavern in Mansfield, Queensland put on a show headlined by an OPBF Heavyweight title clash between reigning champion Nathan Briggs, 20-6 (16), and former title challenger Michael Kirby, 5-2-1 (3).

The pair had squared off once before with Briggs winning an eight round decision last May but this time Kirby turned the tables on Briggs by knocking out the veteran in the ninth round and taking the OPBF crown in the process.

On the undercard, former Australian Light Middleweight kingpin Josh “The Chainsaw” Clenshaw, 26-15 (13), was outpointed in a six rounder by Tyrone “The Cyclone” Tongia, 10-2 (5).

At the Racecourse Reception Centre in Moonee Valley, Victoria, state light middleweight champion Shannon McMahon, 16-3-1 (6), posted his third win in as many fights against veteran David Wiremu, 14-20-3 (6), to annex the vacant IBF Australasian Light Middleweight title on points after 12 rounds.

Former IBF Pan Pacific Super Middle titlist Joel Burke, 14-17-2 (7), came up with a big win at the Workers Club in Revesby, NSW, by posting an eight round split decision over former IBF Australasian and IBO Asia Pacific Middleweight beltholder Ben Crampton, 21-2-2 (10).

On the undercard, former Austrailian Light Middle Champ Gary Comer, 19-8-1 (7), won a six rounder against Jurland Ceniza, 6-14-1 (3).