Nikita Tszyu vs Ben Mahoney Ends in Split Draw on Gold Coast

Nikita Tszyu and Ben Mahoney went into the Gold Coast main event unbeaten and left it the same way – although probably neither man will be completely satisfied with how it happened.

After 12 rounds the WBO International super welterweight contest ended in a split decision draw, moving Tszyu to 12-0-1 and Mahoney to 17-0-2. It was the result nobody really expected heading into the night and one that immediately leaves the door open for doing it all again.

Nikita Tszyu and Ben Mahoney Fight to Split Draw

Nikita Tszyu (12-0-1) and Ben Mahoney (17-0-2) could not be separated after the full 12 rounds, with the judges returning a split decision draw in their WBO International super welterweight title fight.

Mahoney proved to be anything but another name on the Tszyu record. He pushed the favourite through 12 rounds and did enough to convince one side of the judging panel, while Tszyu had his own case for the victory. In the end neither got it.

For Tszyu, it’s the first blemish on what had been a perfect 12-0 record. Mahoney remains unbeaten too, although his second draw means he’s now 17-0-2. Given how this one finished, talk of a rematch isn’t exactly going to be difficult to start.

Callum Peters Stops Blake Wells in Eight

Callum Peters (9-0-0) kept his unbeaten record intact and picked up the IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title by stopping Blake Wells (13-3-0) by TKO in round eight of their scheduled 10-rounder.

Peters had been stepping up against the more experienced Wells and answered that particular question emphatically. Rather than protecting the zero, he pushed on and forced the stoppage in the eighth. At 9-0, he’s becoming a very interesting middleweight to keep an eye on.

Kirra Ruston Blasts Out Saundre Simmons in Round One

This was the eye-catching result underneath the two headline fights. Kirra Ruston (10-0-0) needed just one round to stop fellow unbeaten light heavyweight Saundre Simmons (9-1-0) by TKO.

It was 9-0 against 9-0 going in and looked like one of the more intriguing match-ups on the card. Ruston turned it into a statement instead. Simmons loses his unbeaten record while Ruston moves into double figures at 10-0.

Rest of the Gold Coast Undercard

Koen Mazoudier (16-4-1) had to work for his win over Sam Beck (8-2-0), taking a majority decision after the full 10 rounds of their middleweight contest.

Max Reeves (14-1-1) handed Oliver Firth (8-1-0) his first professional defeat. Reeves stopped the previously unbeaten super middleweight by TKO in round eight of their scheduled 10-round fight.

There was nothing comfortable about Brandon Grach (7-1-0) against Ike Pluto (5-4-0). Grach edged the six-round heavyweight contest by split decision.

Vegas Larfield (15-1-0) also removed an unbeaten record from the card, outpointing Jubert Buhat (9-1-0) by unanimous decision over six rounds in their featherweight bout.

Louise Creaven (6-2-0) stopped Thanchanok Phanan (21-16-0) by TKO in their welterweight contest. The supplied BoxRec Results Pack does not list the round of the stoppage.

Unbeaten Rahim Mundine (4-0-0) handled business against Jae Larsen (1-2-1), winning their five-round super welterweight contest by unanimous decision.

The professional debut of Luke Williams against Prem Rungtiwa (0-1-0) ended without a result in round two. The doctor stopped the contest during the second after an accidental elbow caused a cut above Rungtiwa’s left eye. With the bout ending because of the accidental injury, neither fighter was awarded the win.

Tszyu-Mahoney finishing without a winner will grab the headlines, but Peters and Ruston arguably produced the night’s clearest statements. And after 12 rounds failed to settle the main event, Tszyu and Mahoney may not be finished with each other yet.

Prelims Stream