Boxing In Australia: Danny Green, Anthony Mundine, Maselino Masoe

ByBruce Dingo

Weekend Results And A Look Ahead

There are some big fights coming up Down Under but first we take a look at a fight card that took place this past Friday night at the Knox Netball Centre in Ferntree Gully, Melbourne.

Former Commonwealth and Nigerian Welterweight Champion Fatai “Kid Dynamite” Onikeke, who now resides in Blackburn, won his third straight bout with a sixth round KO of Thai veteran Kongthawat Sorkitti, 33-30-1 (21), to take the vacant IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight title.

With the victory, Onikeke, 21-2 (18), jumps up the IBF rankings and may be headed for a clash with that organization’s #5 ranked Naoufel Ben Rabah, who is coming off losses in two straight IBF title fights.

Also in Ferntree, Eddie “Psycho” Delic, 12-7-2 (2), retained his Australian Welter crown by outpointing ex- Queensland titlist Paul “Tornado” Tapley, 11-10-1 (4), in a rematch.

On Friday, May 18, Wyongah journeyman Marc Bargero meets Brett Culey for the vacant Australian Light Heavyweight title while on Sunday, May 27, Dean Byrne will look to defend his Australian Light Welter crown against Brad Cookey.

Wednesday, May 30, Challenge Stadium in Perth sees hometown hero Danny Green clash with former world champion Manny Siaca for the vacant IBO Asia Pacific Light Heavyweight belt in a high stakes bout that could bring the winner to a world title opportunity.

Friday, June 8 in Mansfield, lightweight Ranee Ganoy will look to build on his IBF Pan Pacific title winning knockout of ex-world champ Robbie Peden with a defense against Joey De Ricardo.

On Friday, June 22, Daniel “The Doberman” Amman puts his Australian Cruiserweight trophy at risk against Dominic Vea in Newcastle while in Townsville on Saturday, June 23, Australian Super Middle titlist Les Sherrington meets Shaun Quagliotto and Fred Mundraby takes on Leigh Linfgren for the vacant Australian Bantamweight belt.

In the biggest fight on the horizon in Oz, WBA Super Middleweight Champion Anthony Mundine makes the first defense of his second reign against an opponent that has raised some eyebrows, Argentina’s Pablo Daniel Zamora Nievas, at the Convention Centre in Broadbeach on Wednesday, June 277. Nievas has never gone past six rounds previously in his 18 bout career.

We wrap things up with a fightcard at the Convention Centre in Brisbane on Friday, June 29 that sees former WBA Middleweight Champion Maselino Masoe and Wollongong’s highly seasoned light middle campaigner Shannan Taylor on the bill in separate bouts.