Boxing In Australia: Kickett Shock KO Loss, Masoe Wins In NZ

ByBruce Dingo

The big news Friday night Down Under was the shocking knockout loss of one of the world’s top prospects, William Kickett, at the Central Coast Leagues Club in Gosford, NSW.

At just 21 years of age, “Cool Willie” had stormed out of Balga to win 13 straight contests at lightweight and super feather in just a year and a half, turning back such far more experienced opponents as Gairy St. Clair and Tommy Browne in the process.

In August, Kickett won the vacant WBO Asia Pacific and IBF Pan Pacific Youth Super Feather belts against WBO Latino Champ Vincente Martin Rodriguez of Argentina and defended those titles against Indonesian southpaw Zoel Fidal a month later.

In his bouts, Kickett showed tremendous handspeed and accuracy, finding openings in the defense of opponents whether he was backing up or lunging forward with hurtling hooks and crosses.

The phenom from Western Australia relied on pure quickness, head movement and shoulder blocks to avoid punishment but his best defense was a real feel for counterpunching, taking away the confidence of rivals.

Kickett was certainly on track for bigger and better things when he ran into a roadblock in the form of 25 year old Sydney man Ahmed “Trigger” Elomar on Friday night.

Things started off well for Kickett, as he was backing up Elomar with little problem and finding a home for his stiff jab followed by a bracing straight right.

But Elomar struck gold when he rammed home an overhand right as Kickett tried a right uppercut and down went Kickett hard to the canvas, unable to rise and the bout was halted at 1:27 of the first.

As Team Elomar supporters rushed into the squared circle to celebrate, some in the audience began to riot, throwing chairs and drinks containers into the ring before order was restored.

25 year old Elomar wins the WBO Asia Pacific and IBF Pan Pacific titles, improving to 15-1-2 (8), while Kickett suffered his first loss to drop to 13-1 (5).

There was a very good undercard at Gosford as Steven Willis, 9-0-2 (4), won the vacant WBA Asia Pacific Light Welter title with a fourth round stoppage of Moses Seran, 20-11 (10).

Local southpaw Jamie Pittman, 17-1 (8), returned to the ring following a failed bid to unseat WBA Middleweight Champ Felix Sturm in April with a second round stoppage of Eduardo Jesus Oscar Rojas, 15-4-7 (9), at light heavyweight.

Commonwealth/Australian Featherweight titlist Jasckson Asiku, 23-3 (12), stayed busy with a six round decision over Rey Anton Olarte, 5-7-1 (0), in a non-title bout and light welter John Cotterill Jr, 23-6 (10), came off two losses to Aussie Light Welter Champ Chris McMullen earlier this year to post a six rounds points victory over Ruben Kennedy, 4-3 (1).

On Saturday at ASB Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, 42 year old former WBA Middleweight Champ Maselino Masoe, 29-5 (27), won the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Super Middle crown with a hard fought split decision win over IBO Asia Pacific Light Heavy kingpin Sonni Michael Angelo, 15-6-2 (5).