Doghouse Boxing, Canada
April 6 2004
Boxing is Alive Down Under
By Anthony Cocks (April 6, 2004)
‘Vic `Raging Bull’ Darchinyan
Talentworks in association with matchmakers Fightbiz International
have announced the second installment of the Southern Storm series to
be held at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium in Melbourne, Australia
on April 16. The six bout card will feature some of Australia’s
finest pugilistic talent including IBF #4 ranked middleweight Sam
`King’ Soliman, IBF #1 ranked flyweight Vic `Raging Bull’ Darchinyan
and Australian heavyweight cult hero `Big’ Bob Mirovic.
Soliman will be making his third appearance in the ring for 2004 and
the seventh defense of his IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight title against
seasoned campaigner Nico Toriri of Indonesia. Toriri is no stranger
to our shores, having battled Danny Green, Kevin Kelly and Darren
Obah on Australian soil in the past. Soliman has won twelve fights on
the trot since his disputed loss to Anthony Mundine with his last
three victories coming by way of stoppage. With Soliman’s next fight
scheduled to take place in the USA under the auspices of his
stateside promoter Dan Goossen for the IBF number one position, a
victory here is imperative. Toriri will be eager to circumvent
Soliman’s world title aspirations.
Darchinyan is looking to stay busy against tough Indonesian Falzona
Fidal while he waits for his opportunity to challenge Columbian
knockout artist Irene Pacheco for his IBF flyweight championship, a
bout that is tentatively scheduled to take place next month. A savage
puncher with knockout drops in either hand, the Armenian born
southpaw is a pocket dynamo who fully deserves the moniker `Raging
Bull’.
Fireworks are expected when former Australian junior welterweight
champion Steve Marks attempts to avenge his 2002 stoppage loss to the
man who relieved him of his national crown, former Sydney Olympian
Fred Kinuthia. Kinuthia is no pushover and has shared the square
circle with numerous quality opponents including world class
operators Philip Holiday, Lovemore Ndou and Junior Witter as well as
former domestic champions Naoufel Ben Rabah and Michael Katsidis.
Tim Bell will face Brown Enyi in what promises to be an explosive
contest at the middleweight limit. Both fighters are coming off
losses and will be keen to see their name posted in the winners’
column. The rugged Bell may have his work cut out for him against
Enyi, who has substantially more professional experience and has
faced some high quality opposition including PABA champion Stuart
Moller, Australian champion Sakio Bika, IBF Pan Pacific Light
heavyweight Champion Jason Delisle and PABA Light heavyweight
Champion Paul Murdoch.
Also on the card will be crowd favourite `Big’ Bob Mirovic squaring
off against New Zealand’s Bob Gasio in a heavyweight battle scheduled
for six rounds. In another six round bout junior welterweight Lance
Gostellow will be looking to keep his unbeaten record intact with win
number three against the infamous TBA.
The first Southern Storm was a cracker of a night and fight fans can
expect more of the same on April 16. Tickets prices range from $50 to
$170 and are available from Ticketmaster7 by phoning 13 6100. For
table bookings, phone 0417 888 188. Get in quick because this event
is expected to sell out.
Ndou Headlines at Panthers World of Entertainment
Blaster Promotions have put together another exciting eight fight
card set to take place at Sydney’s new Mecca of boxing, Panthers
World of Entertainment in Penrith, on April 16.
Headlining the card will be IBF #6 / WBC #10 Lovemore Ndou making his
third ring appearance for 2004 as he defends his IBF Pan Pacific
Junior Welterweight title against unbeaten Brazilian Antonio
Mesquita. Ndou’s five fight win streak was brought to a halt in
February of this year when he stepped in on short notice for the
injured Kostya Tszyu and dropped a disputed points decision to
Sharmba Mitchell for the IBF Interim Junior Welterweight championship
over twelve hotly contested rounds.
31 year-old Mesquita is a heavy-handed fighter who will be looking to
take Ndou out early. The Brazilian banger has 21 knockouts in 28
contests with all of his stoppage victories coming before the seventh
round. This fight is not expected to go the distance.
In the main support bout talented former Australian cruiserweight
champion Lawrence Tauasa will do battle against American Troy Beets
for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title. A gifted boxer with decent
power, Tauasa has fought Australia’s best cruiserweights and has won
his last seven bouts. Beets, a 29 year-old southpaw fighting out of
Ocean Springs, Mississippi, has been in the ring with heavyweight
prospects Malcolm Tann and Roman Greenburg.
IBF Pan Pacific Champion Jason Delisle will defend his belt against
37 fight veteran Justin Clements. The tough-as-nails Delisle has won
two on the trot since suffering only his second loss at the hands of
current WBC Interim Super Middleweight Champion Danny Green back in
June of last year. Clements, who turned professional in 1991, holds a
respectable record of 28-7-2 (7 KO’s).
Also on the card Chris Hamilton will do battle with Gary Comer for
the vacant Australian Junior Middleweight title. Unbeaten in five
professional contests, Hamilton was originally slated to fight on the
same date in Toowoomba on Uppercut Promotion’s `Triple Treat’ card,
but was unable to secure an opponent. Southpaw Comer will be the
toughest test of Hamilton’s short career.
Rounding out the card will be an eight round super middleweight
stoush between Brett Culey and Allen Rellish; a lightweight eight
rounder featuring Johnny Shiffiraw and American Richard Best; a six
round welterweight contest between Craig Parke and Rueben Martyn; and
a junior welterweight battle between Mick Mlacic and Filipino Arnel
Porras also over six rounds.
Ticket prices start at $45.00 and can be purchased directly from
Panthers World of Entertainment by phoning 1800 061 991. Table
bookings can be made by calling Roy Alexander on 0414 512 101 or Tony
Caradonna on 0402 766 511.
`Triple Treat’ in Toowoomba Postponed
The ‘Triple Treat’ card originally scheduled for Friday, April 16 at
the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba, Queensland has been postponed. The
show was to feature brothers Mick and Matt Shaw, along with former
amateur standout Chris Hamilton, all in Queensland title fights.
Hamilton was removed from the card when the opportunity arose to
fight for the Australian junior middleweight title. The fight night
was still set to go ahead, but when Mick Shaw injured his hand at
work, Uppercut Promotions decided to postpone the event rather than
offer a sub-standard card.
`Uppercut Promotions are disappointed to announce the postponement,
however to remain true to our goal of offering quality boxing events
utilising local fighters, it was decided that with two of the three
main events being sidelined it was the best option available,’ said
Glenn Azar, spokesman for Uppercut Promotions who contacted Doghouse
Boxing.
A new date is expected to be announced shortly and all tickets that
have already been sold will be honoured on the night.