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SHANNAN TAYLOR WINS PABA SUPER WELTER TITLE!
By Tony Nobbs
 20.07 - Former WBC Welterweight Tile Challenger Shannan Taylor captured the vacant PABA 154 lb Title at the Southport RSL on the Gold Coast, by a TKO in the ninth round over tough Indonesian Harman Ajadarto on Friday night. The conclusion of what was a gruelling contest was controversial after Ajadarto went down following a head butt which was the result of rough-house tactics by both fighters. Ajadarto stayed sitting along the ropes for several seconds and after referee Derek Milham penalised Taylor a point for his indescretion waved the fight away after the Indonesian motioned he did not want to continue.
The huge crowd of over 1500, there to se "the Return of the Blaster "Shannan Taylor, immediately showed disappointment with the result. Ajadarto, however was also guilty of using his head throughout and both boxers were warned for a wide range of repeated infringements. Milham also used the no foul rule in the eighth, after Taylor went south. Earlier in the round Ajadarto complained of a low blow which in actuality was a well placed body shot seconds after a four punch combination to the head by Taylor saw Ajadarto back up for the first time in the fight. Taylor is a noted body puncher and Ajadarto was looking uncomfortable from round six after absorbing some quality shots both upstairs and down by the Australian.
Taylor, 29 now with a record of 30-3-1, 20 ko's, enterd the ring with his arms around friend and backer Tony Caradonna and wore an all white outfit in contrast to his trademark black shorts and boots. The scripture on the back of his robe, Isaiah 40:29-31 is testament to the change in Shannan's personal life. He told Foxsports commentater and ANBF President Brad Vocale earlier in the day that the all white outfit was a symbol of purity and peace he has found through his Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. In an interview on Thursday he said "I'm winning this Title for my trainer Billy Corbett who I left before going to fight Shane Mosley and my good friend Tony Caradonna who has supported me all the way in recent months.. I should never have left Billy and I'm in the best shape of my life. I just wish I felt this good before I fought Shane. I'm going to church again and everything I do is for God. I want to be a testimony to Him".
Taylor started the fight fast, a stiff jab setting up a body attack which had Ajadarto covering up in the opening seconds before an overhand right momentarily unsettled Taylor, so dominant early, the first three rounds were almost two point advantages. Ajadarto was dangerous when he let go but Taylor boxed beautifully at times and in the third stanza, a five punch combo, all with the left hand, to both the head and body, was punctuated by a snapping uppercut. Ajadarto picked it up at the beginning of round five and Taylor started the sixth up on his toes after previously standing mostly flat footed in front of his man, occasionally turning him side on and stepping off. A short left saw Harman's knees dip in the sixth. After the fight there was a brief and unneccessary altercation between a member of Taylor's team(who shouldn't have been in the ring) and Ajadarto and his trainer Zulfar, a former world rated 140 pounder. This also did not sit well with the crowd who were appreciative of the visitors performance.
"I'd like to thank God.After the worse 14 months of my life that I was responsible for it is fantastic to be back in the ring. I give Harman credit,he was very tough.He gave me a great fight. I broke both my hands in the first three rounds,I had to really dig, every time I hit him it hurt. My body shots wore him down.This is he last time in my life I want to talk about drugs,but all the young people out there, when you do drugs,you cannot win in life. Drugs only destroy you, they are a demon". Said the Blaster, who spent a fortnight in Sydney's Silverwater Prison in earlier this year in the ring afterwards. Knowing Shannan for several years, I personally have always found him a gentleman and must say, it is great to see him today.
He then challenged Gold Coast raised Julian Holland who stopped him in the seventh round last August. "I'm a Welterweight. A week ago I was two pound under the limit for his fight. I want to get back to Welterweight where I'm knocking guys out.I know you all love him, Julian Holland, he's an absolute Champion but I'd love another crack at him. He is not Commonwealth Champion any more but I feel I can beat him and get that Title back from England". Holland entered the ring and the pair embraced.
"I'd also like to say that my last opponent Richard Williams sent me a message today, wishing me the best, and that he knows he did not fight the best Shannan Taylor. An hour later, as he left the building, Taylor could not shake hands with well wishers. The Title was made Vacant after Ajadarto lost it to countryman David Koswara in November via controversial decision and it was later proven that two oficials had accepted bribes.
Prelim results: Daniel Rowsell W12 Simon Patterson, PABA Cruisereweight Belt.
Nathan Sting W10 Dozer Tobing, Super Bantamweights
Mick Katsidis TKO 1 Jay Wasington, Lightweights
Simon Noble TKO 1 Shane Gren, Welterweights
Paul Tapley W 4 Brad Hemming, Welterweights.
Promoter Jamie Myer, in attendance, Lionel Rose and Joe Bugner.
Shannon Taylor & The Jewel of Djakarta Weigh In For PABA Title Fight
By Tony Nobbs
18.07 - In a bout billed as "The Return of the blaster," Australia's Shannan Taylor looks to win the Vacant PABA Super Welterweight Title when he faces respected Indonesian Herman Ajadarto at Southport RSL tomorrow night. Taylor-Ajadarto headlines a six fight Foxsports TV card promoted by Jamie Myer with the main support bout being a PABA Cruiserweight Title fight between Sydney neighbours Daniel Rowsell, the Champion and Simon Patterson, the Challenger.
At tonight's weigh-in at Melbas nightclub in Surfers Paradise, Taylor (29-3-1, 19 ko's) came in at 69.75 kg while Ajadarto, a former Holder of this Belt, came in at 69.45kg after having to shed extra poundage this afternoon but promised not to be a push over for the former WBC 147 lb Title Challenger who needs a victory to help resurrect his career after being stopped in 3 of 4 bouts last year, the last being a four round TKO at the hand of England's talented Richard Williams for the vacant IBO 154 lb Crown, in which he failed a post fight drug test and soon after admitted to a 12 month cocaine habit. Taylor, 29, is back with trainer Bill Corbett who took him to the #1 ranking by the WBC at Welterweight. Corbett, who also trained Lightweight Lovemore Ndou for several fights, has been absent for Taylor's last five bouts and simply said "You saw Shannan on the scales. He's good, he's finally looking like an athlete again. It's great to have him motivated again He is very focused and everyone will see how hard he's hitting tomorrow".
After watching Shannan dominate improving Queensland State Super Middleweight Champion Juarne Dowling in a torrid six round sparring session in May, only a few days after running an ultra marathon for charity, it was apparent he was a determined fighter with his mind back on track. How much progress has been made since will be found out tomorrow. A rejuvenated Taylor would be a much welcome injection in to the Aussie Fight Scene. The winner of tomorrow's bout will earn a top 15 rating by the WBA behind Champion Fernando Vargas.
Ajadarto, 28, billed as "The Jewel of Djakarta" by master of ceremonies Theo Jacobsen has an given record of 24-7-1, with 18 ko's. He holds a six round TKO win over sturdy Australian Middleweight Champion Ian Mcleod and lost the Title by disputed decision to countryman David Koswara last November. Rowsell,29, with a record of 18-2-1, 9 ko's, scaled in at 85.8 with his challenger Patterson,also 29 record 6-2, 3 ko's coming in at 85.35. PABA supervisor was Derek Milham.
Meanwhile, IBF # 13 Bantamweight Nathan Sting weighed 54.6 for his non title ten rounder with "The Indonesian Tyson", Dozer Tobin. The 5 ft 2 Tobing tipped the scales at 54.05. Sting, who was present with hid Michael proclaimed he would "do what I did underneath Mundine-Stenton two years ago and steal the show".
30 year old Promoter Jamie Myer, who challenged for PABA Titles himself at 168 and 175 lb, said "It should be a good night of fights. All the boys are primed, we've sold well and always get a big walk up. I don't think TV will hurt our gate too much as we get a good crowd and they're always happy with our promotions and they come back. Our first TV show last year went very well, this one is bigger with two PABA Titles, we hope to help keep boxing going strong on the Gold Coast".
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