TAYLOR BEATS BARGERO!
By Tony Nobbs
Shannan Taylor last night survived a late surge by Marc Bargero to win the Australian Super Middleweight Title at Penrith Leagues Club last night by a spit decision. In a grueling and often untidy twelve rounder Taylor held a strong lead after six rounds before the awkward and strong Bargero rallied back. Clubbing right hands and some telling body shots had Bargero in trouble early but the defending Title holder rallied back over the last half, forcing the "Blaster" to hold on a couple of occasions with some flush shots with both hands. Bargero, mixed his boxing well between orthodox and southpaw but in the end the early domination of the former Welterweight contender was enough to see him win his second Australian Title. Shannan looked frustrated by Bargero's spoiling tactics early and both were warned by referee Brian Mc Mahan for various infringes throughout.
Bargero was revved up before the eighth round by trainer Angelo Hyder and as the pace of the fight picked up, an upset looked possible. In round nine, Taylor caught Bargero lunging in and in the middle of the round landed three straight left leads as he circled. Taylor was cut in this round over the left eye andscalp. Rounds ten and eleven were big rounds for Bargero as he engaged Shannan in a mauling, scrappy style of fighting. A right hand hurt Taylor with ten seconds left in the tenth and Bargero was sent out by Hyder to "finish him" in the eleventh. He tried and landed cleanly but Taylor managed to hold on til the end. Bargero slipped several times on a wet advertising sign as he attacked the tiring Taylor. Taylor dug deep in round twelve and edged the round as both were near exhaustion.
At the end both embraced and the strong crowd gave a rounding ovation. Official scores were 117-113 and 115-113 for Taylor and an off base 119-111 for Bargero. Eastside scored it 115-113 for Taylor who later indicated he will move back down to Super Welterweight where he is rated ten by the WBA.
"I'd like to thank Marc. Anything I said in paper before the fight was paper talk to gee up a fight. Marc Bargero is a gentleman out of the ring. It was a tough fight. I'm doing everything for God'.
Working Class Man Bargero said "I could have done more early. I lost the fight, I take it on the chin. I'd love another chance, next time I'd do things better but I take my hat of to him, he did his job".
The pair fought to a Technical Draw for the Title on Feb. 21 and Taylor previously held the Australian Lt. Welterweight Title, wining that by a ten round TKO over Shane Riley in 1993. Bargero was in his second reign as Australian Super Middleweight Champion after being National Middleweight Champ twice.
