RABAH WINS AUSTRALIAN LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE!

By Tony Nobbs

15.06 - In a bout between two Sydney Olympians,Team Fenech's Noefel Ben Rabah (Tunisia, 8-1,4 ko's) captured the Vacant Australian Lightweight Title with a split decision over Kassim Adam (Uganda,4-1-1,1 ko) at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney last night. Promoter was recently inducted Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech. Televised live by Foxsports.

The highly anticipated 12 rounder never rose to any great heights and was a somewhat scrappy affair over the last half. Adam's hand and foot speed saw him dominate the opening three stanzas and Ben Rabah, who was content to wait and counter, was bleeding from the nose and was marked on the left temple at the end of the third. Ben Rabah's best work in this period came in round two when he connected with a right hand - left hook on a backmoving Adam, trained in Adelaide by the successful Austin Taylor. Ben Rabah gradually worked his way back into the contest from the fourth and had success with the right hands in almost each round. Adam's tendency to hold his chin high, made Ben Rabah's punches appear to affect him more than they did. Ben Rabah was rarely able to land more than two shots at a time, as Adam would either tie him up or fight back, landing more than he got over the course of the 36 minutes. Adam, who had never been past eight rounds before, looked very leg weary at the end of the night. He was wrestled to the floor in the fifth as he held on after a Ben Rabah combination and he was warned in round nine and ten about punching south. Both scored with their share of body punches. It was revenge of some kind for Ben Rabah as he droped a 12 round decision to Adam'a stablemate Fred Kinuthia for the Welterweight Title in Feburary this year. The Lightweight Title was vacated by Mick Katsidis (3-0,2 ko's) who claims to be chasing an international Title.

Many of the rounds were very tight and this writer scored the bout 115-113 for 23 year old Adam who looked genuinely distressed after the decision was announced. The official scores were 115-113 and 117-115 for Ben Rabah, 25, and 117-115 for Adam. The final two judges scored FOUR ROUNDS EVEN!

DARCHINIAN WINS AGAIN: In a one-sided Main Event, Australian Flyweight Champ Vic Darchinian (Team Fenech) win the Vacant OBA Bantamweight Title when Fijian Junior Farzan Ali retired before the start of round seven. Ali took the bout on short notice and was nowhere as busy as he was in losing a shut out over 10 rounds with IBF # 15 Bantamweight Nathan Sting on Feb 7. Southpaw Darchinian (11-0, 8 ko's), however, continues to impress and his camp believe he can make it on the World scene. He used a variety of head and body shots from the start and simply overwhelmed Ali, who rarely threw back. Ali's slate now reads 10-2, 7 ko's.

HAUMONO SCORES EIGHTH KO: Former Rugby League star Solomon Haumono took his unblemished record to 8 zip, all knockouts by stopping overmatched Fijian Fatu Tuimanono at 21 seconds of round two. The visitor was on the back pedal from the opening bell being knocked down in round one by a couple of straight right hands and was in bother at the bel. Haumono did not take much time before he continued to the off in the second . Tuimanono was saved by ref John Gauchi as he hit the deck again. Tuimonono entered the ring with a flattering 6-1-1,5 ko record but at 93.4 kilo was outweighed by 15 kilo and he lacked the fire power to cause any problems for Solomon who is starting to show some of the Charlie Gergan polish. Haumono,26,is a nice guy and a very popular prospect rated #3 in Australia.