Australian Weekend Round Up: Taylor, Sting & Wilson Win!

By Tony Nobbs

Shannon Taylor vs Marcelo Rodriguez

At the Panther Leagues club in West Sydney on Friday night, Shannan Taylor captured the PABA and WBA-Fedelatin 154 lb Titles with a one sided victory over Argentine Marcelo Rodriguez. The 31 year old 'Blaster' who is part of a strong Australian contigent off to the WBA convention in Bali tomorrow (Monday) scored two knockdowns in the opening round before cruising along to an eleventh round TKO.

"I was sharp. I played with him for ten rounds, jabbed his head off and did it for a reason. I wanted to condition my body for future fights. When my shot at the WBA Super Welterweight World Title comes up I want to be in the best shape" Taylor said today.

"After the tenth round my trainer Frank Gatt told me, 'ok, you got the rounds in your legs, go out and finish him'. I did exactly what my trainer told me. After the fight, people who've watched my whole career were commenting on how well I boxed. People aren't used to the relaxed Shannan Taylor. It'd been easy to knock out this guy in one or two rounds but would not have done anything for my career. He was tough - he took some good clean shots. I want to thank Paul Briggs, Rod Waterhouse, Craig Christian, Daniel Dawson, Lawrence Tuasa and Daniel Rowsell for the sparring they have given me. And my trainer Frankie Gatt. People say he isn't he best trainer in the world but he is the best for me. He has done the best job in getting me to this level. This isn't the new 'Blaster' - it's a better 'Blaster'. A controlled one. After the fight I hung around and mingled for a while and then went straight home. I'm still only 72 kg (160 lb) today. The crowd was choccas, packed. Another great show from Blaster Promotions".

WBA World Champion is Mexican Alex Terra Garcia while 'Super' Champ is newly crowned Shane Mosley -who defeated Taylor after five rounds in March 2001 for the WBC Welterweight Title.

Undercard results:
Jason Delisle W UD John 'Digger' Wyborn ( wins IBF Pan Pac Lt Heavy Title)
Gary Comer TKO 3 Opepi Taginafelala (Welter)
Arama 'Warrior' Tabuai KO 1 Brett Culey (Super Middle)
Mick Mlacic W Tech Dec 6 Jungstar Min (Lightweight)
Yohannes Sheferaw Ko 2 Waisele Ratu (Lt. Welter)

Colin Wilson-Roger Izon

On a Jamie Myer Foxsport card at Tweed Heads Seagulls in NSW on Friday night Col 'Kid' Wilson (25-16 with 1 ND and 14 KO) regained the Australian Heavyweight Tile with a ten round TKO over Roger Izon (5-3, 5 KO) in a hard fought battle. Izon, 28, a brother of David, started well and was leading on two of the official scorecards after nine rounds. After being stunned in the sixth with right hands Wilson asserted his dominance in the seventh and a southpaw left hand staggered a back peddling Izon who was given a standing eight count by ref Johnny Wright whilst sagging on the ropes near Wilson's corner. The Nigerian born resident of Adelaide, Sth Australia survived the round and did some good work in the next two but it was evident it was just a matter of time before Col finished it. Another left hand dropped an exhausted Roger in the tenth and a follow up had him defenceless. RSC at 2 min 18.

After the fight Wilson, 31 said "I'm excited to be champion again. It was a tough contest. Roger is a tough boy and I give him credit. It wasn't my sharpest display but my fitness was there. I'm happy at this weight (113.60 kg) but my timing was out - I was a bit rusty - as there's not a lot of sparring up in Emerald. But this ten rounds did me the world of good. I missed out on the opportunity to fight Audley Harrison when the Mundine fight got put back but now I'm Australian champion we'd like to get back into the negotiations with Audley and perhaps fight him in England. And then defend the Aussie title".

Undercard results:
Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Paul Miller suffered two cuts around the right eye and had his highly anticipated catch weight eight rounder with amateur rival Jamie Guy stopped early. Result- the dreaded 1st round technical draw. Miller scaled inside the SM limit at 75 .90 kg and not 76.90 kg as I mentioned pre fight while the no.2 Lt Heavy in Queensland weighed just above.

PABA Cruiserweight champion and WBA no 7 Daniel Rowsell stopped former Australian Jamie Wallace in four rounds in an over the limit non title set for eight . Body shots did the job.

2000 Olympian and former Australian 135 lb champ Rocky Katsidis stopped Daniel Hoskins in round one of a scheduled six at Lt. Welter. The game Hoskin's last bout was a challenge for the vacant Australian
FeatherweightTitle - dropping a decision to Tommy Browne last November.

Jason Larsen stopped Raymond Lucas in round two, catch weights. Larsen weighed at Cruiser, Lucas at Super Cruiser.

Max Mariconte, the Queensland Lt.Middleweight champion stopped Byron Lucas in round three at Super Middle.

Erle Louk unanimously outpointed Gareth Williams over four rounds in a willing battle of pro debs. Scores 39-36, 39-37 and 38-37. Louk, who had a seven pound weight advantage over Lt Middle Williams had a point deducted in the third after his ill fitting mouthguard fell out for the umpteenth time and could easily have been DQ'd when it came out again in the fourth.

Nathan Sting-Nicky Booth

Congratulations to Gold Coaster Nathan Sting in retaining his WBU Bantamweight Title for the first time with a unanimous decision over hometown hero Nicky Booth in Nottingham this morning (Sunday-Australian time).

Before leaving for England the underated Sting's trainer Les Wilson said he was looking at a defence against Britains top rated 118 pounder Noel Wilders before a talked about shot at WBA Champion Johnny Bredahl. "Nathan loves fighting in England where he gets more recognition than in his own country. After cleaning up the Bantamweights in Britain, Nath would stand a great chance of beating the thirty six year old Bredahl". For more on the fight read Elliot Worsell's article.