Australian Action: Bargero-Taylor Draw, Hussein Wins, Ndou Fight A No Go, McLeod Beaten!

By Tony Nobbs

24.02 - Marc Bargero retained his Australian Super Middleweight Title when a cut to the scalp of challenger Shannan Taylor, initially opened in round two, forced experienced doctor Lou Lewis to advise referee Gary Dean to stop the contest in the sixth round of a scheduled twelve at the Penrith Leagues Club in West Sydney, NSW on Friday night. A point deduction in round five proved costly for Taylor, who without the penalty would have become Champion by a majority decision and cleared the way for a shot at Josh Clemshaw's National Super Welterweight Title next month at this same venue. Taylor was also hoping victory would set up a "Super Fight" with WBA #2 Super Middle Anthony Mundine. Instead, the 30 year old is talking retirement and a future as a Church Minister. Both fighter's felt they were in front at the time of stoppage and the scores were 48-47 (Bargero) 48-45 (Taylor) and 47-47. The result takes Bargero's record to 32-10-3, 8 KO while Taylor goes to 31-3-2, 23 KO. Taylor entered the ring the PABA 154 lb Champion and WBA # 8.

In the Chief support, local favorite Lawrence Tuasa (12-3-1, 5 KO) captured the Australian Cruiserweight Title with a majority decision over Melbourne's Tosca Petridis (8-5, 4 KO). Scores 117-114, 116-15, 115-115. The solid Tuasa, 23, trained in the U.S with James Toney last year and is a very good prospect with a neat all round kit who, if he is dedicated enough could develop into a force at world level. He should be campaigning at Lt Heavy or perhaps Super Middleweight. ANBF President Brad Vocale reported to Eastside that by beating veteran Petridis, Lawrence becomes the first Samoan to win an Australian Championship. The Title became vacant when then Champ Simon Paterson won the IBF Pan Pacific Belt two weeks ago. Paterson defends against Glenn Kelly under the Briggs-Castro WBC Lt Heavyweight Eliminator on the Gold Coast, Queensland on April 13. Josh Clemshaw (18-9, 10 KO) scored a three round knockout of Fiji's Paula Tailau (12-10-6, 8 KO)

In other bouts, John Wyborn W6 Brett Smith, Cruiserweight. Les Sherington W6 Brett Curley, Super Middleweight. Mick Mlacic W6 Brendan Batty, Lightweight. Daniel Kearney D4 Joel Burke, Lt.Heavyweight. Australian #9 Super Middle Burke was outweighed by 8 lb.

- Also on Friday night, at Perth, West Australia, the talented Flyweight Hussein Hussein won a ten round unanimous decision over Wande Singwungchu (formerly Chor Chareon) to set up a Title shot at either WBC Champ Pongsaklek Wongjongkam or the WBO belt holder Omar Narvaez. Hussein has been a long time mandatory for the WBO Title and took his slate to 22-0, 17 KO with scores of 99-89, 99-90, 99-91. Singwungchu slips to 39-4, 9 KO. In the other two professional boxing bouts on the Perth show, Melbourne's Craig Eden drew with debutant Jeremy Allen in a Super Middleweight six rounder and Daniel Dawson knocked out late sub Barry Hanckock in round one, Middleweights. The popular local Dawson holds a kick boxing victory over IBF # 12 Sam Soliman. Hanckock arrived from Brisbane, Queensland late Thursday night.

- Lovemore Ndou (32-5-1, 20 KO) had his bout at the Fraternity Club in Wollongong, NSW, on Friday night called off when both the NSW Boxing Authority and the IBF ruled that Fijian Indian Avinesh Kumar Singh was not a qualified enough opponent for the # 13 Super Lightweight contender. Ndou informed Eastside on Thursday that scheduled rival, Filipino Cezar Yarte, had visa problems and he was expecting to face Singh. Instead Ndou boxed an exhibition with Welter Gary Comer (4-0, 0 KO) while Singh, who had a reported record of 15 wins and one loss, was stopped in two rounds by novice Jingstar Min in a Lightweight bout. Ndou told Eastside "I am very disappointed about not fighting but these things happen I am looking forward to my next fight in April (against American Mario Ramos in Mississippi).

In the main event, Wade Clout, Australia's #6 Super Lightweight won a unanimous eight round verdict over Queenslander Matt Shaw. Scores, 77-74, 77-75, 79-73. Clout scaled 147 lb while Shaw came in at 150 lb. It was sweet revenge for Wade who was outpointed by Matt's brother-trainer Mick Shaw in 1999.

- In Kumamoto, Japan, Australian Middleweight Champ Ian Mcleod lost a unanimous decision to Tokutaro Toyozumi for the vacant OPBF 160 lb Title on Saturday night. Scores, 117-110, 117-112, 115-112. Toyozumi came in rated #7 by the OPBF, The previous Champion Naotaka Hozumi was defeated in ten rounds by William Joppy for the WBA Belt in October.