PAUL BRIGGS KO4 SEIAUTE MAILATA

By Tony Nobbs

07.06 - WBC number 16 Lt Heavyweight Paul "Hurricane" Briggs (16-1, 13 ko's) retained his OPBF Title for the second time by stopping Mandatory Challenger American Samoan Seiaute Mailata at 1.40 of round four at the Southport Sharks AFL Club on the Gold Coast last night. Briggs' performance once again showed the improvement he has made in recent months and the move that set up a whistling left hook that knocked Mailata down late in the third was a thing of beauty. Mailata spun around and landed on his face, getting up at the bell. A pumped Briggs jumped on him at the start of round four and stunned him with a combination. Mailata fought back against the ropes and connected with some short shots of his own. Briggs returned to boxing and a fast right hand put the visitor down on one knee where referee Brad Vocale stopped the fight.

Briggs is a confident fighter and was willing to exchange with the dangerous Mailata who showed some quality boxing skill and a good chin. But in the end it was Briggs hand speed and foot work that gave him the edge throughout. After the bout the 26 year old Title Holder said " I thank Seiaute for coming to fight. Before the fight, all we knew was he could punch and trust me, this guy can bang. As for my future, Glenn Kelly has finally said he will step up to the plate and my next fight is on August 9 right here on the Gold Coast".

The Rod Waterhouse promoted show was a good night of boxing with a very strong undercard, highlighted by a spectacular performance by Queensland State Super Middleweight Champion Juarne "Kid Dynamite" Dowling (4-1, 3 ko's) who stopped former Amatuer star Jamie Guy (2-2, 2 ko's) in two one sided rounds. Dowling,23, connected with solid rights to the head from the start and is on the improve. He would capture the Australian Title from Marc Bargero if given the chance, his last bout being a mind boggling six round points loss to Australian Middleweight Champion Ian McLeod on March 4. His opponent last night lost a six round decision to South African Roland Francis who went eight rounds with Anthony Mundine on April 1.

Storm Warning: Briggs vs Mailata Tonight!

By Tony Nobbs

06.06 - OPBF Lt. Heavyweight Champion Paul "Hurricane" Briggs faces big punching American Samoan Seiaute Mailata on the Gold Coast tonight with the promise of a bout with former World Title Challenger Glenn Kelly on August 9. At last nights weigh in, Briggs, who weighed 173 lb said that he found out yesterday that Kelly, stopped in seven one-sided rounds by Roy Jones in Feburary, had agreed to terms. "It's great news. I've always wanted Kelly and now it's happening. I can't wait to get him in the ring. I have to beat Seiaute, I can't afford to take him lightly because, like everyone else I've fought, he can punch. This fight is a mandatory and Kelly wants to fight for my OPBF Title.These two fights should put me up high in the ratings. After I fight Kelly, that's it for local fighters. I want to fight a good American, a Derek Harmon or an Eric Harding".

The quietly spoken and likable, once beaten Mailata, who scaled 174.8 lb after skipping for 20 minutes has been in Australia for two weeks and by reports has looked good in training. Briggs took his record to 15-1, 12 ko's on May 9 in Melbourne with a four round stoppage of Australian Champ Peter Kariuki, in defence of the OPBF Belt.

"I have not stopped training. I've trained real hard for this fight and I'll be back in the gym soon after. I want a World Title fight, but I want to be ready for it. I don't want to be like Kelly and embarrass myself when I get my chance. Kelly's been really talking it up down in Sydney, running around saying he has never wanted to bash anyone like he wants to bash me. He got all that money to fight Roy Jones and he did nothing, now he wants to bash me. He's kidding isn't he ? As long as he turns up on fight night then I'll know he wants to fight".

Officials for tonight's 12 rounder are referee Brad Vocale and Judges Gus Mercurio and Adrian Cairns from Australia and representing American Samoa, Ali Afakasi, who in 1975 stopped future WBC Super Welterweight Champion Rocky Mattioli in 12 rounds in Melbourne. The promoter is Briggs' trainer Rod Waterhouse.