Paul-John Ramos
07.09 - Montreal, Quebec - Even if the super middleweight division needs clearing up, Eric Lucas can rest assured that he is the right man for a title this weekend.
In a bout heavily anticipated over the past few weeks, Lucas successfully defended his WBC belt for the third time as he picked apart Omar Sheika for 12 rounds of an unanimous decision win before 20,000 Bell Centre fans. The matchup between Lucas, a defensive-minded boxer with solid technique, and Sheika, a power puncher gifted with a strong chin, was analyzed by many as a potential brawl. But Lucas (36-4-3, 13 KOs) bore no interest in Sheika's style and kept the cool-headedness that has brought him success against Glenn Catley, Dingaan Thobela, and Vinnie Pazienza. Sheika (23-4, 16 KOs) entered the bout off a controversial TKO loss to Thomas Tate last October and was looking to become the first Palestinian to win a world title. Although he has unfairly suffered from severe cuts, swollen eyes, and questionable decisions by ring officials, Sheika simply did not have the answers to Lucas' tight assault on this particular evening.
The first three rounds of the bout were Sheika's best, as his punches, with that familiar thump, kept Lucas at bay. A solid right hook actually hurt Lucas in round three, backing Montreal's favorite to the ropes. The only time Lucas appeared in trouble, however, lasted mere seconds, as he clenched, regained his wits, and landed a few solid punches of his own. Lucas, 166 ¾, had completely stripped Sheika, 167, of his offense by round five, avoiding a war and using his potent left jab in between Sheika's wide hooks. As the fight entered the late rounds, Sheika's looping punches became more and more exaggerated while trying to bust through Lucas' guard. In rounds eleven and twelve, Lucas sensed an easy victory at hand and used his motto of efficiency before heroism ; he kept Sheika at a safe distance with the jab and grabbed on whenever Sheika came close. Sheika, in any case, looked exhausted after eleven rounds of steady punishment and it was already known that the miracle punch, a lifesaver several times before, would not be coming.
The judges, despite being in Lucas' hometown, scored the fight accurately : the cards read 117-111, 117-111, and 119-109. East Side Boxing had it 116-112.
