Kulkov Wins In Brisbane, Tetoris Retires A Winner In Melbourne

03.12.04 – By Tony Nobbs: Russian Ivan Kulkuv gave a quality display in outpointing less experienced Samoan born Alex Lepai at the Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane, Queensland last night (Friday). In a hard fought super cruiserweight eight rounder topping a good night of fights, the rangy Kulkov did not lose a round on any of the official cards despite having a count put on him in the seventh. At times, 32 year old Kulkov, who had a reported amateur record of 102-18, looked a bit ragged when put under pressure but for the most part was able to dictate the pace pot shotting the slower Lepai, 25, and whipping in some clever combinations. Judges scores: 80-72 and 80-73 (x2). Kulkov takes his pro log to 13-2, 9 KO’s while Lepai dips to 1-1-1, 1 KO after fifteen amateur contests that saw him win both the Samoan and Australian Boxing League heavyweight titles.

Weights: Kulkov, 87.05 kg, Lepai 94.1kg. Ref Brad Vocale.

Kulkov is based here with NSW trainer Angelo Hyder, the busy Team Fenech matchmaker who flew out for New Zealand this morning for his heavyweight Bob Mirovic’s bout in Auckland tonight. Hyder will be back in Queensland next week for the Fenech fight night at the Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast. Then, if all goes well for Mirovic tonight against Hiriwa Te Rangi he will be back on the Coast for Bob’s non title stoush with Aussie champ Col Wilson on the Jamie Myer bill at Royal Pines on Dec 17.

In undercard action, Shane Knox trained Mick Peachey, a former Brisbane Bronco rugby league player stopped Central Queenslander Cory Wainright in round three of a heavyweight clash, Noel Thornberry trained Allan Reynish knocked out James Ellis in round two with his always dangerous right hand, super cruiserweights.

Queensland welterweight champ Paul Tapley won a majority six round decision over pro debutant Jeremy Condron. Mark Batty trained Tapley lost to Condron in the amateurs but his experience in the pay ranks saw him take the final two heats to get home in what promoter Angelo Di Carlo called fight of the night. The opening pro bout saw this state’s most active fighter for the past two years, the self trained Fab Hona, unanimously draw with Gareth Williams in a welter four.

An evenly matched five bout amateur programme preceded the professional side of the show. Crowd: approximately 800.

Meanwhile, at the Malvern Town Hall in Melbourne, Victoria last night, former WBO # 8 lt welterweight Nick “The Terror” Tetoris had a farewell performance knocking out Kiwi Clinton Simmonds in one round. Nice guy Nick, a former world kickboxing champ was knocked out last Feb by New Zealander David Weramu but decided to have one more try and he goes out a deserved winner after a successful career that saw him win PABA (154 lb) and WBO Asia Pacific (140 lb) titles. For this fight he weighed 70. 40 kg (around 155) while Simmonds came in at 67.10 (148).