By Tony Nobbs: Alex Lepai, a Samoan living in Brisbane scored an TKO at 2 minutes 9 seconds of the eighth round over former National champion Nathan Briggs to claim the OPBF heavyweight title ion front of a jam packed crowd at the Kedron – Wavell RSL Club in Brisbane on Friday night. A GREAT FIGHT!
Nathan, 32, twin brother of Paul was down seven times in the fight, it would have been eight but he was dropped after the bell ending round six. When he wasn’t picking himself up, Briggs was having a good bout, getting the better of a lot of the action. For some reason he chose to trade with the big punching Lepai, 28, who rolled in bowling away in a Joe Frazier type stance. Between rounds, Alex’s trainer Noel Thornberry complained to referee Brad Vocale about Briggs walking his man back to the ropes. This is allowed. All of the knock downs were right hands. The first knockdown came in round four. Briggs was down twice in that stanza. For the first three rounds the action was very tight, with both men landing hard shots and missing with some home runs.
Lepai, who had a large contingent of supporters, now looks forward to a top 40 World Boxing Council listing in the coming months while for Briggs, himself a very popular fighter, it’s back to the drawing board. There is no doubt he has a lot of talent and many men would not have got up from the shots he took This was a fight he could easily have won. Going in Nathan number 2, Alex number five in the Australian ratings. Records: Lepai, now 8-2-2, 7 KO’s, Briggs, 16-5, 14 KO’s.
He needs to find a trainer who knows the game and stay with them, as apart from Rod Waterhouse, none of the large number of trainers he has had in his seven year pro career, could, simply put, teach a choko vine to grow over a country shit house. He at least should give himself a 100 % chance.
International Boxing Federation number 14 Filipino Ranee Ganoy retained his Pan Pacific title and gained revenge over Thai Somchai Nakbalee, registering a devastating two round knockout. After winning the first round, using angles , Somchai, from the Songchai stable made one simple mistake and cost him dearly. After having Ranee backed against the ropes he stepped back in a straight line and got clocked. BIG! He got up, badly cut and a follow up barrage had him down again. Time: 2.17. 27 year old Ganoy, from the Bohol Sable in Sydney, is expected to move in to the top ten, possibly eight with the win. He has the one punch power world title. He has not lost since his five round TKO to Mick Katsidis in 2005 and a rematch would again be an absolute cracker! Ganoy is rated number 1 in Australian listings. He is however above that stage now. Records: Ganoy now 24-10-2, 20 whacks, Somchai 10-4-1, 3 KO’s.
Local light middleweight Tyrone Tongia (#6 ANBF) scored a five round TKO over stubborn David Wiremu from New Zealand. Late substitute Wiremu down several times and was cut in the second.
Another local, ex amateur champion Jason Kanofski (# 10 ANBF) unanimously out pointed sub Arnel Barlicuato of the Bohol Stable over six at welterweight.
Former amateur Jason Hartman (Queensland # 4) knocked out two day sub Clayton Collier in round two, middleweights and another former amateur boxing champ Trent Werhman came out with a draw after four rounds against replacement Steve Wijancho at light welter poundage.
All in all, a top night of fights staged by Angelo Dicarlo’s Ace Promotions, despite the forced late replacements on the undercard.