By Tony Nobbs: Les “Lock & Load” Sherrington (19-4, 12 KO’s) retained his Australian super middleweight title with a spectacular eighth round stoppage of Melbourne based Charles Njock (2-3-1) at Southport RSL on the Gold Coast in Queensland on Friday night – but he did not have it all his own way, having to come off the deck in an explosive first round to do so.
Local star Sherrington, 25, started fast as usual, stunning Njock, 22, and throwing the Cameroon C/Wealth Games rep to the floor as he attempted to hold. Late in the round, Sherrington was firing away weit Njock trapped against the ropes. Njock threw between the blistering attack, putting Sherrington on his backside. The bell sounded as the fight resumed.
For the ret of the contest the two exchanged fast punches with Sherrington getting the better of the action. Njock however, always looked dangerous. The end came after Les pu together beautiful body punches that seemed to take Njock’s legs. Uppercuts on the inside dropped Charles for a first time and a fired up Sherington jumped straight on him at resumption, with referee Cyril Cairns waving it off as Njock went down again seconds later. Time: 2 minutes 50.
Likable Les, trained by former National lightweight champ Danny McGrail has been sparing Anthony Mundine, being his main partner for three of The Man’s last four fights. A kill or be killed type, he has also been mooted as a future Mundine foe. Even “Sherro” acknowledges he has at least 12 – 18 months before he is ready. He needs to work on his range and his defense before he steps up to the next level.
In the main support, rising Rob “Gummy” Toomey (6-1) out thought and out fought higher rated Queensland 168 lb champ Israel Kani (8-2-1), scoring his best win by taking a unanimous six round verdict. Going in, Toomey was rated number eight in Australia at light middle, Kani number six at super middle. An entertaining fight with switch hitter Toomey being the aggressor, landing several clean shots. Toomey, NSW light middleweight champion, now based on the Gold Coast, intends to eventually move to 147 where he will be very hard to beat. This fight was set at middleweight poundage with Kani weighing in two pound over. Toomey weighed 159 lb.
Manchester C/W Games rep Greg Eadie (4-0) returned after a three year lay off to out point Filipino Jurland Ceniza (6-3) over six at light welter. Ceniza, boxrec’s number 11 Filipino lightweight scored a second round KO over touted Trent Werhman in Brisbane two weeks ago and made the classy Eadie, now a gym mate of Les Sherrington’s, work in this one.
James “Fear No Man” Chan (ANBF # 8 / rec 5-6-1) got a much needed win, knocking over former Aussie title challenger Les Crowe (ANBF # 5 / rec 13-8) in the first round of a cruiserweight clash set for six.
The polished James Giltrow (boxrec # 19 Aust) won a four round decision over tough Victorian Nick Themelakis at light middle and local light welterweight Lowen Hardy (BR # 16 Aust) scored a TKO over Paul Brydan (BR # 13 Aust) with the fight being stopped between the first and second rounds after Bryden suffered a rib injury from a brutal body attack.
Promoter: Jamie Myer.