07.08.05 – By Tony Nobbs: Indonesia’s WBA featherweight champion Chris John (36-0-1, 20 KO’s) defended his title for the fourth time by handing out a boxing lesson to number 15 contender Tommy Browne (18-4-1, 7 KO’s) at the Panthers Leagues Club, in Penrith, West Sydney on Sunday.. The rangy Browne, from the nearby suburb of Campbelltown, won the opening stanza but it quickly became an up hill struggle for the local battler as the champion was able to dominate with a consistent attack exhibiting precise punching combined with a solid defence before the fight was eventually stopped before the start of the tenth round when referee Stanley Christodoulou visited the challenger’s corner and advised an ending.
The gutsy 22 year old Browne had been on the receiving end of some stiff punishment in the proceeding few rounds. John, 25, trained by Craig Christian at Harry’s Gym in Perth, West Australia was ahead by seven points on two cards and five on the third at the conclusion and looks to be developing into a real force at 126 pounds. John’s previous defence was a mandatory twelve round unanimous verdict over former word champion Derek Gainer in Indonesia. The Gainer fight in
April had 80 % of Indonesia’s television viewing audience and this bout was beamed back live to the nation. John looks ahead to an October defence in his home land.
This was Browne’s second title shot this year, dropping UD to In Jin Chi in Korea for the WBC belt in January. He indicated post fight he will step back up to the junior lightweight division.
In undercard action, Chad Bennett (#2 Australia) stopped Thailand’s Kiatchai 13 Coins in one round in an IBF Pan Pacific title contest at welterweight. Body shots set a first knockdown before a combination to the head dropped the import for the ten count to end it at 2 min 18.
NSW middleweight champion Adam Vella (#8 Australia) knocked out New Zealander Bruce Glozier in the opener. A left hook did the trick. Time 2 min 10.
WBO number two junior middleweight Daniel Dawson, a stable mate of John, won a ten round decision over former Australian champion Josh Clenshaw. In a rematch of a willing contest last year, Dawson swept through the first seven rounds before the tough local Clenshaw came home over the final three. Clenshaw is due to face Daniel Geale for the vacant Australian middleweight title and Manchester Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Geale was on hand to offer a challenge to Dawson.
Former national jnr welterweight champion Matt Pauley looked on his way to winning a six round welterweight bout with Victorian Ruben Martyn when a sizeable cut on Martyn’s forehead forced a technical stoppage draw in round two.
Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Paul Miller (# 5 Australia at 168 lb) won a unanimous eight rounder over Thai trier Saiseelek Sakseepueng.
World rated Shannan Taylor and Lovemore Ndou boxed an entertaining four round exhibition. Taylor is set to challenge Raymond Joval in October for the IBO middleweight title.
In attendance: Former heavyweight champion Smokin Joe Frazier, IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan, triple crown world champion Jeff Fenech, former undisputed 140 pound king Kostya Tszyu and ex WBA super middle titlist Anthony Mundine.
Promoters: Noel Thornberry and Blaster Promotions.