08.04.06 – By Tony Nobbs: Australian heavyweight champion Col “Kid Coal Miner” Wilson scored a round 5 stoppage of former title holder Nathan “Nasty Boy” Briggs at the Chandler Complex in Brisbane on Friday night. Southpaw Wilson was making the 4th defence in this, his second reign. Briggs, the #4 contender, got of to an encouraging beginning-as he did in their first encounter last December before his broken hand became a factor- out boxing a plodding Wilson and landing some effective punches to both the head and body through out the opening 4 rounds.. However, it always looked that the older man, a notorious slow starter was sooner or later going to find his range and take over.
This came sooner rather than later. After being slowed by a left rip underneath in round 4 Wilson,33, picked it up in the 5th as Briggs,30, got a little over confident and began standing more and trading. Briggs’ fate was sealed as the three knockdown rule came into effect with ref Brad Vocale waving it off at 2 min 1 second of the round as Wilson looked like he was just warming up. Left hands did the damage. Once a pencil thin light heavyweight Col Wilson has developed into a good hardened champion and though no world beater with noted poor training habits he has dodged no one and is a more than worthy claimant to the title.
In the main support “Butterbean” conqueror Baden Oui (Aust #7 & #2 Qld)) scored an impressive 3 round knockout of unbeaten previously Mick Pechey (#4 Qld) to take home the Queensland state heavyweight belt that was vacant going in. (#1 Briggs & # 3 Alex Leapai NA). Oui decked Pechey in the 1st round with a beautiful left jab. After this, Oui went for the kill allowing Pechey to get underneath and most of the fight was then waged in close. Pechey connected with some good punches but it was Oui who was landing the harder and cleaner.
Late in round 3, Oui spun off the ropes landing a solid right hand that Pechey turned into. Pechey slumped in to the ropes where he stayed for ref Phil Austin’s full 10 count. Time of ending: 2 min 50. 37 year old former Brisbane Bronco rugby league player and amateur champion Pechey is trained by 2 time IBF 122 lb title challenger Arnel Barotillo. He announced his retirement after the bout. The talented 31 year old Baden prepared himself for this fight with no sparring, and is now set to train under this writer who worked his corner this night.
Chris Mc Cullen (#6 Aust) kept his unbeaten record going scoring a 4 round knockout of Dan Cody at jnr welterweight set for 8. A left to the body and it was all she wrote. Mc Cullen is a nice little prospect with a strong local following. A match up with 2 time national title challenger Brad Hemming from the Gold Coast is being talked up. Hemming (#8 Aust) was there to issue a challenge last night. Mc Cullen said he will be taking a break to spend time with his family.
41 year old Nermin Sabonovic added the Australian super cruiserweight title to his resume scoring a dramatic come from behind 9 round stoppage of Queensland champion James Ellis. Sabonovic (#2 going in), behind on the cards by a wide margin after 8 swarmed all over a ragged looking Ellis(entering at #3) in the 9th with ref Austin calling it of on the 3 knockdown rule at 2:23. South Australian Sabonovic knocked out James Grima in 1 round in his last outing to take the OPBF cruiserweight belt. Sabonovic is trained in Adelaide by Tery Fox. Ellis is a stable mate of Col Wilson’s at Emerald, Central Qld.
Former amateur Jeremy Condron (#10 Aust) scored a 6 round unanimous decision over tough Matt Te Paa (#4 Qld) in a hard fought welterweight affair. Condron’s boxing skill and balance saw him carry the fight as he put together some impressive combinations. Te Pa, a MMA champion kept coming and rattled Condron a couple of times, making a few rounds close. But Jeremy always held the whip being more consistent in his attack. Scores of 60-54 (x2) and 59-55 were a fair indication of how the fight went. Condron is trained by former WBO # 1 lightweight Shane Knox and asisted by legend cutman Bill College.
The scheduled 4 round super middleweight show opener between Sean Connell (#2 Victoria) and William Hadlow (#3 Qld) resulted in a tech draw in round 2 after Connell was cut from an accidental head clash.
In all a good night of fights put together by promoters Brian Kirwan (Red Corner) and Angelo Di Carlo (Ace Promotions). For photos and more information visit: www.redcorner.com.au.