12.03.07 – By Tony Nobbs: It was not the home coming we had all hoped for as popular former IBF 130 lb title holder Robbie “Bomber” Peden was stopped in round eight by Filipino boxing fire power Ranee Ganoy at the Chandler Sports Complex in Brisbane, Queensland on Friday night. The bout opened promisingly for Robbie as he was too slick for the wild throwing Ganoy in the opening boxing stanza but that was as good as it got as the writing went on the wall in round two when his legs went after being nailed by a heavy and clean two punch combo..
Peden was then wobbled on several other occasions in the fight and it was only the balls of a champion that kept Robie in the fight as long as he did. Occasionally, Peden got off first and slowed the momentum of Ganoy, who to many in the industry entered this fight very much a live underdog.
In round seven, Robbie was given a standing eight count by experienced ref Brad Vocale as he was taking huge shots along the ropes. At the end of the stanza he was literally saved by the bell as Ganoy cut loose and Peden stumbled to his corner. Early in the eighth he was knocked through the ropes and as the towel came in from father / trainer Brian and Vocale waved it off 21 seconds in. Ganoy being crowned IBF Pan Pacific lightweight champion. At the end of seven, Ranee was some how only up by 1,1 and 2 points. This writer had him but by 4 at the very least.
A sad and devastating night, not just for Peden, one of Australian boxings true champs, but also for his many fans and friends and this report wasn’t easy to write. Two days after the fight Robbie said “It was too long out of the ring (Sept 18 ’05), he was a big puncher, congratulations to him, take nothing way from him… My heart just isn’t in it anymore. I’ve got no ‘killer’ left. I can do a lot of good things in this business and will stay involved, but no more fights”.
Robbie, 33, leaves the game with a 25-4 pro record after being a Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist (1994) and a two time Olympian (’92 and ’96). This was his only paid fight in his home town, having had only one other contest in Oz, his world title win over Nate Campbell in February 2005.
Ganoy has proved a dangerous commodity in this country. Early defeats to Noefel Ben Rabah and Benny Cruz, from the strong Craig Christian camp, have been forgotten by knockouts of Australian champs, Mick Shaw, Allan Luxford and Matt Pauley and knockouts over well performed Johnny Shefferaw and Fatai Onekeki (at welterweight!). His only loss in nine bouts past came in 2005, a five round TKO to current WBO “Interim” lightweight champ Mick Katsidis. 27 year old Ranee’s log now reads a less than spectacular looking 22-10-2, 19 KO’s – but don’t be fooled!
This was undoubtedly the biggest win for the emerging Dido Bohol stable since it began operating in this country in 1991.
In under card action, the Australian jnr welterweight title changed hands when Irish born Dean Byrne out pointed local favorite Chris Mc Cullen over ten action packed rounds. Scores 100-90 and 98-92 (x 2). Byrne, a classy fighter indeed, is trained by legend Johnny Lewis in Sydney.
New Zealand based Kenyan Peter Kariuki took home the WBA Pan African and WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight belts after he dominated former OPBF 175 lb champ Dale Westerman, with ref Derek Milham stopping the scheduled 12 rounder in the seventh. Kariuki, a former Aussie 175 lb titlist before visa troubles saw him head to NZ, was credited with a knockdown in round two and was in complete control all the way, dropping Westerman twice in the final round. Kariuki was cornered by 100 fight winner Jeff “Flash” Malcolm, John Glozier and this writer.
Talented North Quenslander Fred Mundraby won the state bantamweight title with a unanimous six round technical decision over Matt Merideth. Fred dropped Matt with a clean right hand in the opening round and hurt his man numerous times in the following heats. The pluckiness of Merideth kept the fight entertaining, with some god exchanges through out but he was bleeding from the nose in the second and by the end had two nasty looking cuts. Mundraby, if he dedicated himself could have a pretty successful career. For this bout he was looked after by Brandon Wood, Mick Katsidis’ corner man.
Veteran Australian champion Col Wilson scored a six round UD over Kiwi Sam Lueii in a heavyweight bout that even Col’s team were disappointed with their fighter’s performance.
Useful junior middleweight puncher Tyrone Tongia scored a second round knockout of Roland Malonhao Of The Philippines.
In an amateur bout, Commonwealth Games rep Nathan Di Carlo defeated Steve Freeth by 4 x 2 UD.
Promoter: Angelo Di Carlo.