10.08.07 – By Tony Nobbs: In a ten rounder that never rose to any great heights, local Les Sherrington (17-4, 10 KO’s) won a unanimous shut out decision over Victorian vet Sean Connell (10-11-2, 4 KO’s) at the Southport RSL on the Gold Coast, in Queensland tonight (Friday), retaining his Australian 168 lb belt.
The bout was more one sided as it progressed (after some reasonably close rounds early) with the better work rate of Les keeping Sean busy defending. He was hurt on more than a few occasions and Sherrington looked to have him going a couple of times but the cagey Connell survived and even managed to battle back.
Les lunged too much and he did get clipped occasionally as he came in. This also allowed Sean to grab on when he was in bother. This was a good work out for Les after a couple of quickies and he will learn from going the ten for the first time.
In a classy little welterweight bout North Queensland raised but Melbourne based Lance Gostellow stopped former Qld state 140 lb champ Jim Savage in the sixth. A beautiful short right dropped southpaw Jim who got up only to have the ref stop it after a follow up flurry that he did not reply to. A good stoppage. Some good exchanges with Savage showing some savvy and had Lance guessing at times.
George Livaditas won the vacant State middleweight strap with an eight round UD over hard trying William Hardcore Hadlow. A willing but untidy affair, Hadlow landing the more telling, Livaditas the more constant.
Steve Tiernan, a local detective, scored a three round knockout of Tom Wangsomnuk, a Thai based in Brisbane, cruiserweights.
Former Australian junior amateur champ Nick Svidas scored a six round UD over Tough Tery Lambert from the Queensland country town of Warwick, super middle’s. At 18, Svidas looks like he could develop into a real champion, he is trained by Les Wilson, who’s had success with the likes of Joe Bugner and Nathan Sting. This was Lambert’s pro debut and I’d like to see him again against lesser opposition. He never stopped trying and was able to keep Nick honest.
42 years young Lucas Mathew worked along to a six round UD over another pro debutant Chris Smith, catch weight. Mathew just over super bantam, Smith just on super feather. Former Australian pro champ Mathew was to good overall as he controlled the fight at every position and dug in solid shots to the body and head in each round to take the points. Smith is a former amateur champ who showed willingness against a very seasoned foe and he could also develop. Lucas issued a challenge to Gold Coaster Emmett Gazzard, the WBF regional bantamweight champion for “any title any time.”
Promoter: Jamie Myer