04.11.07- By Tony Nobbs: When you think of an Australian heavyweight title fight you think of Bob Mirovic and Col Wilson. They aren’t our best big men over the past decade but they have been part of seventeen of the last twenty bouts for the championship. With their old nemeses Joe Bugner sitting ringside, they came together again at the Southport RSL on the Gold Coast in Queensland on Friday night for the fifth fight of one of the longest rivalries in domestic boxing history and it was everything we could have expected or wanted – except perhaps a win for sentimental favorite Wilson.
A short right hand late in round seven busted a rib on Wilson’s favored left side and the defending champion was out in the eighth surrendering his title Mirovic. It was hard fought, bitter at times, back and and give and take all the way. Wilson looked on the verge of a stoppage himself early in the seventh but in the end it appears “Big” Bob has him well and truly worked out, with this his fifth victory out of five against the Central Queensland Coal Miner who began his career on the Gold Coast and received tremendous crowd support.
After a close first three rounds it was a bad fourth for Col as he lost the round and was deducted points twice, after a couple of cautions, for low blows, and was cut. They were not all low however and some hard body shoots took a bit out of Bob. In fact the punch that earned the first deduction was a left hook behind Bobs elbow. Wilson had a better fifth and sixth, (he couldn’t had much worse) and early in round seven got home with a straight southpaw left that had Bob backing in to the ropes near his own corner. The window of opportunity came and went as Bob weathered the short storm and came back to have Col visibly distressed at the bell.
Through out the fight, animated trainer Angelo Hyder implored Bob to throw “ Jeff Fenech punches” – short and in bunches. He got on top of Col immediately in the eighth and three knockdown, the first two to the left side , the final a left hook, the fight was over at the 2.24 mark with a knockout on the three knock down rule. Scores at the end. 70—62, 69-63 and 67-62. Referee Steve Marshall.
Records: 41 year old Mirovic 29-19, 19 KO’s, 35 year old Wilson 33-22, 20 KO’s.
With the win, Mirovic, born in Croatia, but living in NSW, becomes Heavyweight Champion of Australia for the third time. It was reported he was the first to achieve the feat but leading historian and Queensland fight supervisor John Hogg reminds that the great Ron Richards held the coveted prize three times in the 1930’s.
In the main support , a light welter eight rounder, Melbourne based Queenslander Lance Gostelow (# 5 Australia) knocked out game Filipino Jumnar Dulog (# 5 Aust @ 135 lb) out of the Bohol Stable in Sydney in round three. A fast right hand in the first minute dropped Junmar who was again stunned immediately and finished off toward the end of the round. Former Commonwealth welter champ who previously managed Lance says the 23 year old, has “all the tools” to make it. “I wish I had the tools this kids got” Julian told The Fist Magazine in their October issue. Gostelow was originally scheduled to meet Australian champ Dean Byrne on this bill but Irish born Byrne is having visa problems. If Dean can’t get back, Lance may have a shot at the vacant belt. His only loss in fourteen contests has been a stoppage in the 12th round to “Pantera” Mosqura for the WBF bauble in May. A true test for Lance would be Junmar’s stable mate Ranee Ganoy (Aust #2) but the chances of that happening are unlikely.
Ganoy should have a tough battle himself when he fights OneSongchai’s Somchai on November 30’s Angelo Di Carlo show in Brisbane. Somchai clearly out pointed locally based African Fatai Onikeke (Aust # 3) in Melbourne on October 12.
Israel Kani (Aust # 6) won the vacant Queensland state super middleweight title by a unanimous decision over local Will Hadlow (Aust # 8 @ 160lb). Will tried hard but he didn’t have the skill to match former amateur champ Israel who pulled ahead more the longer the fight went. Will appeared to hurt his right hand in the second round.
In a fiery battle between Gold Coaster’s, Les “Diamond” Piper scored a three round TKO over prospect Nick Savidas Junior to take home the vacant sate Light Heavyweight strap. After a good second round by southpaw Savidas, the 18 year old was over whelmed in the third as 24 year old Les launched a two fisted attack. No knockdowns but Nick very ragged at the time of stoppage. Les was previously rated nationally but after a motorcycle accident late last year, this was his first outing since November 24.
Heavyweight Col Mc Illwaine jnr scored a three round TKO over Tyrone Withers. Right hands did the job,. Fight stopped on the second round at request of Tyrone’s corner. Set for four.
Talented Trent Werhman stopped Chris Smith in round two of a junior lightweight bout set for four. A good first round but Trent had to much in the third. To be fair to Chris, his trainer never arrived until the fight had started and he went in with a little uncertainty. Former amateur champion Trent is trained by ex Aussie light welter champ Chris McCullen, now number six in the ratings.
Promoter: Jamie Myer
Fox sport commentators: Andy Raymond and Brad Vocale.