14.12.07 – By Tony Nobbs: At the Wests Leagues Club in Sydney tonight (Friday), 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games gold medalist Daniel Geale proved to be the “real deal” with an exceptional victory over heavy handed West Aussie Daniel “The Rock” Dawson to take home the International Boxing Organization world middleweight title.
Using great angles, speed and combination punching Geale clearly took the first four rounds before a cut over the left eye gave Dawson confidence to pick up the pace taking the next three rounds by applying more pressure than he’d been either willing or allowed to previously. With former triple crown world champ Jeff Fenech guiding him in the corner and Phil Cropper, keeping the cut to a minimum, Geale got back on top in the eighth and was not bothered much for the remainder as he put on a tremendous exhibition of all round skill. Round twelve was brilliant as both men traded punches, virtuously to a standstill. Geale, as he’d done through out, doing the better to seal a well deserved a popular victory. There were no knockdowns, neither man staggered, Geale cut in round five and had noticeable swelling under the left eye also by the middle rounds.
Geale, who has impeccable precision in his punches, did not lose a round on two cards and just one on the third. My score was 9-3 rounds, giving Craig Christian trained Dawson 5,6 and 7. Both entered unbeaten, Geale is now 18-0, 12 KO’s, Dawson 29-1, 20 KO’s. 30 year old Dawson was attempting to be the first Australian to hold world titles in both orthodox boxing and Kick Boxing. 26 year old Tasmanian born Geale, part Aboriginal was jubilant in victory. “This fight was a year in the making, it’s been postponed twice, not by my doing” said Geale, who turned pro after Manchester, leaving Tasmania and heading to Sydney to join the Team Fenech Camp before switching to the Grange gym where Fenech plays a big part. “When I got cut, I had no better man to guide me through, than a three time world champion. Thank you Jeff Fenech. He settled me down”.
Shannan Taylor, veteran title challenger has expressed his desire to face the winner as he chases worth while paydays, while Jamie Pittman, Geale’s amateur team mate, the holder of the WBA and WBO regional belts, says there’ s no reason to chase a fight with Geale, as he hopes to move in to the WBA and WBO top ten soon. Perhaps we will see Taylor, 35, in with either Geale or Pittman in 2008. Dawson entered number one in the ANBF at 154 lb, on the bases of his crushing knockout of Kostya Tszyu managed Anton Solopov in his last start. Geale, rated number 2 at ’54. Dawson number 30 by the IBO computerized listings at 160 lb, Geale number 43 at the same limit.
Geale, though quite impressive is probably still a couple of fights away from going in with a top ten contender, but then, he surprised me and many others with his dominant display tonight.
The Australian 147 lb belt swapped waists when former light welter champ Matt Paulley (ANBF # 3) was awarded a technical decision in round eight if a set ten against defending champ Eddie Delic. A good entertaining scrap with local Paulley the better boxer and as he is known to do, cut freely. Victorian Delic also suffered a cut in round four.
Nigerian Manchester C/Wealth Games bronze medalist King Davison (ANBF # 7) won a technical decision in round four over Victoria’s national 154 lb champ Frank La Porto. Non Title set for eight. The 6’2 Davison, a southpaw as well is trained by legend Johnny Lewis. La Porto managed by ex IBF 130 lb title holder, the mercurial Barry Michael.
In a mild upset, come backing Sol Egberime, originally from Nigeria, won a clear decision over fellow African Sam Columban of Cameroon, six rounds at welterweight. A near brilliant display by Sol, a nice kid, in his first fight for twenty months. Former Aussie champ Sol has been sparring Emmanuel Augustus over the past few months and was very very sharp. Columban (ANBF # 2) is trained by the fitness guru Ray Giles in Victoria and he never was able to over come Egberime’s superb style and quite frankly looked a little stale, losing for the first time after six wins.
Steve Caserly scored a last minute stoppage over Filipino Ariel Balicuatro in a four round light middleweight affair. Pro debut for favored ex NSW amateur champ Casserly, Geale’s Grange Old School Boxing Gym mate. The hard trying Ariel, from the Bohol stable is a willing kid but winless in seven starts. He was a late sub for this bout.
In the show opener former PABA champ Jun Paderna, now with the Bohol Stable won a unanimous verdict over four rounds at lightweight against Cameroons Victorian based Eric Anaba, trained by the master Keith Ellis in Melbourne. An experienced amateur Anaba is probably a few more fights before we see the Ellis polish.
Promoters : Grange Old School Boxing
Match Maker : Angelo Hyder.
IBO supervisor: Phil Austin.
Ref in the Main: Gary Dean.
Foxsports Comentators : Andy Raymond and Paul Briggs (along with Jeff Fenech and Sam Soliman.
In attendance also, Vic Darchinyan, Sakio Bika.