12.06.08 – By Tony Nobbs: It wasn’t his greatest win but it was the most courages. In what may be a career defining moment Shannan Taylor dug deep in to the well to stop Indonesian Andreas “Mayorga” Searan at the Gold Coast Convention Center in Queensland on Friday night. In front of a strong live crowd and a national audience on a Foxsport Jamie Myer fight night, Taylor looked on the verge of defeat before producing one last barrage to take the vacant PABA middleweight title in the eighth round..
Between rounds seven and eight, Taylor could be heard saying he “can’t do it” and he had “nothing left” asking his corner team to stop the contest. A strong urging from trainer Brad Gallagher, dad Steve and cousin Grant, saw the 36 year old Bulli Blaster get off his stool and produce a victory that Australian fight fans should be proud off. Whether or not they will, is doubtful, but to those who know Shannan closely, it’s one they will remember.
After losing an estimated 2 million plus dollars and court proceedings just getting under way and the chances there’s been a heavy weight on his shoulders, with the former world title challenger and multiple title holder going back to work on construction. He secured sponsors enabling him to train for this fight – and for a brief moment it looked like being a devastating conclusion to a very fine career.
The end came at the 2.59 mark of the eighth after Taylor thumped Seran to the canvas. An uppercut hurt the Indonesian who was then weakened by two left rips down stairs and finished off by short shots to the head. Seran was ahead on two judges score cards.
At the end, Taylor raised his arms before being swamped by his team, then simply kneeling in center ring.
This writer was in the corner for Taylor, and being a friend for many years, have been privy to what he has been going through. A fighter with many detractors, being the former wild child of the Australian ring, with disappointing losses and a well publicized drug habit and other legal woes, he’s not a Golden Boy type but there is little doubt he has been one of our best home grown talents in the past twenty years.
The Aussie fighter was 89 kilo’s on January 1st, stripping down to 72.45 and this was an added problem weakening him. He was knocked backwards by a Seran left hand in the opening stanza and Andreas landed several body shots through out, having a very good seventh. Taylor at times showed brief glimpses of old class, landing a stiff left jab and body work, even though for four rounds the imports large protector was quite high. Ref Alan More was made aware after round three but it wasn’t until j the start of the fifth that he took action. He showed defense when he was tiring and hitting the wall, with most of Seran’s punches catching gloves or shoulders. In the end it was guts that one the day. An uppercut momentarily stopped Seran in his tracks and Taylor got on top.
Taylor has been offered a big money fight with Anthony Mundine in the Sydney boxer’s debut at 160 pounds.
In under card action, Aussie # 2, WBO #12 junior welter Lance Gostelow stopped Thai number 6 Payakchai Sithparadorn in round three. Sithparadorn was down late in round one and again by a right hand bomb in round three. He beat the count but was in no condition to continue. RSC
Australian & PABA number one featherweight Matt Powell moved up to junior welter to out point four fight novice Lowen Hardy , Queensland number 4 in a scrappy contest. Powell used his usual untidy, head first style receiving several warnings but over the final two rounds his experience showed as he puled away a clear winner.
In a willing scrap between Gold Coasters Les Piper scored a six round decision over Will Hadlow at super middleweight. Going in, Piper number 9 at 168, Hadlow 7 at 160 in the ANBF listings
Novice pro’s Chris Stewart and James Gilthrow put on a hard fought battle for the vacant Queensland junior middleweight title. After a cut eye to Gilthrow ended proceedings in round six the cards were brought in and Stewart took home the belt with a Technical Decision. The winner benefited from sparring Anthony Mundine, Shannan Taylor and Israel Kani this year and he looks to have improved greatly from it.
In the show opener, Rob Toomey, ANBF number 9 at 154, had no trouble with Queensland middleweight champion and ANBF number 6 George Livaditas, punching his way to convincing four round stoppage. (On Towel). Livaditas came in a pound and a bit over the agreed middleweight limit, thus he keeps his state title. Toomey holds a win over current Aussie 168 pound champ Israel Kani.
Foxsport commentators: Andy Raymond and Paul Briggs.