Eugene Carnachan – In an undercard match up to the Contender Australia final Nader Hamdan 42-7-0 went up against the current Australian middle weight champion in Junior Talipeau 14-1-0. Their relationship during Contender Australia was marred by verbal barbs fired each way. This match up was seen as a battle between the old bull in Hamdan and the young bull in Talipeau. In the main event is Kariz Kariuki V Garth Woods..
HAMDEN V TALIPEAU
Talipeau came out in the opening stanza looking very aggressive and took the fight to Hamdan.
Drops Hamdan with a nice one two combination. It appeared to be a flash knock down.
Talipeau catches him again and wobbles Hamdan.
Hamdan bounced to his feet looking ready to go.
The men come together strongly clashing heads.
Hamdan is cut! Bleeding from above his eye. It’s bad.
Ref sends Hamdan to the ring doctor.
It’s over midday through the first round! Talipeau is celebrating.
Ref taking advice.
It’s called a draw.
Talipeau is devastated. As is Hamdan for the way it finished.
Not the way either wanted to settle their score. Crowd is disappointed. Boy did Talipeau look as if he was there with the meanest of intention.
WOOD 6-1-0 V KARIUKI 19-7-2 – CONTENDER AUSTRALIA FINAL
Wood comes out looking to pressure. Woods the underdog is looking to get busy. Both men look in outstanding nick.
Kariuki is looking to use his reach advantage and fight from the outside.
Kariuki is coming forward looking to establish his jab. Doing it well.
Garth Wood catches Kariuki with a strong right hand. Kariuki stunned. Woods catches him with another. Looking to brawl with the more adept Kariuki and doing it well.
Wood round.
Round 2.
Woods coming forward.
Wood bulling forward and brawling Kariuki back onto the ropes.
Woods working well.
Catches Kariuki again with the right hand.
Wood hustling and bustling Kariuki against the ropes.
Both men are swinging from the cheap seats. Great stuff!
Woods lets one go on the split. Nearly catches the ref.
Kariuki catches Wood with a straight right.
Wood clubs Woods through the ropes. Woods is cut.
Wood round.
Round 3
Woods again lands with the right. Can’t miss with it.
Kariuki looking to fight on the outside.
Kariuki looking to find his range. Not landing consistently.
Wood is lunging forward and cutting down the punching room of Kariuki.
Woods bakcing up. Kariuki stalking.
Kariuki looking to wind up but can’t find his man.
Close round. Kariuki I think.
Round 4.
Wood is unorthodox.
Almost trying to bulldoze Kariuki to the ground.
Garth Wood is sending down haymakers. Showing great spirit and going toe to teo with Kariuki.
Kariuki lands a great one two.
Woods is acquitting himself well for a guy only eight fights into his professional career.
Woods again looking to bulrush Kariuki backward in what is close to rugby league charge.
Kariuki starting to find his range.
Close round. Woods perhaps for the more meaningful punches.
Round 5
Woods left eye is cut.
Kariuki is bouncing. Looking very fit.
Kariuki has landed a right hand. Woods cut again.
Ref takes a look. Won’t be stopped. It isn’t.
They are going at it in the corner.
Sheesh Woods is acquitting himself well.
Kariuki round.
Round 6
Woods lands a straight right.
Kariuki digging to the body.
Clarot dripping from Woods face.
Kariuki can’t seem to get into the fight.
Kariuki still coming forward.
Wood round. Landed the more meaningful punches.
Round 7
Wood lands with a strong left.
Kariuki looking for a KO.
Plenty of fight left in both men.
Kariuki being implored by his corner to let his hands go.
On a KO will win this fight for Kariuki.
Wood still willing.
Wood round.
On my unofficial card Wood wins decisively!
It’s official! Woods by split decision! Hardly that close. Woods is euphoric!
Real Aussie battler story! Woods only got into the Contender by way of a late admission and now he’s won it!
This is a real feel good story.