By G. M. Ross – It was a busy Saturday night for Canadian boxing fans, with cards at the Montreal Casino, in Montreal, Quebec, and the Shaw Conference Centre, in Edmonton, Alberta. Some of the nation’s top boxers, including David Lemieux, Jason Naugler, Herman Ngoudjo, Jason DeLaronde, Omar Valdez, James Cermak and Adam Trupish, were in action, accompanied by three Canadian newcomers.
At the Montreal Casino, GYM promotions provided yet another excellent night of fights, featuring a showdown for the Canadian super middleweight title between the undefeated knockout machine David Lemieux of Montreal and former Canadian light heavyweight champion Jason Naugler of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Naugler came into the contest riding a four fight losing streak, including his first ever knockout defeat at the hands of Chicago prospect Don George.. Lemieux, on the other hand, was coming off a December victory over Delray Raines of Arkansas for the WBC youth intercontinental middleweight crown, and had successfully scored knockouts/ technical knockouts over all twenty of his previous opponents. On Saturday night Lemieux continued his winning ways, but for the first time in his career was unable to prevent the fight from going to decision. Lemieux battled the granite chinned Naugler for ten, hard rounds, but as Chad Dawson and Jesse Brinkley know all too well, putting Naugler down for the count is no easy task. Nonetheless, Lemieux earned a unanimous decision victory, with judges Richard DeCarufel, Jean Lapointe, Claude Paquette all scoring the fight 100-89, with the extra point coming by way of a knockdown.
In other action, Montreal’s own Herman Ngoudjo made his return to the ring after over a year of inactivity. This two time IBF light welterweight title challenger (against Malignaggi and Urango) met and defeated Mexican journeyman Silverio Ortiz, winning by technical knockout in the sixth of a scheduled eight rounds. Manolis Plaitis, also of Montreal, kept his undefeated record intact, scoring a six round unanimous decision over Mexican knockout artist Jhonny Navarette. A rematch between Plaitis and Tebor Brosch of Etobicoke via Mississauga, Ontario, to settle their draw last December, would surely generate some buzz in central Canadian boxing circles. For a rematch to occur, however, Brosch will first have to get past undefeated Calgary prospect Steve Claggett on February 13 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.
Other bouts at the Montreal Casino included a victory for undefeated welterweight Kevin Bizier of Saint-Emile, Quebec, over Michael Springer of Toronto, Ontario. There were two debuts on the card. Heavyweight Taffo Asongwed of Montreal lost his initial professional appearance against Wayne John, of the same city, via a four round unanimous decision. Finally, Samuel Vargas of Ontario made a successful debut in the welterweight division, scoring a second round TKO over Todd Furler of Calgary, Alberta.
In Edmonton, Alberta, Alliance Promotions provided an action packed card headlined by undefeated Canadian light heavyweight Jason DeLaronde and hard hitting Missouri journeyman Steve Walker. It was DeLaronde’s stiffest challenge to date and the Edmonton native rose to the occasion, handing the considerably more experienced Walker a TKO loss in the fourth of a scheduled eight round affair. The loss drops Walker to 23-24-0.
In a six round bout, Omar Valdez of Edmonton, Alberta, ended Oklahomian Mike Dobb’s night early via a second round TKO. With the win Valdez improves his chances of being rematched with Tyson Cave of Halifax, Nova Scotia, this time for the Canadian super bantamweight title. Former Canadian Olympian Adam Trupish made his first six-round appearance, and remains undefeated, after scoring a TKO over Juan Sanchez of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the third round. Look for Trupish to make a charge to the top of the Canadian middleweight division before the end of 2010, with fellow prospect Richard Reittie hot in pursuit.
In other action, Alston Brown of Halifax via Vancouver was sent to bed early when James Cermak finished their scheduled six round tilt by TKO in the first. This was Cermak’s fourth win in as many fights, moving his record to 15-2-0, making him a contender for the winner of the Ryan Henney-Frank White, Canadian cruiserweight title contest, taking place on February 13 in Edmonton. Last but not least, congratulations to super featherweight C.J. Borden of Alberta on his successful debut against fellow Albertan Dave McQuaker. Borden scored a knockout in the second round of a four round contest.