On The Ropes April Update

Athens Olympic boxing captain and WBA world title challenger Jamie Pittman (19-2, 8 ko’s) suffered a seven round knockout defeat to Ghanaian Joseph Kwadjo(14-1, 10 ko’s)  in a super middleweight (76 kg) bout in Sydney on Thursday night.

Kwadjo scored three knockdowns in the round to force an automatic end. Gosfords Pittman had won the first six rounds but was dropped by right uppercuts (twice) before a straight right hand decked him as he was  backed up right on the bell. Kwadjo trained out of Campbelltown before the fight after being based in Fiji for two years.

After losing his pro debut in 2003 he is now a top 15 world rated fighter.

In the undercard action, promising Michael Bolling (12-0, 10 ko’s) from Sutherland stopped Contender Australia’s Victor Oganov (30-4, 28 ko’s) in round eight to defend the Australian super middleweight title. It was a one sided contest and should have been stopped a lot earlier.

Hurstville’s IBF number 7 featherweight Billy Dib stopped Filipino Rey Belandres in round seven.

Blacktowns WBC number 22 cruiserweight Dom Vea lost an upset points decision to former victim Anthony The Bull Mc Cracken from Wagga Wagga. Vea is due to fight for the Commonwealth title in Sydney on July 1^st and was using this as a “warm up”. He went into the fight only days after having his nose broken in a torrid spar with Danny Green.

Not the brightest idea to go through with the fight. He is fortunate Mc Cracken is not a “puncher” as it could have been a disaster.

Tweed Stingrays amateur  Tommy Strain (13-9) lost for the first time in a year when outpointed by Stradbrokes Matt Doulie (9-5) at Labrador on Saturday. Always a slow starter Tommy did his best work in the last round but it was not quite enough. Final score was 9-7.

Five Tweed Stingrays hopefuls  are preparing for their debuts at Casino on May 1, joining North Coast lightweight champ Strain and National Indigenous middleweight champion Dwayne Good (2-1). Two days prior, pro gym mate , Australian number 4 light heavyweight Trevor Jacky (3-0) and no. 10 super middle Matt Burns (6-6) appear on Jamie Myers big Gold Coast Convention card.

WBC welterweight champ Andre Berto (26-0, 20 ko’s) halted former WBO belt holder Carlos Quintana (27-3, 21 ko’s) in Florida on Sunday. Part of the proceeds of the promotions went to the Haiti relief. Berto’s family is from Haiti and the fighter represented the carribean nation at the 2004 Olympics.

47 year old four time world heavyweight titlist Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 ko’s) lifted the WBF version of the heavyweight world title with an eight round stoppage of 41 year old former IBF champ Frans Botha(47-5-3, 28 ko’s) in Las Vegas.

Tomorrow night at Challenge Stadium in Perth, Danny Green (28-3, 25 ko’s) defends the IBO cruiserweight title against Puerto Rican Manny Siaca (2-6, 19 ko’s). Siaca upset Anthony Mundine to win the WBA super middleweight title in 2004 but Green should be to strong and win inside five rounds.

Legendary New York referee Arthur Mercante passed away at his home on Saturday at the age of 90. Mercante refereed the first Frazier-Ali super fight in 1971. Son Arthur junior is a current top referee.