It may have been raining in the Sydney metropolitan area and closer to the sea, but the early Sunday morning drive to Penrith saw the clouds clear out west for what would prove to be a long and entertaining card last weekend at the Panthers World of Entertainment. Promoters Glenn Wheatley and Tony Caradonna assembled one of the most impressive line-ups of Australian talent in recent memory, culminating in Paul Briggs’ clash with Mexican Jesus Ruiz with a mandatory shot at the World Boxing Council light heavyweight title up for grabs.

Wheatley himself was lucky to make the card at all after driving down from the Hunter Valley overnight where his friend and music great John Farnham had played to a sell-out crowd of over 24,000. Driving rain had almost washed them away. “I was driving in the heaviest rain I have ever seen,” explained Wheatley. “I could not see more than a few metres in front of me.” But make it he did to the second largest promotion of his short boxing promotional career after his entry into the sport with the co-promotion with Vlad Warton of Tszyu-Leija in Melbourne last January. As midday approached, a wind and rain swept Wheatley patrolled the arena making sure that everything was in place for the eight fight event. The Evans Theatre at Panthers is not overly huge, seating no more than 1,000 people, but it’s intimate style gives all a great view of the action and the ‘sold out’ signs had gone up leaving the promoters with smiles on their faces early in the day.

With live television commencing at 2pm it was always going to be tight to fit all of the early fights in if they went the distance and Paul Miller got proceedings underway just before 12.30pm as the fans filed into their seats from the nearby bars. Miller, the 2000 Olympian with the Rowsell brothers in his corner looked very strong, bloodying Peter Rudd’s nose in his third round stoppage win after a straight left to the body had done most of the damage. With further improvement, who’s to say he can’t make an impact on the world stage?

Johannes Sheferaw was up next against Argentine Diego Alzugaray at lightweight. Throughout the eight rounds Alzugaray moved well and constantly made Sheferaw miss. The judges scored the fight for the Ethiopian who bases himself in the Penrith area 78-75, 78-74 and 78-75. It had appeared closer than that and the Argentine camp were very disappointed with the decision.

The next fight for the vacant Australian cruiserweight title was a rugged, toe to toe battle that would not have been out of place in the Panthers car park. Tosca Petridis winning his rematch with Brett Smith by 5th round TKO win after 2:23 of round 5. A Petridis punch re-opened a cut over the left eye of Smith and Dr Alex Lewis ruled that he was unable to continue despite his passionate pleas. The cut on the left eyebrow had originally been opened from a head clash in a wild 1st round. As the fighters went back to their corners, Smith’s trainer Roy Alexander yelling at the referee Charlie Lucas to watch Petridis leading with his head. It got uglier in the 2nd with both men wrestling and throwing each other to the canvas. Smith then lost a point for a low blow. From that point on Petridis was constantly claiming low blows to the referee, to the jeers of the crowd. While many of the shots were borderline, with southpaw Smith’s face a mask of blood due to the eye cut, maybe he could not see where he was punching? It got nasty at the end of the 3rd round with both men wanting to continue on after the bell, both corners running into the ring to separate them. Smith then lost another point early in the 4th round for a low blow, as Petridis was outworking him with too much variety. The referee waving the fight off in the 5th round due to the cut as the crowd booed the decision. The official cards had Petridis up at the stoppage 39-35, 38-36 and 40-34. As he walked out of the ring with the Australian title around his waist, it was suggested by his promoter/manager Joe Cursio that Petridis would now retire as champion.

It always seems to be so much fun for Sam Soliman as he walks out to the ring with a beaming smile, the Australian flag resting on his shoulders. His huge entourage consisted of eight children carrying Soliman’s nine boxing and kick-boxing championship belts. A sign of respect from Nader Hamdan also in the group, the former opponent who has great respect for Soliman and now spars with him regularly. While his demeanour in the ring never suggests he is at work, Soliman is a one man windmill, but he nearly ended up over the ropes with Sclarandi lifting him over his shoulder early in the 1st round. As the crowd gasped, Soliman smiled out towards them like he was having a ball. Good bodywork from Soliman in the 2nd round had the Argentine waving him on and it must have hurt because it wasn’t much later that referee John Wright warned Sclarandi for holding. If he couldn’t avoid the punches that way, then midway through the 3rd round Sclarandi slipped backwards between the ropes and landed on the ring apron. In the 5th round Sclarandi was again deducted a point for holding, as Soliman’s trainer Dave Hedgecock continually yelled at him to step back and give himself room to punch. Finally, the Argentine corner stopped it after the break between rounds 7 and 8, claiming a pinched nerve in the back of the neck. For those with an appreciation for the finer details, as the bell had already sounded for the start of the new round before the retirement, the official decision should be TKO8. Soliman then credited his training with undisputed champion Kostya Tszyu, for his performance. “Sparring with Kostya is priceless,” he said. He then exited the ring and proceeded to thank individually most of the people at ringside.

It was short and sharp as Nedal “Skinny” Hussein registered his eleventh 1st round knockout win with a precision left hook to the body of Donny Suratin from Indonesia. It must be one of the most devastating punches in the sport today and it makes you think that Manny Pacquiao is not stupid for avoiding a rematch with the younger of the Hussein brothers.

While Thai southpaw Katchai 13 Coins put up respectable opposition, he was no match for Lovemore Ndou who came out looking to outdo Hussein’s vicious body shot. It was a close thing too as the Australian based South African unveiled his own special left hook to the body which left 13 Coins flat out on the canvas reeling in agony like he had been shot. There was then a nice glove touch between Tszyu, who was commentating at ringside and Ndou after the win. Ndou’s apology to the undisputed champion saw the crowd cheering loudly. “Hopefully Lovemore Ndou and Kostya Tszyu can fight in Australia,” Ndou told those in attendance and the television audience, the cheers becoming even louder.

Tony Caradonna & Glenn Wheatley with Nick Robin

Before the Shannan Taylor-Paulo Sanchez fight the promoters Wheatley and Caradonna were presented to the audience by ring announcer Nick Robin. They thanked the crowd for their support and were received warmly. It made me wonder whether some of America’s biggest promoters would receive a similar response at their own cards? I know some who would be booed out of the arena. Just another sign of what good work Blaster Promotions and Talentworks are doing for boxing fans in this part of the world.

Back to the boxing and it was a similar pattern over twelve rounds. As soon as Taylor attacked, the Argentine Sanchez retreated and ducked his head down. One of the more fiery characters in boxing, Taylor actually did well not losing his cool. There was a fall in the Argentine corner at the beginning of the 9th round, as the cornermen backed down the stairs out of the ring, popular boxing official Kenny Pedler behind them at ringside was knocked over and took a tumble. Lovemore Ndou who had just returned from the dressing room and who was sitting close by, was one of the first to come to his aid and help him to his feet. Kenny was soon up and back on his feet. Who says boxing is an unforgiving sport? Back in the ring, while Taylor was winning the fight comfortably on the cards 118-110, 119-109 and 120-108, more and more it seems that he is thinking about attacking instead of just attacking these days. We want to see more of the ‘first strike’ Taylor of old.

Undisputed World champ Kostya Tszyu with Matthew Brooks & Grantlee Kieza

Finally, the main event arrived and there was a huge gathering of Australian boxing identities sprinkled around the arena. Apart from those featuring on the card, other former and current boxers spotted included Lawrence Tauasa, Kostya Tszyu, Jason Rowsell, Daniel Rowsell, Peter Mitrevski Sr., Bob Mirovic, Jeff Fenech, Vic Darchinyan, Nader Hamdan, Ercument Aslan, David Birchell and Hussein Hussein, while Ray Wheatley attended in his role as IBF Vice-President. The media coverage included the Daily Telegraph’s Grantlee Kieza, Australian Associated Press’ Adrian Warren and EastsideBoxing.com’s Tony Nobbs. Matthew Brooks and Kieza were calling the action for television with the voice of American boxing the Colonel Bob Sheridan coming in for the last two fights. The hard working Sky Channel boxing co-ordinator Melissa Young and Graham McNeice were also at ringside, while well known Sky Channel cameraman Gary Gare (who fell into Jeff Fenech’s lap at the Solomon Haumono-Ken Fuller fight) was in one of the ring corners. Dr Lou Lewis and Dr Alex Lewis were there as always, while officials David Moreland, former boxer & referee Billy Mailes, ANBF webmaster Craig Waller and former ANBF President Brad Vocale were present. Manager Stuart Duncan looked nervous before the Ndou and Soliman fight outcomes, while trainers Angelo Hyder, Billy Hussein, Roy Alexander, Dave Hedgecock and Rod Waterhouse were also seen.

It had already been a long day when the fighters for the main event started to walk out just before 5pm local time. Ruiz came out to the music of Eminem, looking composed, calm and confident entering the ring. As Briggs walked into the arena to wild cheering from the crowd, Ruiz’ punching flurries in centre ring became more and more hurried. As always, Rod Waterhouse looked nervous before the fight while Briggs flashed his usual beaming smile, waving to the crowd. Both fighters looked focused as the opening bell rang.

The early moments saw a busy Ruiz and a cautious Briggs. The Mexican’s pace was intense to the point that Ruiz was breathing very heavy through his mouthpiece midway through the 2nd round. One that Briggs was winning before and after the knockdown. If he was hurt, the former kick-boxing world champion was not letting on and got up as quick as one normally can after being dropped by a right hand. His intent to immediately attack in return was a good sign. I gave the round to Ruiz 10-9. While he could have folded, this was the moment where Briggs gutted it out and showed his inner toughness.

As the rounds continued Briggs was grinding it out and doing enough to win the 3rd and 4th rounds, before a classic 5th round shootout. Ruiz, fighting with his hands down, as a trickle of blood appeared from his nose. Both men still wanted it and were trying to out-will each other with some great exchanges. It was such a great round that they wanted even more after the break and both charged out from their corners and met head-on in the centre of the ring at the start of the 6th. There was more blood from Ruiz’ right nostril as he became more sloppy and wild with his punches as he continued to breathe heavy. While he took his own fair share of leather in the trenches, Briggs looked composed throughout and did not panic when Ruiz had his best moments. While he was not dominating as such, Briggs was doing enough to win the rounds, being just a little more accurate with his punches than Ruiz. The fitness was also an important factor. Briggs had a definite advantage.

Throughout the fight the loud voice of Daniel Rowsell and his instructions were the clearest from ringside. “Use the jab Paul. Again, again.” Early in the 8th round two left hooks off the jab hurt Ruiz. Briggs really hurt the Mexican and started to take control. As Ruiz walked back to his corner, for the first time in the fight the expression on his face suggested that he knew he was being beaten. He lost the fire in his eyes and the speed that had worried Briggs early on. In the 9th round the roles had now changed and Ruiz was fighting on the back foot. A genuine top ten contender, Ruiz tried to make a final stand at the end of the 10th round.
He was even better in the 11th and took the 12th as Briggs became more defensive.

Victory to The Hurricane (UD12)

Australian judge Brad Vocale scored it 117-113, Mexican judge Victor Cervantes had 114-113 and New Zealand judge Bruce McTavish 116-112. It was a surprise when Briggs said he did not believe he won the fight immediately after having his hand raised in victory. Those at ringside had no doubt that the “Hurricane” had won. Scoring the first two rounds for Ruiz, rounds 3 to 10 to Briggs and the final two for Ruiz saw my card total 116-112 for Briggs. It’s more than likely that the high standards he sets himself left him feeling that he did not perform as well as he would have expected, particularly after the visit to the canvas in the 2nd. Ruiz’ manager Jack Lipeles said, “It was a close fight, but 117-113. How do you get that?” Whether the rematch that was offered ever eventuates remains to be seen, but Paul Briggs showed he belongs at the top of the world ratings and hopefully he will not have to wait too long for his WBC world title shot. The crowd started to head out the doors just before 6pm and it was a long but successful day for those running the show. Both Sky Channel and Main Event were pleased with their sales and it just showed once again that if you put on a real fight and quality undercard boxing fans will respond. Days like this make it easy to prove that boxing really is in a healthy state in Australia and not on the respirator as some may have you believe.