The summer of being spoilt continued for the Auckland boxing public, with Nigerian-born Australian welterweight champion Oyewale Omotoso putting on a masterclass display on Friday, February 26th, writes Jim Mahoney.
Boxing in front of a packed-out house at the AMI Netball Stadium in St Johns (plush Auckland suburb), Omotoso showed his full range of boxing moves before dumping local opponent Ray Musson in the sixth round and finishing him for a TKO win in the seventh.
Musson put on the game, scrappy performance expected of him but was well outclassed in experience, class and possibly even punching power, although he's no slouch in that department himself.
The unbeaten Omotoso, however has an outstanding 87 per cent kayo ratio.
Promoter Bruce Glozier says he intends bringing Omotoso back to New Zealand in the near future..
On the undercard another Aussie-based fighter, Serge Yannick, was far too good for Moses Ioelu, as expected, and Ioelu's corner threw in the towel after two rounds.
Another super-middleweight, Kiwi "Australian Contender" fighter Adrian Taihia, was billed to meet Dennis Okhal but Taihia's last minute withdrawal due to injury meant the Melbourne fighter faced Warren Fuiava, who demonstrated good boxing skills to win on points over four rounds.
Reputed to have won five or six amateur consecutive bouts on first round stoppages big heavyweight Afa Tatupu had to settle for a second round win over Vai Toevai in his pro debut. In another heavyweight four-rounder Adam Riley, a big ticket-sellar, unanimously outpointed Monty Faeua.
The ABA Stadium played host to two promotions in the same week when on March 11th Craig Thompson promted two African-American fighters. Clarence Tillman withstood a couple of hefty overhand rights from South Auckland's Junior Pati to grind down and stop the unfit Pati in the fifth of a heavyweight bout while country-man Jameson Bostic had no trouble in stopping comebacking Wilhem Schwalger in the second. Wilhem previously fought as Moroni Schwalger.
Then on March 12 promising Taito Raturere outpointed Joshua Tai over four rounds at cruiserweight at the same venue; a mixed undercard of corporate and amateur contests supported both promotions.
Down at Christchurch on March 12 Soulan Pownceby outpointed Fale Siaola at ligthheavyweight over six rounds while Brad Pole stopped Auckland's Matt O'Conner in one (supermiddles).
