Cameron Thompson
Drawcard boxers, Tevita Pangai Junior and Ipswich hero Paulo Aokuso thrilled a crowd of about 400 at the JBS Arena in Ipswich tonight.
Away from the spotlight of NRL and the battle over which rugby league team will be next to snare his services, Pangai Junior showed his boxing mettle, taking out super heavyweight rival Raphael Su’a in just three rounds.
But then, at the very top of the card, the hometown champion, Aokuso went two better, flooring Ghana’s WBA Oceania Light Heavyweight champion, Emmanuel Danso in round one.
Crowd favourite Aokuso had his opponent all at sea from the off. Danso was knocked down near the end, and when the bell rang to close off the first three minutes, a dazed Danso called an end to the bout.
Having collected the Oceania title belt, Aokuso, who now lives at Mt Druitt in Sydney, told interviewer Mark Warren it was great to have such strong support from his old home town crowd.
Pangai, who hails from Inala and is now undefeated after four bouts, was similarly enthusiastic, cradling baby Kilu in the centre of the ring and complementing his opponent.
The event, staged by Ikonz Entertainment was streamed live on Stan sport with commentators Barry Hall and Demsey McKean joining Warren in calling the bouts from ringside.
It was a spectacular night at the venue, which is better known as the Ipswich home of Basketball.
At the top of the card, the only athletes to go all the way were the female combatants contesting the ANBT Australasian Heavyweight Women’s title, Queenslander, Che Kenneally and Sequita Hemmingway of New Zealand. The two slugged it out over eight two minute rounds, with Che emerging victorious with a unanamous points decision from judges Paul Tapley, Paul Williams and Selwyn Curry.
Earlier in the night, Olympic hopefuls Tina Rahimi and Erica Creely traded blows in the catchweight 59kg class, with Rahimi taking the win.
