Geale-MacKillop & Zappavigna-St.Clair Headline “Bad Blood” Wednesday Night

By Paul Upham: IBO middleweight boxing world champion Daniel Geale will face Canadian Ian MacKillop over ten rounds on Wednesday night at The Cube in Campbelltown, Sydney. The non-title match will headline a strong pay-per-view card which will feature a number of Australia’s best young talent. The fighters came face to face in front of the media at a press conference in Sydney City on Monday.

In the main event, 28 year-old Geale 20-0 (12), originally from Tasmania, will face 31 year-old MacKillop 25-10-3 (14), who is a late change after original IBO world title opponent James Obede Toney withdrew. MacKillop is known to Australian fans after he upset Shannan Taylor by stoppage in July 2006.

Daniel Geale

“I am looking forward to a good fight. It is going to be a good tough fight. He has knocked out Shannan before and he is going to come out really strong I suspect. I’m just looking for a great fight.”

Ian MacKillop

“I see Danny Geale as a very good up and coming fighter, but he has only had twenty fights. I have had nearly forty professional fights. Since I beat Shannan Taylor, I have had a few set backs. I am in the best condition for two years. I have regrouped. I am refocused now. I am going to rejuvenate my career with a win over Danny on Wednesday.

“They brought me over as an opponent for Shannan last time and they expected him to beat me easily, probably the same way they are expecting Geale to beat me on Wednesday night. I feel I am ready for another upset win.”

The 21 year-old undefeated Lenny Zappavigna 17-0 (13) takes a major step-up in competition when he faces 34 year-old former IBF/IBO junior lightweight world champion Gairy “Superman” St Clair over twelve rounds for the IBF Pan Pacific light welterweight title.

Lenny Zappavigna

“I’m very happy to be fighting someone like Gairy St.Clair on Main Event Television. It is going to be a tough fight. He is a former world champion and very experienced. But I have trained hard and I am ready to go.”

Gairy “Superman” St Clair

“Everyone knows Gairy St Clair. Lenny is a good, young kid. I just hope I don’t have the same judges that have judged some of my recent fights.”

33 year-old former rugby league football star Solomon Haumono 15-0 (14), who is trained by Johnny Lewis, faces 36 year-old former Australian champion Colin Wilson 34-24 (20) over ten rounds.

Solomon Haumono

“Colin Wilson is a former Australian champion and I am looking forward to fighting one of Australia’s best heavyweights over the last decade.”

Recent unsuccessful WBO featherweight world title challenger, 22 year-old Billy Dib 21-1 (11) faces 22 year-old Davey Browne 15-0-1 (4) for the interim WBC World Youth featherweight title.

Davey Browne

“I’m looking forward to a hard fight and I have been training hard. I’m going in as champion and I’m going out as champion.”

Billy Dib

“Talk is cheap. On March 11, we will see who is going to walk away with the belt. You think you are going to win the fight. I promise you, when that bell rings you are going to get knocked out. That’s a definite.”

The event is promoted by Grange Old School Boxing. The television coverage on Main Event Pay-Per-View and Fox Sports Pub & Club Vision at participating venues commences at 7:00pm AEDT.

General admission tickets for $60 each are available at the door.

Date March 11
Location The Cube, Campbelltown, Sydney, Australia
Daniel Geale vs. Ian MacKillop, 10rds - middleweight
Lenny Zappavigna vs. Gairy St. Clair, 12rds
IBF Pan Pacific junior welterweight title
Davey Browne vs. Billy Dib, 10rds - featherweight
Solomon Haumono vs. Colin Wilson, 10rds - heavyweight
Solomon Egberime vs. Moses Seran, 6rds - junior welterweight


Paul Upham
Content Editor