Green dents Stenton
By Paul Upham: Australia’s 2000 Olympian Danny Green, 5-0 (5), kept his perfect knockout record intact and won the OBA light-heavyweight title with an impressive win over Heath Stenton, 7-15-1 (1), in the second round of the main event at promoter Kieran O’Connor’s “RESPECT 4…. the Young Guns!!!” card on Friday night at The Nineveh Club in Edensor Park, Sydney.
Considered by many to have one of the toughest chins in Australia, Stenton was floored in the first round by a Green right hand and thus tasted the canvas for only the second time in his career.
Green’s jab was powerful and strong to the head and the body and set up his right hand and left hooks, which did so much damage to Stenton. A devastating body attack in the second round saw Stenton trapped in the corner in terrible trouble. At the end of the second round, Stenton’s corner stopped the fight after their man had tasted too much of Green’s power.
Stenton has been a better fighter than his record suggests and was coming off two impressive performances in challenging for the OPBF title in Japan this year, but tonight Danny Green showed, in only his fifth professional fight, that he is ready to take further steps up in class.
“I want to thank my trainer Jeff Fenech, promoter Kieran O’Connor for giving me the chance to fight for the OBA title and thanks to the Team Fenech guys,” said Green. “I got into a good rhythm early and landed some good punches, Heath took some great shots.
“People thought it was going to be a tough fight. Angelo Hyder told me it would go the distance, but I knew it would only go two or three rounds,” said trainer Jeff Fenech. “I told Danny on the way down here that if he listened to what I say, we’d be out of here in a couple of rounds.
“Anybody out there in the super-middleweight division, we’ve got a couple of guys here in Australia who proclaim to be the best. Well, I’ve got the guy here who I know is the best and when the time is right we’ll fight anybody.”
Stenton, who took IBF Pan Pacific super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine the distance over eight rounds in October 2000, had plenty of praise for Green, “He’s big and strong, he has a lot of power and heart and he would definitely give Anthony Mundine a good run.”
Gairy St. Clair, 20-2-1 (8), from Guyana looked very impressive in winning the main support bout by unanimous decision against a very game Mendocino Sibua, 0-4, of the Philippines at lightweight over eight rounds.
Since joining up with Johnny Lewis, the 26-year-old from Guyana has looked very smooth, sparred Kostya Tszyu and looks ready to return to the international arena. Judges scored the bout, 80-71, 80-72 and 80-72.
In a special attraction for the fans in attendance and at home, IBF No.1 light heavyweight Glenn Kelly boxed a three round exhibition with PABA cruiserweight champion Daniel Rowsell, as Kelly prepares for his world title fight with undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr in the USA on February 2.
“I won’t be having another fight between now and then, and the more sparring I can get the better,” said Kelly. “I just want to take this opportunity with both hands and make the most of it. I’m going to be with Jeff Fenech every day for 10 weeks in the lead up to the fight and I’ll be in the best condition of my life.”
Apa Nanai, 2-0, won a unanimous decision over Christian Taylor, 2-2 (2), at heavyweight over six rounds, with judges scores of 59-57, 58-56 and 60-55. In an entertaining clash, both fighters took turns landing some savage blows with Nanai putting together the more accurate punches. Both fighters put out a challenge to unbeaten NSW heavyweight champion Solomon Haumono after the bout.
Team Fenech’s Tunisian Olympian Naoufel Ben Rabah, 5-0 (3), won a unanimous points decision over Damian Loader 1-1 at welterweight over six rounds. The promising 23-year-old is carrying great promise every time he enters the ring, but was a little disappointed with his performance despite winning comfortably on the judges scorecards, 60-55, 59-54 and 59-55.
An excellent mover around the ring who puts his punches together seamlessly, Rabah will need to continue to work on his stamina to ensure that he is able to finish off his opponents.
Mick Courtney, 5-4-1 (3), and Chris Bailey, 4-3-1 (2), fought to a technical draw at super-middleweight after an accidental head clash in the first round saw Courtney sustain a bad cut over his left eye which caused the doctor to stop the fight in the second round.
In the opening bout of the night, heavyweight Brett Smith, 1-0, won his professional debut over Auckland Aumatagi, 3-1 (1), with a unanimous points decision 39-38, 40-36 and 40-37. Referee Trevor Christian had his hands full with the big boys in a good slugfest.
The card was seen live around Australia on Fox Sports with John Casey and Troy Waters providing the commentary at ringside and Andy Raymond handling the ring announcing duties.
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
Considered by many to have one of the toughest chins in Australia, Stenton was floored in the first round by a Green right hand and thus tasted the canvas for only the second time in his career.
Green’s jab was powerful and strong to the head and the body and set up his right hand and left hooks, which did so much damage to Stenton. A devastating body attack in the second round saw Stenton trapped in the corner in terrible trouble. At the end of the second round, Stenton’s corner stopped the fight after their man had tasted too much of Green’s power.
Stenton has been a better fighter than his record suggests and was coming off two impressive performances in challenging for the OPBF title in Japan this year, but tonight Danny Green showed, in only his fifth professional fight, that he is ready to take further steps up in class.
“I want to thank my trainer Jeff Fenech, promoter Kieran O’Connor for giving me the chance to fight for the OBA title and thanks to the Team Fenech guys,” said Green. “I got into a good rhythm early and landed some good punches, Heath took some great shots.
“People thought it was going to be a tough fight. Angelo Hyder told me it would go the distance, but I knew it would only go two or three rounds,” said trainer Jeff Fenech. “I told Danny on the way down here that if he listened to what I say, we’d be out of here in a couple of rounds.
“Anybody out there in the super-middleweight division, we’ve got a couple of guys here in Australia who proclaim to be the best. Well, I’ve got the guy here who I know is the best and when the time is right we’ll fight anybody.”
Stenton, who took IBF Pan Pacific super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine the distance over eight rounds in October 2000, had plenty of praise for Green, “He’s big and strong, he has a lot of power and heart and he would definitely give Anthony Mundine a good run.”
Gairy St. Clair, 20-2-1 (8), from Guyana looked very impressive in winning the main support bout by unanimous decision against a very game Mendocino Sibua, 0-4, of the Philippines at lightweight over eight rounds.
Since joining up with Johnny Lewis, the 26-year-old from Guyana has looked very smooth, sparred Kostya Tszyu and looks ready to return to the international arena. Judges scored the bout, 80-71, 80-72 and 80-72.
In a special attraction for the fans in attendance and at home, IBF No.1 light heavyweight Glenn Kelly boxed a three round exhibition with PABA cruiserweight champion Daniel Rowsell, as Kelly prepares for his world title fight with undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr in the USA on February 2.
“I won’t be having another fight between now and then, and the more sparring I can get the better,” said Kelly. “I just want to take this opportunity with both hands and make the most of it. I’m going to be with Jeff Fenech every day for 10 weeks in the lead up to the fight and I’ll be in the best condition of my life.”
Apa Nanai, 2-0, won a unanimous decision over Christian Taylor, 2-2 (2), at heavyweight over six rounds, with judges scores of 59-57, 58-56 and 60-55. In an entertaining clash, both fighters took turns landing some savage blows with Nanai putting together the more accurate punches. Both fighters put out a challenge to unbeaten NSW heavyweight champion Solomon Haumono after the bout.
Team Fenech’s Tunisian Olympian Naoufel Ben Rabah, 5-0 (3), won a unanimous points decision over Damian Loader 1-1 at welterweight over six rounds. The promising 23-year-old is carrying great promise every time he enters the ring, but was a little disappointed with his performance despite winning comfortably on the judges scorecards, 60-55, 59-54 and 59-55.
An excellent mover around the ring who puts his punches together seamlessly, Rabah will need to continue to work on his stamina to ensure that he is able to finish off his opponents.
Mick Courtney, 5-4-1 (3), and Chris Bailey, 4-3-1 (2), fought to a technical draw at super-middleweight after an accidental head clash in the first round saw Courtney sustain a bad cut over his left eye which caused the doctor to stop the fight in the second round.
In the opening bout of the night, heavyweight Brett Smith, 1-0, won his professional debut over Auckland Aumatagi, 3-1 (1), with a unanimous points decision 39-38, 40-36 and 40-37. Referee Trevor Christian had his hands full with the big boys in a good slugfest.
The card was seen live around Australia on Fox Sports with John Casey and Troy Waters providing the commentary at ringside and Andy Raymond handling the ring announcing duties.
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
SecondsOut Weekly Newsletter
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