By Paul Upham: IBF Pan Pacific junior middleweight champion Shannan "Blaster" Taylor 39-3-2 (25) defended his title with a twelve round points win over Walter Crucce 45-8 (34) on Friday night at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, Australia headlining a card promoted by Jamie Myer. "I love you dad, I did this for you," Taylor told the cameras in the ring after the fight. His father Steve having survived a heart attack only a week ago. The 'Blaster' looked in his best physical condition for many years and put on an impressive display of controlled punching as he took control of the fight from the early rounds. The 29 year-old southpaw Argentine champion battled on with a swollen right eye and while never looking likely to win the fight on the cards, he continually looked dangerous and made 32 year-old Taylor who is rated No.4 by IBF, work for the full distance.
Crucce was down in the 3rd round for the first time in his career from a Taylor right hand and then went down again in the 12th round from what looked like a slip, but was ruled a knockdown by referee Alan Moore. The fight ended at the final bell with the two fighters grappling on the ropes with the referee struggling to separate them. Judges scored the fight for Taylor 120-106, 118-108 and 118-108.
In the main support bout, 25 year-old Australian super middleweight champion Juarne Dowling, 12-2 (5), retained his title with a ten round points win over 34 year-old Dale Westerman, 11-5 (5). Westerman hurt his right hand midway through the fight and battled on with only his left hand. It may have looked an easy points win on the cards for Dowling, but his face told a different story as the champion took plenty of punishment from the courageous Westerman. Judges scored the fight for Dowling 100-91, 99-92 and 100-90
At heavyweight 28 year-old "Nasty Boy" Nathan Briggs, 9-1 (7), won by 3rd round TKO over 27 year-old Daniel Elliott, 1-1 (1). Briggs, the twin brother of leading light heavyweight contender Paul Briggs, simply overpowered his opponent who was stopped on his stool at the end of the 3rd round. 26 year-old Filipino welterweight champion Dondon Sultan, 14-3-1 (8) stunningly upset 26 year-old Australian welterweight champion Solomon Egberime, 12-2 (7), by 9th round knockout. The Australian based Nigerian Egberime on the day before his wedding was clearly winning a rugged battle but came up short at the 2:51 minute mark of round 9 when a brutal short right hand from Sultan landed right on his chin and was unable to beat the count.
25 year-old southpaw Matt Shaw, 9-6-2 (1) retained the Queensland welterweight title with an eight round split points decision over 27 year-old Paul Tapley, 8-4-1 (3). Judges scored the fight 80-73 Shaw, 77-75 Shaw and 77-75 Tapley.
In the opening bout of the evening at middleweight, the much taller 28 year-old Matt "3rd degree" Burns 1-0 (0) won his professional debut with a four round points win over 44 year-old Geoff Kanofski 19-18-5 (9). Judges scored the fight for Burns 39-37, 39-38 and 40-36.
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
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