Mumbai: Venky`s Mumbai Fighters ended their home campaign in the World Series Boxing on a high note as they outclassed Bangkok Elephants 4-1 at the Inorbit Mall`s T-Box Mobile arena on Friday.
The man who stole the show for the Fighters, who did not field any Indian boxer, was their light weight pugilist Charly Suarez, who made a spectacular debut with a knock-out victory to provide the hosts with the winning 3-1 margin ahead of the last bout.
The 2011 President`s Cup silver medalist from the Philippines, a country known for its tradition in the ring sport, floored his southpaw rival Egkachai Prommaka of Thailand with a straight right to the jaw in round 2 to knock the Elephants boxer cold and emerge triumphant.
The 22-year-old`s knock-out victory in the light weight (57-61kg) contest provided Mumbai Fighters the victory margin after their middle weight (68-73 kg) and light heavy weight (80-85 kg) boxers Konstantin Snigour and Leanid Charnabayeu gained unanimous 3-0 verdicts against the Thai franchise rivals in two earlier bouts.
Suarez showed superb footwork and lightning fast glove work from the start of his fight against his taller Thai rival Prommaka who could not match his rival`s aggression.
Clearly the better fighter, Suarez, who is looked upon by the Filipinos to break the gold medal drought in the Olympic Games at London this year, took the opening round 2-1 before uncorking the kncok-out punch to settle the duel with four seconds left in round two.
The Thai boxer took a lot of time to recover from the punch, before finally getting off the canvas to be helped to his corner.
Previous to this fight, Elephants cut down the Fighters lead through Thai boxer Satjapron Jumroensan`s convincing 3-0 victory over 19-year-old rival Mirbek Sherov of Kyrgyzthan in bantamweight (50-54 kg) class.
In the inconsequential fifth and final bout, New Zealander Uaine Fa, of the Fighters, once again impressed with a unanimous 3-0 (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) victory over his Ukrainian rival Anatoli Antoniuk.
In the opening bout, Snigour, from Israel and a quarter finalist at the European championships, packed too heavy a punch for Australian teenager Troy Trevor O`Meley, who represented the Bangkok Elephants and gave a game fight before losing heavily.
The Fighters boxer won a comprehensive 50-44, 50-45, 50-44 victory, and had the Aussie youngster down on his haunches for the mandatory eight count in round three with a left hook.
The second fight between Leanid and his Belarussian compatriot Sergei Kuzmin was much closer though the former gained the judges` verdict in four out of the five rounds.
Leanid, the Fighters key boxer and a quarter finalist at the 2010 world youth championships, came away with a 49-46, 48-47, 49-46 verdict, by winning the first and last rounds on all three judges` cards against a taller rival.
The Thai boxer, a bronze medal winner in the 2006 Kings Cup, was streets ahead in both style and punches scored against the Kyrgyzsthan fighter, quarter finalist at the last European championship and representing Mumbai, to earn a 48-46, 48-46, 48-46 verdict.
After the Mumbai figher won the opening round, it was the Thai boxer all the way and his victory reduced the Fighters` lead to 2-1.
The Fighters have two more matches -- against the Matadors on February 13 and Arlans on February 17 -- to wind up their league campaign.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 03, 2012, 23:53