Non-stop McGowan claims title
Erin McGowan's desire and superior workrate proved decisive as the popular Perth fighter claimed the Women's International Boxing Association lightweight title on Friday night.
McGowan celebrated with trainer Ruben "the Cuban" Sanchez after she outpointed NSW's Arlene Blencowe at the WA Italian Club to win the vacant championship.
Although Blencowe landed the heavier and, at times cleaner shots, her successes were isolated when compared to McGowan's, who scored the only knockdown late in the opening round.
McGowan worked non-stop, typified by a rousing last round when she outhustled an opponent whose hopes of lifting the title died on the scales when she failed to make the 61.2kg lightweight limit on Thursday.
Blencowe's official weight was announced as 62kg, although there was talk she was nearer 65kg which meant she would even have been over the light-welterweight mark. As a former WIBA welterweight champion, perhaps it's no surprise she was unable to make a weight two divisions below.
Celebration time for Erin McGowan and CDL Boxing promoters Ty Colman, left, and David Letizia. Pic: Kim Johnson/Hitman Photography
Chief support saw unbeaten Sunshine Coast super-featherweight Paul Fleming return to Perth for his first fight in 19 months.
Fleming, now 19-0 after a comfortable unanimous points win, had taken time off from boxing to support his young family.
And in the first round it was clear the southpaw 2008 Olympian had been away as he struggled with his timing and hardly threw a punch.
Slowly the Billy Hussein-trained 26-year-old found his feet and by the end of the eight-rounder against Indonesia's former two-time world title challenger Angky Angkotta, he was showing glimpses of his slick hit-and-move style.
Fleming had Perth light-middleweight Daniel Dawson and his trainer Bobby Mayne help work his corner alongside Hussein.
Paul Fleming returns with a win against Angky Angkotta. Pic: Kim Johnson/Hitman Photography
Brandon Ogilvie has his arm raised after seeing off durable Indonesian Roy Tua Manihuruk. Pic: Kim Johnson/Hitman Photography
Brandon Ogilvie marked his return to his original coach Peter "Fox" Wilkenson with a clear eight-round points win over another durable Indonesian, Roy Tua Manihuruk.
Lightweight Ogilvie, now 9-1, landed some heavy shots and had Manihuruk touch down in the fourth before settling for a convincing win over a fighter who took unbeaten Clint Hosking the full 10 rounds in July.
Nathaniel May, right, gets on top of Patomsith Pathompothong. Pic: Kim Johnson/Hitman Photography
Bunbury featherweight Nathaniel May also won well on points over eight, the 19-year-old always in control against Patomsith Pathompothong.
The Thai southpaw looked in great nick but did not have the strength or punching power to keep May at distance and the Peter Stokes-trained West Australian deservedly moved his record along to 8-1.
Another of Stokes' fighters, cruiserweight Daniel McGlashan, floored Walter Pupu'a twice on his way to a second-round TKO victory over the NSW-based Tongan.
Liam Vernon crashes in a big right hand against Samuel Ballantine ...
... and the Collie super-middleweight is celebrating a debut win in just 72 seconds. Pics: Kim Johnson/Hitman Photography
But the most spectacular finish on the CDL Boxing card came from Collie super-middleweight Liam Vernon, who took out Samuel Ballantine with one punch just 1min 12sec into his pro boxing debut.
Perhaps a case of the Collie-wobbles for the unfortunate Ballantine.
Meanwhile CDL co-promoter David Letizia, who was scheduled to fight on the show, will instead make his farewell boxing appearance against giantkiller Rob Powdrill in Perth on February 13.
MMA specialist Powdrill caused a sensation earlier this month when he took out Ricky Hatton-promoted Damien Hooper after just 21 seconds.
While Powdrill could reasonably expect a bigger fight as reward, he has agreed to stick to an earlier agreement to face Letizia.
