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In the main event at Fort Knox on February 16, an all-out slugfest, Fatai "Kid Dynamite" Onikeke (19-2-16 KOs) won his first fight back since being stopped by Ranee Ganoy, defeating another Filipino, Bart Abapo (17-8-3- 12 KOs) in round seven for the WBF intercontinental super-lightweight title.

Onikeke started the fight quite nervously looking for openings whilst Abapo danced around him, flicking his jab and waiting for a chance to land a haymaker on the sometimes open Nigerian. For the first two rounds on my scorecards Abapo was ahead.

Onikeke came out for the third more relaxed and placing his punches better. The Filipino started to feel the power of his continual onslaught. Onikeke is mechanical, has a walking-up style, is easy to hit and seems to struggle with opponents who can move around.

To Onikeke's credit, he is relentless and persistent which sometimes can be a disadvantage, a strategy that hadn’t worked against Ganoy, who adapted to his style and seemingly had more power and grunt behind his punches then "Kid Dynamite."

This time round, Abapo, briefed by Sydney stablemate Ganoy, came into the bout having lost four of his last six fights with one win and a draw to his name. The Filipino reserve, however, was no soft touch and put up a good performance continually rising to his feet despite the mercilious barrage of punches that were being unloaded onto him.

It must be pointed out that this fight was a tune-up fight for Onikeke. The chunky little African needed a solid victory to get him back on track

VIC vs WA for 'Australasian' Title

Home town fighter, Chris Collard (10-8-1) met his first defeat in two years in devastating fashion, tko'd in five rounds by West Australian up-and-comer, Jeremy Allen (3-3-1).

This bout was a rematch of their first fight on the Onikeke vs Ganoy undercard last September, when Collard won a controversial split decision. Allen dropped "The Aboriginal Warrior" was dropped late in that fight and question marks were raised after the “local” decision..

Collard entered the ring at Knox to the sound of didgeridoos, aboriginal dancers and chanting of hymns. His strong indigenous following needed a large coach to bring all the supporters to the arena.

Allen and Collard traded blows for most of the fight, with Collard edging the points in the earlier rounds and seeming likely to be crowned WBF Australasian Champion.

Allen rallied in the fifth round. His clean and precise blows stunned Chris and led to the stoppage of the fight. The crowd were in disbelief. Allen from the Perth powerhouse, Harry’s Gym, was the new WBF Australasian Middleweight Champion.

Collard will bounce back and be sure to give his all next time for his big support base in Melbourne.

Scorched by the Heat

Heath "The Heat" Ellis, Melbourne’s rising glamour boy, came to the ring heralded by a stirring gladiator anthem. He faced his toughest opponent yet and knocked him out in round three of a very good exciting fight scheduled for six rounds.

The opponent, Ariel Omongos, Philippines, had mixed it with Billy Dib and Len Zappavigna. He KOd the Champion of Ghana, Theophilus Quayle, in one round.

The Filipino in Sydney on a twelve month sports visa came to fight and so he did. He was tough, wanted to brawl and never took a backward step. This is the true Filipino fighting spirit that Jaime Pimentel wrote of.

. Both combatants obviously wanting to end it early. The crowd loved the stoush and the atmosphere was electric.Omongas hit after the bell at the end of round one. This turned the fight into a Manila cock fight.

Both boys were loading up. Ellis was throwing bombs that were a bit wild. The Filipino went right hand crazy. .

Round three, Ellis had found his range and was landing some very big shots. The 18 year old bomber got the Filipino against the ropes, landed a right hook, left hook combination, followed by a savage left rip.

The solar plexus shot did the major damage. Omongas was down and out, counted out. He stayed down for at least 20 seconds. KO 3 Ellis.

Heath .Ellis is getting a big following, and a very vocal crowd of supporters should attract audiences in the future if guided well and brought along slowly.

NZ sub has a go

Luke Moloney (4-3) boxed a six round match with Prince Hamid (1-1), who came from New Zealand as a late subsititute for fellow Kiwi, Bruce Glosier. Hamid put on an entertaining six rounds taking it up to Moloney and making a fight off it

The fight looked a lot closier than the official scored cards. Judge Con Theodorou 55-59, Judge Chris Anderson 55-59, Judge:Andrew Campbell 59-56 . A messy fight at times.

Luke Moloney looked flat and off the mark at times but did enough to win after losing to Clinton Johnson for the State super-middle weight title last November. Trainer Daryl (President) Ford called the shots and got his charge over the line.

IN the opener, women boxers put on a very decent scrap over six rounds. Georgia Keady (1.1) from Mornington lost a unaminous decsion to Michelle Preston New Zealand (0-1). Judge Bryce Birtwistle 57-58, Judge Chris Anderson 53-60, Judge: Wayne Ashdown 55-59. Nice tussle and good introduction to the night.