The bright lights lit the seaside provincial
city of Geelong:
Victoria's second city paid host to professional
boxing. The main event
had local fancy Paul Murdoch, a native of
Geelong defending his PABA
light-heavyweight title against Tongan import,
Walter Maikolo Pupua.
The fight went 12 rounds full term with
Murdoch putting on a
convincing
performance on all scorecards.
Murduch is to fight Danny Green in the new
year. Although Green was well beaten by Anthony
Mundine, Murdoch should not prove so hard.
Danny is going back to his Olympics 2000 weight,
after the endless ordeal of boiling half a
stone to super-middleweight. THE upset of
the year in Victoria happened at the Arena
in Geelong. Sean Connell - announced as weighing
in some 10 kilos heavier then he did two weeks
earlier when he fought Adam Vella the current
Australian Middleweight champion in Sydney
(can we believe it?) won a majority decision
over Tiger Tim Bell.
To suggest that Connell was the under dog
was an understatement. he was a last minute
replacement for Bell's scheduled opponent
who pulled out. Connell got the call on the
Wednesday, three days before the fight. He
wasnt expected to win, just some extra money
for Christmas, But oh boy did he get an early
Christmas present.Sean Connell entered the
fight 10 kilos heavier, hadnt trained at all
since his last fight. He hadnt been near a
gym or picked up a skipping rope. Insiders
stated he himself didnt think he had a chance,
just move around Hopefully dont get hurt or
cut. Help answer the SOS from the promoter
and line his pockets with a little exta shillings.
The pressure, wasnt there that is why he
went so well treat it like a spar.On the other
hand Bell looking extremely confident has
clearly underestimated Connell. Thought it
was just a fight in the bag ,even before the
the first rang. Big mistake. Boxing is a funny
game. It doent always go to script and the
sacrificial offering sometimes gets up off
the chopping block and takes hold of the axe.
.This is exactly what happened.All there thought
it was a forgone conclusion that Tiger tim
Bell would wipe the floor with Sean Connell.The
boxer that looks more like an accountant or
sales representative then a boxer. he actually
looks like someone's father out of the crowd.
Noting like a boxer who was stepping into
the square ring with menacing former Australian
Champion Tiger Tim Bell who has a reputation
as a big hitter who is all go and likes a
punch out. Sean Connell cheerfully greated
Bell in Centre ring.Smiling but expecting
a caining. Who would disagree. Bell was odds
on faviouite To the crowds and Connell's surprise
he fared well in round one of a sheduled sixer.He
didn't make the Tiger angry and he had survived
round 1. Well done l thought Good onya Gentleman
Sean. ( all that was missing was a pinstripped
suite and and a brief case and an unbrella
incase it rained). Round 2 bell tolled. ding
Conell was going well counter punching to
the body slipping in the occasion right uppercut
and left hook and slipping the heavy right
hand of Mr Bell ( Remember Sean was just helping
out the show and staying on his feet for as
long as he could befoe he got hit) Bell had
a lot of apparent rust not being in the ring
for many months since he lost his Australian
Title to Heath Stenton (Heath likewise a native
of Geelong, a coincidence but quite amusing.
Round 2 was now history and Connell was still
there and a fairly even contest. All in the
crowd and at ringside were just waiting for
the blow from the Tiger's paw that never came.
Round 3 Connell was busy surviving Avoiding
the bombs that he was getting under and making
bell miss. Connell was happy he was still
there, not hurt and making a show of it. Sean
was counter punching well and scoring inside.
This amazed the crowd and him too l presume.
Connell was half way. still on his feet, not
hurt and sneakily getting the points on my
card. Connel is a very awkward customer.he
is hard to hit and very unorthadox boxing
style. This surley couldnt be true, Connell
was in with a chance.
Round 4 and 5 Connell was backing up the
Tiger. landing some nice good right hands
to the head, slipping in the right uppercut
and getting the points,not by a huge margin
but nevertheless he was pinching the round.
Connells corner were yelling out, Move his
head and punch threes and fours and stay away
for those big punches being thrown by Bell
, The ring rust was as apparent with Bell
.he was missing the big shots and by george
Connell didnt want him to land them either.This
fight was close, Bell had the aggression and
power Gentleman Connel was playing cat and
mouse with a very dangerous cat. Believe me.
The sixth was a cracker Sean Connell was
in sight of a major upset in Victorian ring
history This was a upset and a half , the
fill in had done the un thinkable. Actually
the unamginable. Fought at light heavy eight
an ex Australian Champion in Bell and won.
I was shocked, the crowd was stunned and Bell's
corner could believe it . Two judges gave
it to Connell by 2 points each, and third
gave it a draw. Connell won on my card, not
by too much But what a feat. Connell has a
style that most find very difficult to handle,
A spoiler. Well done Mr Connell.
