AUSTRALIAN BOXER PULLS OUT OF WBF TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Oct 2007
A strange thing happened last Saturday in Australia when the opponent of Filipino Ruben Santillanosa, Matt Powell, pulled out at the last minute from a WBF Australasian super featherweight title bout at the Darebin Sports and Leisure Center in Melbourne, without any explanation.
WBF president Mick Croucher said they conducted the weigh in and ?everything was signed on Friday and we were set to go for the Saturday title fight when I was contacted by the promoter at 3:00 p.m. stating that Powell had called him to say he was not fighting.?
Croucher said he personally called the boxer several times but his calls were unanswered. The WBF president said that since Powell didn?t show up Santillanosa fought light welterweight Eric Anaba over six, two minute rounds and scored a unanimous decision with two of the three judges scoring the fight 60-54 and the third judge 50-55 all for the Filipino.
Croucher said both Santillanosa as well as the fans were disappointed that the title fight didn't push through.
Santillanosa who is 22 years old improved his record with the victory to 8 wins as against 14 losses and 1 draw with 5 knockouts according to boxrec.com while Powel who pulled outl was 9-3-2 with 3 knockouts which once again raised the issue of mismatches. The record also shows that Santillanosa weighed in at 125.62 pounds which was heavier than Powell who came in at 125.18 while the super featherweight limit is 130 pounds.
Santillanosa and Anaba eventually fought as junior welterweights. The Filipino weighed 137 1/2 pounds while Anaba was 1391/2 pounds.
Santillanosa who regularly fights as a super bantamweight was coming off a second round KO loss to South Korea?s Yoo Shin Kim last May 19 while Powell won the Australian featherweight title last February 17 when referee Alan Simpson disqualified undefeated Mohamed Elomar for persistent low blows.
The two had earlier fought to a no contest in the third round of a ten round bout when referee Cyril Cairns stopped the fight because both fighters were reportedly unruly.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WBO presents the Amanda Serrano Championships
Thu, 08 May 2025GM Antonio faces tough competition in ASEAN Seniors Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 08 May 2025Boxing: Entertainment Sport or Sport Entertainment?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 07 May 2025JIM LAMPLEY'S BOOK TOUR IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK!
Wed, 07 May 2025CAPITO IGNITES TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Wed, 07 May 2025Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 06 May 2025Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN
Tue, 06 May 2025The Past Week in Action 5 May 2025: Inoue-Cardenas Saves Historic Boxing Weekend; Canelo-Scull Sets New Record for Fewest Punches Thrown
By Eric Armit, Tue, 06 May 2025Sampson Lewkowicz Congratulates Cardenas, Romero and Espinoza and Vows to Make Next Year's Cinco de Mayo Unforgettable, Highlighted by David Benavidez Facing the Winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev
Tue, 06 May 2025Saving the Best for Last: GSW Upstages Raw Rockets
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 06 May 2025Antonio, Bagamasbad face tough competition in Woman FIDE Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament on May 18
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 06 May 2025Andres “Savage” Cortes Finishes Strong Training Camp Ahead of Crucial May 10 Clash Against Salvador Jimenez at Pechanga Arena San Diego
Tue, 06 May 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS and ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT PRESENT HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT
Tue, 06 May 2025IBA embraces Bare Knuckle Boxing
Tue, 06 May 2025Monster Dynamite: Inoue Crushes Cardenas in Eight
Mon, 05 May 2025