Aussie eats his words

As advertised, Australian junior lightweight champion "Kid" Karim Nashar entered the ring wearing shades, an Arabian headdress, and yellow-frilled trunks, reminiscent of a leggy Roaring ‘20s dance hall girl’s skirt, to face unbeaten World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 6 contender Randy Suico at the Ynares Center in Antipolo last Friday.

Nashar, 30, drew curious looks from the crowd as he shuffled and danced his way from his dressing room to the ring. He couldn’t keep still – was he nervous? – and didn’t even stand upright when the Australian national anthem resounded on the public address system.

The big, bad Aussie predicted a sixth round knockout win over Suico. Of course, no one believed he could do it. Tough talk, empty words.

When the bell rang, Nashar went straight for Suico like a bull charging a matador with a red cape. He’d boasted of picking Suico apart with his experience and technique. But he looked like a novice and showed no technique in lunging at his foe, taking wild, roundhouse swings that hit nothing but air. A bit of flab in his midsection – was he in shape? – jiggled as he stormed in.

Suico, 21, had no difficulty moving away from Nashar. He sidestepped, he bobbed, he weaved, he leaned backwards. His head swayed as Nashar’s telegraphed punches zipped by like aimless, stray bullets. Then, Suico buckled down to work, peppering Nashar with rapier-like left jabs and destroying what little defense he showed. A vicious right uppercut to the jaw sent Nashar crumpling to the canvas for an eight-count.

Nashar got up and raised his arms – he was far from finished or so it seemed. Suico moved in like a panther stalking its prey. He backed Nashar into the ropes and zeroed in on his head which snapped back at each solid hit. Referee Bruce McTavish watched the action closely and could’ve stopped it there and then but didn’t. He allowed the fight to continue as if to give Nashar the benefit of the doubt. Then, with 11 seconds left in the round, McTavish did the inevitable – he stepped in to prevent Nashar from suffering serious injury.

Fans mobbed Suico after the sensational victory. They had found a new hero.

Nashar was lucky McTavish saved him from further punishment. He would’ve surely landed in a hospital if the fight had gone on. Nashar kept blinking and rubbing his forehead – he was clearly dazed – even as he insisted McTavish’s stoppage was premature nearly 30 minutes after the demolition.

Nashar said he was embarrassed that it ended so soon, particularly as he had predicted to knock out Suico. But he didn’t castigate McTavish and conceded that he was within his authority to stop it. Besides, Nashar finally admitted, Suico was too quick, too strong and "I got hit, I got beat." Nashar said he’d never been hit as hard and he’d never been floored in his entire career.

But he’ll be back, Nashar vowed. His wife Sarah is delivering their first child in December so he can’t afford to take a break from work. Nashar will keep on fighting.

As for Suico, his Japanese manager Joe Koizumi said he’s still two years away from challenging for a world crown. "We’ll wait," said Koizumi who came to Manila with charming wife Mie to work Suico’s corner. "We’ll continue to work on his fundamentals. Randy’s getting better each fight. In two years, we’ll be ready."

Obviously, Koizumi isn’t taking any chances, particularly as the WBC champion Floyd Mayweather and the World Boxing Association (WBA) titlist Joel Casamayor are both unbeaten.

Suico dedicated his win to his wife Jovy and their one-year-old daughter Montesa.

In other fights last Friday, former WBA minimumweight ruler Joma Gamboa halted Samransak Singmanassak who surrendered on his stool before the bell for the fourth round, Noel Tunacao scored a unanimous 10-round decision over Songkram Porpaoin (Vic Rodriguez and Cris Odulio scored it both 100-90 and Ramon Flores, 99-92), and undefeated minimumweight prospect Rodel Mayol blasted Pigmy Muangchaiya into submission in the fifth.

One of the happiest ringsiders that night was Terry Carter, a Vietnam War veteran and ex-Marine who has lived in Cebu since 1995. Carter manages Tunacao and Mayol. He is married to Lorna Brazil of Cabanatuan and they are blessed with two children, Carolina, 5 (because Carter’s from North Carolina), and Thomas Stonewall Jackson, 1. Carter splits his fighters into two stables – the Stonewall stable, named after his son, and the TL Chopper stable, named after his daughter (TL Chopper is Carolina’s nickname).

Carter, 55, is involved in exporting silver jewelry, designed in the native American or Southwest style, to the US from Cebu. He opened a gym and started a stable a few years ago in Lilo-an to promote Visayan fighters.

Carter said he gave Mayol a P200,000 signing bonus to join his stable and singled him out as his brightest hope for a world title. "I would’ve paid as much as P500,000 for Rodel," he disclosed. "I consider the signing bonus as an investment. I’ve promoted a lot of cards in Cebu and it’s been difficult making money. Rodel can bring the fans in. I first approached him to join my stable when he was still an amateur. Then, he fought for Tony (Aldeguer) whom I respect highly. Tony understood the kid had to break out and he continues to give me advice on how to handle my fighters, not just Rodel."