Bell Shocks Lovett to Win PABA and OPBF Titles


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Bell Shocks Lovett to Win PABA and OPBF Titles

By Anthony Cocks at ringside, DoghouseBoxing.com (Oct 7, 2008) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © Werner Kalin)

‘Tiger’ Tim Bell, 15-5-1 (12), overcame a severe cut over his right eye to defeat popular Cranbourne banger Daniel ‘Porky’ Lovett, 17-4 (10), by 8th round stoppage to seize the PABE and OPBF light heavyweight crowns at Peninsula on the Docklands in central Melbourne, Australia on Sunday night.

Bell shrugged off twelve months of inactivity to blast his way through Lovett’s defence, eventually forcing the corner to throw in the towel fifteen seconds into the eighth round.

Beginning the fight in typical fashion, Bell charged Lovett from the opening bell. Long right hands over a range-finding jab backed Lovett up, but the 25-year-old picked his spots to land hard counter hooks and right hands.

As the rounds progressed it was expected that Bell would tire, but the 29-year-old defied the odds to keep pressing forward as he used his size to lean on Lovett and maul him on the ropes.

In the fourth round Lovett opened up a cut over Bell’s right eye and with the blood pouring out it looked like an early stoppage was imminent. After a quick inspection by ringside physician Dr Peter Lewis the bout was allowed to continue and between rounds Bell’s corner did a great job of stemming the flow of blood.

By the middle rounds the frenetic pace was starting to tell on Lovett as Bell continued to pile on the pressure and outmuscle him on the inside. A nasty cut inside his bottom lip caused Lovett to swallow a large amount of blood from the mid-rounds on as Bell continued to nail Lovett with straight right hands.

Between the sixth and seventh rounds Lovett’s corner implored him to pick up the pace and box rather than brawl. Clearly fatigued, Lovett battled his way through the seventh round, sucking up punishment from the relentless Bell as he tried desperately to will his way back into the fight.

Lovett’s trainer Jim Slatter, who was on the verge of throwing in the towel during the seventh, only needed to see his fighter’s head snap back at the start of the eighth to know that the time was right to halt the fight.

It was never going to be an easy assignment for Lovett, but activity, youth and more well-rounded boxing ability all looked to be in his favour. With the win Bell has rejuvenated his career and can look forward to a world ranking with the WBA.

At the time of the stoppage judge Allan McColl had the bout scored 68-66 for Bell, judge Gus Mercurio had it 67-75 for Bell, while judge Tony Marretta couldn’t split them at 67-67.

The main event was just one of many upsets on the night. WBO #12 junior welterweight Lance Gostelow, 17-2 (14), got more than he bargained for from unheralded Thai Somchai Nakbalee, 11-6-1 (4). Gostelow was dropped in the 6th and Nakbalee went on with the job, forcing referee Tony Marretta to halt the action at 2:58 of the round. With the win Nakbalee picks up the WBO Oriental junior welterweight title.

In a well matched bout for the Australian junior middleweight title Queenslander Tui Leveni, 6-1 (4), stopped Melbourne’s Pat Rullo, 6-1 (1), at 2:59 of the 4th. Leveni, who looks to have a bright future in the sport, was ahead one point of two of the judges’ scorecards and up four points on the third.

Jordan Gee-Hoy, 2-0, of Townsville in Queensland, dropped Melbournian Tim Hunt, 2-2 (1), in the first round before boxing his way to a split decision win over six rounds at welterweight. Scores at the conclusion were 58-55 and 57-56 for Gee-Hoy, 57-56 for Hunt.

Heavyweight Kim Heta, 8-1 (6), scored a 3rd round TKO of New Zealander Hiriwa Te Rangi, 0-11, when the Kiwi’s corner threw in the towel at 1:06. Heta was ahead on all three cards 20-18 at the time.

In one of the best fights of the night Ben Costello, 1-1, and Nick Themelakis, 0-3-1, went to war over four rounds at junior middleweight. In a bout that produced more action than many twelve round fights, Costello eventually prevailed by scores of 39-37, 40-36 and 38-38.

In the opener lightweight Sedat Tasci, 3-0-2 (2), was too skilled for Eric Anaba, 2-5-2. Anaba scored a flash knockdown in the second to keep the scores close at 38-37 twice for Tasci and 38-37 for Anaba.