[btown32]

Melbourne Stadium, Australia

Main Event:

#15 Ivan Drago, Russia, 21-5-0 (20) (KO15) Tom Lees, Australia, 19-2-0 (14)

Supporting Bouts:

Rocky Balboa, USA, 9-1-0 (9) (KO8) George Cook, Australia, 12-4-1 (6)
Larry Foley, Australia, 11-0-0 (7) (SD15) Apollo Creed, USA, 16-3-0 (12)
Clubber Lang, USA, 16-4-0 (16) (TKO10) Bowie Tupou, Australia, 11-4-0 (9)

A Successful Professional Debut:

Fai Falamoe, New Zealand, Pro Debut vs. George Stankovich, New Zealand, Pro Debut

Our opening bout features two former amateur foes who do not like each other. Each fighter could have taken an easier initial fight to enter the pro ranks, but they jumped at the chance to square off in the ring on this great fight card. George Stankovich has signed with the G.C.G. Management Team, who will be responsible for promoting, training and managing the professional boxing career of this potential ICBA star. Both fighters enter the ring in great shape. The first round gets off to a slow and controversial start. It looks as though both fighters are feeling each other out. There was more preflight trash-talking than punches thrown here in the 1st. Stankovich has a point deducted from him already, here in the opening round for a head butt that doesn’t seem to have been seen by anybody except the referee. You would hate to see the outcome of this fight determined by a point deduction. Stankovich is warned for holding here at the beginning of the 2nd. Suddenly, a solid combination by Stankovich sends Falamoe to the canvas with 1:02 left in the round. Falamoe is up at the count of six and survives the round even though he suffered a great deal of punishment, 19-4. The 3rd is sloppy with both fighters receiving warnings for fouls, Falamoe for a low blow and Stankovich for hitting on the break. Both men finally let their hands go and each fighter lands several good shots. Falamoe has a point deducted for another low blow in what would have been a pretty even 4th round. Stankovich has a good round, 17-9, and Falamoe could be in trouble with a cut and swelling that has developed here in the 5th. Conditioning could be a factor as this fight goes into the latter rounds. Both fighters have never experienced this length of fight in the amateur ranks. Round 6 seems pretty even as both boxers seemed to have downshifted a little, 8-8 in points. Falamoe has another point taken from him for another low blow. These deductions are putting Falamoe in a situation where he may need a knockout to win the fight. Stankovich is landing punch after punch and sends Falamoe down on his back with less than ten seconds here in the 7th. Falamoe is able to get up but the referee stops the fight due to the cut over the eye. George Stankovich has a successful professional debut with a (TKO7). 59-53, 56-56 (what!?), 58-55. 2nd judge must have been a relative of Falamoe.