Liam Wilson survived an epic ten-round war to defeat Argentine Matias Rueda by unanimous decision (97-93, 99-91, 96-94).
In a fight that had it all, both men miraculously stood up throughout the fight despite making monstrous shots.
The victory makes Wilson the new international super featherweight champion of the OMB and probably the place in the first two rankings of the OMB.
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Rueda showed his absurd toughness and ate several of Wilson’s best shots, but continued to walk forward like a zombie and break away from the Queenslander.
Later in the fight, Wilson struggled to throw any shots with his famous left and was seen catching her in the penultimate rounds.
“I couldn’t use my jab, I couldn’t find my range (with the left). I felt uncoordinated,” he said after the fight.
“It was a tough night. I had to deal with this guy who is a great puncher and find a way to win.”
Hannant hunts in pure scrap metal 04:13
It was a fight that had a little bit of everything when it came to boxing.
The two men dropped bombs. The two men punched each other slowly.
There was even a nervous moment in the ninth round when Rueda looked like he might have shaken Wilson and, if the round had continued longer, the crowd at the Brisbane convention center could have come out devastated.
But it was not so, as Wilson managed to tell his children that the father is again a winner and improves to 11-1, while Rueda suffered the second defeat of his career and stands at 37- 2.
“It’s amazing (up in the rankings). I have been working very hard and my goal has always been the same, to be world champion for all of Australia. For my family, my kids and especially my dad, and I’m working every day to make that a reality, ”Wilson said.
“There are some parts of the fight where I was like fuuuuuu **. But I had to find a way to win.
“I want to get to America. Let him know I’m coming for the best: slow and steady or opportunities to come, you know I’m not going to retire in the face of a challenge. I’ll fight anyone, anywhere.”
Jeff Fenech said after the fight, “He will soon be world champion.”
Meanwhile, Justin Hodges has called on Paul Gallen for a future Origin fight after defeating Ben Hannant by unanimous decision. READ MORE
AOKUSO ON HIS WAY TO THE TOP
Paulo Aokuso knocked Robert Berridge down twice before the Kiwi’s corner threw in the towel as the former Olympian continued to shine.
It was only Aokuso’s second professional fight, but it seemed like it belonged for the short time he was in the ring.
He was light as a feather in the first round and landed several strong blows on Berridge, although he returned the service with a few own blows.
But the second round showed a clear difference, as Aokuso took his game to another level.
Berridge hit once and the Kiwi quickly got up.
Aokuso then sent Berridge back on the pitch and was a little slower to get up, but comfortably overtook the referee’s count.
Just as the Mt Druitt product was ready to be shot down for the third time, Berridge’s corner stopped the fight.
Justin Hodges vs. Ben Hannant got spicy in the second.Source: FOX SPORTS
THE EPIC WALKOUT OF THE DANCING BOXER FLATS THROUGH THE FIRST THRIILLER
Wes Capper might have had the early exit of the night as he danced towards the ring with a propeller hat, but his skill inside the ring could not match the ride.
Capper faced Benjamin Hussain, 23, in the latter’s seventh professional wrestling match, but it was the younger man who brought the veteran to school.
Hussain has been very successful in finding Capper’s face and body, opening his nose in the first rounds and dominating the middle part of the fight.
However, Capper managed to find a second wind in the final stages of the fight and landed strong shots on Hussain.
In the end, it wasn’t enough because Hussain won by unanimous decision.
GALLEN PROMISES EPI HODGES
Paul Gallen has emphatically stated that he would “encourage the pissing” of Justin Hodges as a highly successful fight between football legends approaches.
The former Broncos legend has spoken out in front of him about how a win would crack Gallen before they both hang up their gloves forever.
If this were to be achieved, Gallen would enjoy the opportunity to get his hands on a former Kangaroo teammate “legally”.
“It would be a lot of fun,” Gallen told foxsports.com.au.
“I would punch him, that’s for sure. I played a lot of test games with him and he wasn’t a bad guy, but he was one of those guys that you’d like to punch in the face.
“Being able to do it legally would be great.”
If Hodges emerges with his hand raised, he would certainly bring a strong taste of home state to a future struggle between the two.
So much so that the two made a bet based on this year’s edition of the heated state rivalry that would affect the location of their future fight.
WILSON-RODA PREVIEWS
“THIS BOY IS THE FUTURE”: meets Australian boxing star Liam Wilson who could “fight for a title right now”
“ENDING A FIGHT WITH A PUNCH”: why rival “very dangerous” Rueda can end the dream of the Australian star’s world title
“I’ve Been Busy”: Hannant’s strange lack of introduction is explained as the football star makes Hodges threaten
“STARTED TO CRY”: Wilson opens in a “terrible” downward spiral.
Hodges hits the opponent, looking out Gal | 02:46
“I made a deal with Justin Hodges,” Gallen said.
“If Queensland wins the series, I’ll fight him in Queensland to have the hometown advantage. But if New South Wales wins the series, we’ll have to do it in NSW. He agreed.”
He continued: “Fighting one of these two would be no problem.
“We’ll just have to see what happens. I’m still half waiting for a double knockout, so I can fight with both of them the same night.
“Getting to hit two Queenslanders in one night would be fun.”
Wilson fought for the local public! | 03:00
COMPLETE CARD
Liam Wilson defeat Matias Rueda by UD (97-93, 99-91, 96-94) – 10 rounds in super featherweight
Paulo Aokuso defeated Robert Berridge by technical knockout in round 2 – 10 rounds in light-heavyweight
Justin Hodges def Ben Hannant via UD (40-36 x 3): four rounds in heavyweight
Shannon O’Connell defeat to Sarah Higginson by technical knockout in round 1: six rounds in rooster weight
Ben Hussain defeated Wes Capper through UD: eight rounds with captured weight
Ella Boot def. Stephanie Mfongwot via UD: four rounds in captured weight
Jake Wyllie defeat to Patrick Clarke by technical knockout in round 4: five rounds with captured weight
Follow tonight’s card on our live blog below!