Sport
19 February, 2025
Mount Isa boxer defends his title in Townsville
Allan Hazle kept his championship belt after a split decision in the amateur bout.
A title belt isn’t truly legitimate until you’ve successfully defended it, says Mount Isa boxing champ Allan Hazle.
So no one should doubt Hazle’s legitimacy after he defeated contender Joel Herlihy to retain his WBF World Masters Welterweight belt on Saturday night.
The recent coastal floods did nothing to dampen the turnout in Townsville, with more than 1500 spectators jamming into Quayside Terminal for the fight night.
Hazle said Herlihy, who was fighting on home turf, had come out strong in the early rounds.
However, Hazle said he believed the contest moved in his favour as the six-round bout progressed, eventually scoring the win in a split decision.
According to amateur rules, judge scorecards are not released.
“I thought I had done enough to take out the win, but you don’t really know until it’s official,” Hazle told North West Weekly.
“It was an incredibly close fight – Joel was very much the tough-as-nails competitor they told me he would be.
“Joel was probably inching it out in the first couple of rounds, but then I started picking things up in the later rounds.
“We went to his home town and I was lucky enough to edge out the decision.
“It was a hell of a fight – and we will be bringing the title back home to the mighty Isa again.
“They say your belt really isn’t legitimate until you’ve defended it for the first time.”
In a 15-bout fight card that saw six North West amateurs compete, Mount Isa boxer Dayarn Bennet walked away with the win in his three-round clash.
Fellow Mount Isa boxer Nilz Bennet and Cloncurry’s Adam Lawson were both unlucky to lose their bouts in split decisions from the judges.
A late opponent withdrawal saw Mount Isa fighter Tairn Vasserie climb into the ring for a stellar exhibition match.
Fellow Mount Isa boxer and WBF Masters champion Sunny Raitava entertained the crowd with a three-round exhibition bout against Townsville’s Nigel Vievers.
“It was a great night for Mount Isa and Cloncurry boxing,” Hazle said.
“The boys travelled for the event and all of them did the North West proud.”