By Jake Donovan
Prior to the start of his fight with Charles Hatley, it was leaked out that Anthony Mundine has conditionally to terms for a rematch with Danny Green in 2016.
The event could still take place but has certainly lost its appeal after Hatley stunned the Aussie legend, delivering the performance of his career with an 11th round knockout Wednesday evening at the Convention & Exhibition Centre in Melbourne, Australia.
UNDERCARD
Melbourne's own Kane Watts (16-2, 9KOs) earned his seventh consecutive win, the latest coming in a 6th round knockout of overmatched Thomas Heads (2-3).
What threatened to become a distance fight instead ending with Watts turning up the heat in the sixth and final round. A flurry of ten answered punches - puncuated by three straight right hands upstairs - left Heads defenseless in the corner, prompting referee Jim Boland to jump in and stop the contest.
The official time was 2:13 of round six.
Competition level notwithstanding, Watts remains on a roll. Seven wins have followed a brave showing in his April '13 10-round loss to Daniel Ammann.
Famed footballer Shane Tuck became the latest from that world to give boxing a try. It produced frightentingly horrible results, as he was knocked out cold in four rounds by southpaw Lucas Miller (1-0-1, 1KO) in their cruiserweight battle Wednesday evening in Melbourne, Australia.
Tuck - the son of Australian Football League legend Michael Tuck - appeared in over his head from the opening bell. A gifted football player, the 33-year old crossover athlete didn't show much in the way of boxing talent other than heart and the ability to absorb.
His chin eventually gave in, as Miller landed a fight-ending right hook in round four. Tuck was unconscious and in need of immediate medical assistance, only for his safety to be blatantly disregarded by referee Malcolm Bulner, who was either inept or just that desperate for television time.
Whatever the case, Tuck (0-1) had to be carried out of the ring on a stretcher, though thankfully regained consciousness and was responsive as the onsite medical team prepared to transport him to a nearby hospital for further observation.
Blake Caparello extended his win streak to three straight following a six-round unanimous decision over Luke Sharp.
The former light heavyweight title challenger was effective in his second start as a super middleweight, looking light on his feet and was quicker to the punch on nearly every exchange. Sharp had his moments, but even those were met by sharp (no pun intended) counter punches by Caparello, who prevailed 60-54 (twice) and 59-55.
Caparello moves to 22-1-1 (6KOs), with the bout serving as a consolation for his canceled trip to the United States. The 29-year old was due to face Andre Dirrell last month in Fairfax, Virginia, only for the American super middleweight contender to pull out of the fight due to injury.
Given the way that card played out, it was perhaps in Caparello's best interest that he instead settles for a six-round stay busy fight. The win is his third in a row since getting starched in two rounds by unbeaten light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev last August.
In the most competitive bout of the undercard, Qamil Balla preserved his undefeated record with a six-round decision over Ben Warburton. Scores were 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56 - the last card being the closest to the truth in terms of what took place in the ring.
Balla moves to 8-0-1 (3KOs) in his first fight at lightweight, dropping down from the 140 lb. division. Warburton falls to 11-3-1, having now dropped two of his last three starts.
Cameron Hammond remained unbeaten after posting a unanimous decision win over Indonesia's Sahlan Coral (14-4, 8KOs). Scores were 60-54 across the board in favor of Hammon (15-0, 8KOs) in a welterweight bout shortened from eight rounds to six.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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