Birthday boy flags move into pro ranks
EMERGING Torquay boxer Michael Cordner is on the cusp of turning pro, trainer Ashley Lynch has declared.
Cordner secured a thirdround knockout of local Brenden Smith at the Victorian Amateur Boxing League promotion in Wodonga at the weekend.
The reigning Victoria amateur champion punished his opponent before the referee eventually called a stop to the bout late in the third round.
“It was a good, straight right hand,” Lynch said of Cordner’s knockout blow.
“He took control in the first round and it was all down hill from there for Smith. It was the first time I felt sorry for an opponent.
“If I was the other fighter’s coach, I would’ve thrown in the towel. He (Cordner) knocked him down twice in round two and twice in round three and the second time they called it off.
“It was (Cordner’s) birthday, so it was a great present.”
Lynch revealed he was relieved to find an opponent, with his charge’s last opponent withdrawing without warning on the night of the fight last month.
“We couldn’t get a fight for him in Doncaster,” he said.
“He’s about to turn pro. We’re not sure when, but it will probably be at the end of the year.
“It will be history in the making. He’ll be the first fighter from Torquay to turn professional.”
In a mixed night for Torquay’s Coastal Boxing, Logan Drill secured victory, while Euan Kennedy and Saskia Leahy suffered controversial defeats.
Drill downed Wodonga’s Connor O’Brien via unanimous decision to claim successive wins.
“We s--- ourselves when we saw (O’Brien),” Lynch said.
“He was a big, athletic guy, but Logan simply outboxed him.”
Kennedy went down to Lilydale’s Brad Smith by spilt decision.
“That result was a huge shock,” Lynch said. “We thought we were ripped off. I’m not a bad sport and I’m the first to admit when we’ve lost, but that was a blatant rip off.
“Euan was the aggressor and outclassed his opponent in Round 1. In the second round he was even better and in the third round the other guy got his first punch in.
“We were expecting to have our hands raised.”
Lynch was also disappointed with the judges’ move to award Leahy’s fight to Wodonga’s Nicole Chapman, declaring it a “hometown” decision.
“She got the better quality punches and she was the aggressor,” he said.
“The other girl came up and said ‘I don’t know how they gave it to me’.”