KIWI KIKI CRUSHED
GOLD Coast heavyweight Demsey McKean took his undefeated record to 19 fights but was made to work against Kiwi Kiki Toa Leutele in Brisbane on Saturday.
For the first time in 10 fights, McKean was forced to go the distance against the big-punching Kiwi before taking a unanimous decision with the judges scoring the 10-round bout 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93.
The 30-year-old McKean, fighting for the first time in 14 months, sustained cuts over both eyes and survived a thunderous barrage in the fourth and fifth rounds as Leutele landed some heavy blows and may have sensed he was going to get a surprise early finish.
McKean used his height advantage superbly to restrict the Kiwi who, while landing some heavy blows throughout the fight, was unable to put together any meaningful combinations.
McKean was by the far the busier fighter, keeping his opponent at a distance and frequently scoring with his reach then tying up Leutele as he closed the gap to try to land his big punches.
It was only when McKean
stepped in with his jab, rather than holding his ground, that it created some problems as it put him in range of Leutele’s right hook.
Trainer Stephen Ng said there was no panic in the corner as Leutele found his feet in the fourth and fifth.
“The cuts and blood over his eyes blurred his vision a
bit in the fourth and fifth, but I just told him not to worry about it and trust his fitness and trust his preparation.
“Myself and Warren (Cootes, cornerman) can handle the cuts and blood and how you react to something like that can define you as a fighter. You can let it get to you or you
don’t, and to Demsey’s credit he got back to the plan and finished well.
“I thought Demsey was really good in parts and any fight where he has to grind it out like this one will be better for him in the future.”
McKean is looking to schedule his next fight in July.