Local talent score easy wins at Blacktown RSL
On Friday August 14th, New South Wales leading promoters Grange Old School Boxing and BHS Boxing joined forces to promote a seven-fight card at Blacktown's RSL featuring some of the states hottest prospects. In a card that featured a regional title fight that offers a world ratings and an Australian title contest, the main talking point was the absolute mismatch that took place between highly-regarded prospect Lenny Zappavigna and Thailand's Thongthai Rajanondh.
Rajanondh, a former Thailand super-bantamweight champion has fought all of his fights around or in between the 53 to 58 kilo mark. On paper this fight didn't look too bad, however when the tiny Rajanondh stepped into the ring, it appeared to be the complete opposite. Without a measuring tape, I was given the impression that the Thai was perhaps five foot tall give or take a few centre metres. Less than a month ago, Rajanondh fought on the One HD Superboxer series weighing in as a bantamweight, however in this fight guess what he fought at... not super flyweight, not bantamweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight or even lightweight for that matter, but bloody light welterweight.
I want answers, how did this fight get sanctioned? Which Boxing Body, Board of Control, Boxing dignitary let this fight go ahead? Thongthai Rajanondh fought on July 24th of this year against Australian Champion Mark Quon, now barely a month later he fights a highly touted 20-0 fighter such as Lenny Zappavigna at lightweight. This fight was a slaughter even if the weights were even, which they weren't as Zappavigna was the heavier of the two. The Thai had only won two of his last eleven outings and they were against novice debut fighters, in Zappavigna's last six fights, two of his victories have come over fighters that have challenged for legitimate world titles. Lenny Zap weighed in at 63.5 kilograms the night before and only God knows what he was on the night, my guess 66.5kilos. The brave but out gunned Thai was outweighed and sacrificed... and for what reason?
This was not a contest by any stretch of the imagination and the Boxing Board, Team Zappavigna and anyone else who was involved in the fight should be bloody ashamed of themselves. This was not a scalp, more a massacre. Gee whiz please have more control on what fights are sanctioned or there just might be a fatality in boxing.....what do you think the judge and jury would say about this bout. Heads would roll, Shame, shame, shame and more shame. Hang your heads low and am disgusted.
Oh and apparently there was a potential Australian Title fight of the year and a brilliant overall performance from cruiserweight Dominic Vea... I didn't tune in to watch those fights, as I had already flicked the switch from the slaughterhouse fight that took place before them.