Sport
15 November, 2024
Stoneleigh gets the points, too good for Mexican champ
Jackson “Stoneleigh” Griffiths is the new WBC Australasia Grand Champion titleholder after a unanimous decision by the judges saw him defeat high calibre boxing pro Miguel Vasquez on points at Rumours International on Friday.
Stoneleigh knew this bout against the 37-year-old Mexican and former IBF lightweight titleholder, was going to be his toughest yet.
Vasquez has a professional record of 58 fights, 44 wins with 17 big wins by way of knockout, and six successful title defences.
Over the years, he has gloved up against the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Timothy Bradley Junior and Josh Taylor.
He even declared this fight would be his last if he was defeated.
Twenty-one seconds into the sixth round, the referee called the fight after an unintentional head clash which meant Vasquez was unable to continue.
As a result, the fight went to the judges scorecards, 49-46 in favour of Stoneleigh.
“I could feel and see his experience,” Stoneleigh said.
“I felt good though, like I was really warming into things, getting over the top of him with my power.”
Despite landing some good shots on Stoneleigh, Vasquez’s coach considered calling the fight earlier than the match officials.
In Stoneleigh’s corner, coach Brad Smith said Vasquez would not have managed for much longer, and the decision to wave the white flag would have come sooner rather than later.
“I’d like to take off my hat to Miguel, he’s one tough customer, I can see why he’s at the top of the world,” Stoneleigh said.
“I felt his experience in there.”
Undoubtedly there was a tinge of disappointment for Stoneleigh’s camp at having the fight end prematurely.
“We were only at the half way mark, I definitely felt I was fit enough to go to ten [rounds],” he said.
Organiser of the event, Brandon Smith, said Vasquez had a lot of positive things to say about Stoneleigh.
“They were really impressed by his power,” Mr Smith said.
Stoneleigh, known as the Pride of Pittsworth, continues to make his hometown proud, with a professional record of 15-0.
His talent and skill as a professional athlete has seen him rise through the boxing world at an explosive rate.
Winning the WBC Grand Champion belt kicked off a weekend of celebrations for Stoneleigh which included his sister’s wedding and his dad’s birthday.
Other fights on the night were a bout for the Australasian Super Middlewight title between Dan Murray and Goondiwindi’s Jed “Gunson” Morris, and a number of professional debuts in the inaugural Australia/India Cup.
