The Grand Vaudeville Function Centre in Sydney Australia September 7th, two Australians, Bryan Roberts of Canberra and Sydneysider Riley Powers went to war over 8 action packed rounds for the vacant WBF Australasian Light Heavyweight Title on a stacked 13 professional fight card.
This was undoubtedly the fight of the night with the crowd on its feet from the opening bell. Skill, fitness, courage and pure heart shown by both challengers who had their moments in each round.
One could simply sum the fight up as follows - Back and forth, non-stop, seesawing, tough as nails, pin point punching, bombs landed, super close and well- matched championship fight.
There you go… No need to read on…..Yes that was a very true and not understated summary of an all out war for the vacant WBF Australasian Light Heavyweight Title.
They say styles make fights and this one was a perfect example of the commonly used phrase. The ultra fit walk-up puncher meets the far taller, younger, accurate counter puncher. A fight that just did not stop or let up for a moment. Crowd pleasing action from bell to bell of every one of the scheduled 8 rounds. An absolute war!!!
The early rounds saw Riley Powers with a massive height and reach advantage using beautiful footwork staying at range picking Roberts off showing patience and skill as Roberts with his walk-up style just kept coming. Over hand bombs from Roberts landed occasionally throughout the early rounds with calls heard clearly from one of his cornerman, former WBF World Super Middleweight Champ Jamie Pittman ‘there it is…. Send It’ then bang it lands, as he continued to then stay on the chest of his taller opponent to negate the huge height advantage that the Sydneysider had, which we are sure would have been the fight plan coming into the fight for the Roberts camp, knowing full well that such a height and range difference was going to be an important factor heading into this championship fight.
Powers, smart enough to see most of the early overhand rights coming, appeared to some at ringside, not totally prepared for the walk-up bullish style of Roberts, but was still able to hold his own and with great use of his feet, was able to pick Roberts off with the long frustrating jabs and counter right hands. Tough close rounds for the judges at ringside to score, that’s for sure.
The middle rounds whilst a little messy given the two very different styles, showed that fitness was going to prove an asset for Roberts who was unrelenting and always right there in front of Powers and still looking for the big overhand right which landed often which would then allow him to go to work on the inside crowding the Sydneysider.
Powers, on the receiving end of some of those big overhand rights, to his credit, remained composed enough to work away with Roberts on the inside. Whilst Roberts fitness allowed him to continue to come forward and loading punches, Powers seemed to be fading but still had his moments with accurate counter punching and upcuts when the fight was locked in a phone booth as the fight rambled on.
The later rounds saw Roberts kick it up a gear and was now busier than earlier in the fight. Powers landing some clean big shots but seemed to have little effect on Roberts who continued to walk through them, looking to drop the overhand right bombs, which were having more success now with his tough and skilled opponent showing signs of decreased energy levels to that of his earlier rounds. This allowed Roberts to again get back to work on the inside.
The Canberran from the nation’s capital just kept coming, non-stop, no backward steps, but Powers often with his back to the ropes, wasn’t backing down but did appear to find it hard to keep Roberts off his chest in order to land his accurate counter shots that were ever present in his arsenal.
Powers scoring with counter punches on the inside but the come forward dominate approach of Roberts was enough to impress the judges snatching some of the later rounds.
It needs to be said again….. Just an absolute war between these two warriors and a fight that was more than worthy of the championship title. That being said, we head to the judge’s score cards for the official decision -
Judge Charlie Lucas scored the bout 78-74, Judge Kevin Hogan scored the bout 78-75 and Judge Les Fear scored the bout 77-75 all in favour of the winner by Unanimous Decision and new WBF Australasian Light Heavyweight Champion – Bryan Roberts (Australia)
We have been informed that talk of a rematch is rumoured for Roberts first defence and should it happen, it will be one not to be missed, that’s for certain…!!!
Official Result – Bryan Roberts (Australia) def Riley Powers (Australia) UD 8/8
Photos courtesy of Brian Design Photography