Te Awamutu-born boxer Floyd Masson lost his IBO world cruiserweight title in his first defense, as he was stopped by TKO by Belgium boxer Yves Ngabu.
One could consider this as one of New Zealand’s worst days in sporting history. All Blacks lost against France for the first time ever in pool games at the World Cup, Warriors lost against Panthers in the NRL qualifying finals and Masson lost his world title at his first defense.
Masson, who stated that he was in the best shape of his life, locked horns with Ngabu pretty early. The first round was pretty even to start off the fight. But the southpaw boxer started punishing Masson from that point onwards.
In the fourth round, Masson sustained a nasty cut. The commentators were surprised the ringisde doctor allowed the fight to continue. The referee acknowledged that the cut was caused by a punch, so if the fight was stopped due to the cut, it would have been a TKO defeat regardless.
By the sixth round, Ngabu was getting to be too much for Masson, sending him down to the cavas. Masson got to his feet at the count of eight, however, referee Will Soulos had decided enough was enough and waved off the contest.
On the undercard, Auckland boxer Benjamin Kelleher, lost by 2nd round KO against Australian Luke Modini, losing his Australian National title, also in his first defense. Kelleher acknowledges at the end of the fight that if this was not the last fight, his career would be coming close to an end.
Auckland-born Mose Auimatagi Jnr won his fight in another Australian showcase, defeating another New Zealand-born boxer Mike Letoi, winning the fight by first round knockout.