Boxing: Cameron wins but TV down

By PETER JESSUP

The lights went out for the television audience for Shane Cameron's first fight in Warriors colours 45 seconds before he knocked down Brazilian Gilberto Melo.

A circuit breaker blew at Sky City, cutting all of broadcaster TV3's power as the fighters took the break between rounds three and four and by the time vision was restored the fighters had gone from the ring.

So viewers missed the left rip that finished Melo. It soured what was otherwise a successful first foray for Cullen Sports in the ring.

For American commentator James "Smitty" Smith it was all in the run of things.

"I've seen the ring collapse, I've had the whole arena blow a fuse and go dark and a guy get knocked out in the dark."

He rated Cameron's performance as "a work in progress".

"He's improved the range of his skills but early in the fight he got away from what he does best. Once he started banging, he won it.

"He's a more complete fighter now but because of that size he knows he's got to go in and hit hard against the bigger guys."

There was the anticipated controversy with results.

Martial arts exponent Jason Suttie was awarded a split decision win over accomplished boxer Lawrence Tauasa that all critics rated a travesty.

Smitty had the Don King attitude: "It makes for a great rematch."

Australian Steve Marks drew with David Wiremu in the first bout, all three judges scoring it even, as it was.

Tough-looking pug Steve Irvine took a hammering from Richard Tutaki's longer reach and, in the end, 19kg in weight and 17 years in age told with Tutaki the winner of a split decision.

Paula Mataele fought a mismatch that shouldn't have gone ahead.

His first scheduled opponent, Paul Robinson, had a car crash mid-week and couldn't fight. Stand-in Bob Gasio was ruled out on Saturday because he'd been knocked out in a fight three weeks ago and must stand down for six weeks.

So two-fight amateur Phillip Hellisoe from Beachhaven made his pro-debut. He was finished 40 seconds into the second round with the referee stopping the fight.

Cullen's boxing manager, Don Mann, rated the black-tie evening a success - bar the power outage.