No Limit BoxingThe Australian Liam Wilson moved closer to another junior-lightweight world-title fight when he outpointed Ayrton Gimenez of Argentina over 10 rounds.
At the Convention Centre in Cairns, Australia, he was awarded scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 – potentially putting him on course for a rematch with the WBO champion Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico.
“But I wouldn’t say he was scared,” the 29-year-old Wilson said after the final bell, having accused Gimenez of being “on his bike”.
“That’s his style. He’s a good boxer.”
Wilson also spoke of his desire to again fight Navarrete, who stopped him in nine rounds in 2023 and who regardless has been ordered to again fight the Filipino Charly Suarez, following their no contest of May.
Against Gimenez, Wilson built his lead by both outworking the 26 year old and by fighting with greater aggression, forcing him on to the back foot and occasionally landing with power. The slick Gimenez was ultimately competitive throughout.
Wilson’s fellow Australian Callum Peters had by then stopped inside a round at middleweight his compatriot Luca Lanigan on the occasion of Lanigan’s professional debut. The referee Chris Condon intervened to rescue Lanigan after the third knockdown; Lanigan is a local Muay Thai fighter who accepted the contest with just two days’ notice.
Kirra Ruston, also of Australia, recorded a highlight-reel knockout in the second round of his cruiserweight date with Kartik Kumar of India. The stoppage was timed at 101 seconds.
“It felt like I was just getting started,” he said afterwards. “But the game plan keeps working so why change it?
“I wanted to see what he had in the first round and he had some pop on his shots. I had to stay nice and sharp and eventually saw the right hook. Thankfully I landed it.”
In a further victory for an Australian fighter, Vegas Larfield earned scores of 58-55, 59-55 and 58-56 at the conclusion of six rounds at featherweight with Bryan Cabrillos of the Philippines.
Thomas Warria defeated his fellow heavyweight Ricky Sandral via split decision, after scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 36-40, the welterweight fight between Caden Russo and Aaron Stahl was scored 59-55, 59-55 and 60-54 in Stahl’s favour, and the middleweight contest between Quinton Smith and Laphya Reuben ended in a knockout for Smith, two seconds before the end of the first round. All three fights were all-Australian affairs.
