Lewis ready to finish what he started 12 months ago
April 30th, 2015 / All
It might have happened almost nine months ago, but judging by the performance of New South Welshman Daniel Lewis on Thursday he still hasn’t forgotten the incident that robbed him of a Commonwealth Games medal last year.
Lewis was at his bone-crunching best, as he disposed of impressive Queensland teenager, Clay Waterman, in a unanimous points decision in the 75kg division at the 2015 Australian Boxing Championships at Paradise Point on the Gold Coast.
While Waterman is still young, he is no slouch. He’s a former junior World Champion and considered highly by many of boxing’s finest judges.
But he was no match for the Sydney 21-year-old on Thursday, Lewis attacking at every opportunity and quickly asserting his authority over his younger opponent.
Nine months ago Lewis missed his chance to win a Commonwealth Games medal, when Australian team doctors prevented him from fighting because of a cut above his eye.
Lewis was angry at the time, although he accepted the reasoning, and has come to the Gold Coast this week as a man on a mission.
In other results on Thursday, 2008 Olympian Daniel Beahan’s first steps on his return to boxing were positive ones, the big Queenslander posting a points decision result over New South Welshman, Brad Moncaster, in the 91kg division.
And Commonwealth Games silver medalists, Joe Goodall, was probably made to work harder than he would have expected against Western Australian battering ram, Isaac Fischer-Rasmussen.
No matter how many times he clattered into the protective gloves of Fischer-Rasmussen, the big Western Australian kept on coming.
It wasn’t elegant by any stretch of the imagination, but it was enthralling and a good test for Goodall ahead of his gold medal defence on Saturday night.
Friday will see many mouth-watering match-ups across both male and female divisions.
One of the most interesting bouts could well be the opening fight of the day, between World Championship teammates and Victorian sparring partners, Kristy Harris and Lauren Camilleri.
Also in action will be Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Shelley Watts, and Australia’s first ever female Olympian, Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen.