June 27th - Daniel Geale vs Geard Ajetovic - IBO Middleweight Title

Here's an extract from a local Liverpool newspaper regarding the Geale v Ajetovic fight;

Ajetovic loses out in title bid
Jun 28 2008 by Nick Peet, Liverpool Echo

GEARD AJETOVIC failed to capture the IBO world title in Sydney yesterday, losing a unanimous points decision to champion Daniel Geale after 12 gruelling rounds.

The Liverpool-based middleweight contender was full of confidence heading into his big title chance at the Campbelltown Catholic Club in a suburb of the city.

However, Geale, roared on by a strong and vocal home support, came out firing on all cylinders and set an early pace that caught Ajetovic cold.

By the time the 27-year-old Shamrock’s gym fighter found third gear he was chasing the fight while Geale was able to rack up the rounds working off the back foot.

Speaking just a few moments after leaving the ring, coach George Scholfield said: “We are all just sitting here heartbroken. This was Geard’s big chance and we felt we were ready.

“But he just didn’t start quickly enough and if I am honest he just never did enough to warrant us bringing the title home.

“The champion boxed well, he did enough, but it should have been much closer than the three judges scores that were read out at the end.

“That said though, I can’t complain. Geard simply didn’t do enough to win. We are all devastated here.

“After all, it’s a long way home.”

Sydney-based Tasmanian Geale, 27, improved his professional record to 19-0 (12 KOs), as he earned the judges' favour with two scores of 117-111 and 120-109.

Making his first defence, Geale went the 12-round distance for the fourth time while Ajetovic (16-2-1 and 8 KOs) entered uncharted territory having never previously gone beyond 10.

Ajetovic, 27, with the word "Scouse" blazed across his waistband, produced the occasional flurry and some good one-off shots but Geale was the busier boxer throughout.

The champion piled up the points with his left jab and quick combinations inside.

Geale shaded the first round behind his jab and despite a quick flurry from Ajetovic at the start of the second the champion was busy enough to take that too.

Ajetovic became visibly more confident and dropped his hands and mugged at Geale in the third and again he started the third and fourth rounds with all guns blazing.

But Geale continued to score later on in each session with his jab and some fast-handed combinations, catching the eye of the judges.

Ajetovic again landed some good right hand punches in the fifth, but he continued to fight in spurts while Geale maintained a decent workrate throughout the second half of the contest.

At the end of the day the adopted Scouser was simply not landing enough blows to turn the tide in his favour.

 

That is quite simply rubbish. I thought that 117-111 flattered Geard.