Stoneleigh Jackson goes distance to defend his WBC title belt

Two little known country Queensland boxers altered the world boxing landscape at the weekend winning majors titles against more fancied opponents. Meet the ‘boys from the bush’ here.

Rocking and dropping Yangcheng Jin in just the third round, Stoneleigh Jackson looked assured and confident on Saturday.

The fight and his WBC Australasia welterweight title defence however were far from over with the Pittsworth boxer forced to go the distance.

“You can’t knock ‘em all out,” Jackson said of his eventual unanimous points win.

“I got him some hard shots a few times, but he was fit, tough and durable.

“He just kept coming back and was dangerous right until the last bell.”

Jackson’s co-trainer Brendon Smith predicted a “battle in the trenches” before the fight, and that is exactly how the bout played out.

With both boxers eager to dictate the pace and nature of the fight, the result hung in the balance right until the end.

Stoneleigh Jackson lands a shot on Yangcheng Jin during their WBC Australasia Welterweight title fight. Picture: Darren Burns

Dylan Biggs lands a shot on Yeze Wu during their WBC Australasia middleweight title fight. Picture: Darren Burns

“I think in the end I was just able to outbox him,” Jackson said.

“I was disciplined and worked hard.

“Every round Brendon would say ‘we have to be smart, box smart’.

“I’m really happy with the result, it was a hard fight and we got the result.”

Brendon, who recently teamed up with his dad Bradley Smith to train Jackson, said he was delighted with the performance.

“It’s the best fight of his career, best performance, best win … everything,” he said.

“Yangcheng deserves a lot of praise, he never went away, he was super tough.

“He (Jackson) landed some great shots, and it looked he had the result in the third but Yangcheng showed why he is a champion.

“Jackson was disciplined and reserved, but at the same he was explosive and powerful when the opportunity was there.

“I couldn’t be happier with his performance, he steps up to every challenge, meets it head on and succeeds.”

In the other main event, “The Beaudesert Storm” Dylan Biggs promised to bring the thunder and he delivered.

A man of few words. Biggs’ opponent Yeze Wu promised he’d go for the knockout in the pre-fight media call-up but the Chinese national was caught short.

Throwing down plenty of bombs, Biggs defended his WBC Australasia middleweight title with a knockout at the one minute, 59 second mark in round three.

PREVIEW

From England and China to the United States and Mexico, Brendon Smith has loved taking Toowoomba boxing to the world.

Some of the promoter and boxing trainer’s proudest moments however are when he has bought international boxing ‘home’ to Toowoomba.

This Saturday March 15, Smith brings China to the Garden City with elite boxers Yangcheng Jin and Yeze Wu co-headlining The Big Fights 38 card.

“I have said many a time it’s our biggest night ever, but again this is our biggest day and night ever,” Smith said.

“If they all hold up we have 27 amateur fights and then our full pro cards with title fights.

“We’ve always done two shows in one, done on Brayd’s special day but never to this size.

“It’s amazing the support from around the country, the amateurs and the quality of those amateurs we can’t thank them enough for their support.”

Every March Smith puts together a fight card in honour of his son Braydon.

Saturday night’s card marks the 10th anniversary of his death from injuries sustained in a boxing match.

Decked out in orange in honour of Braydon – the amateur card starts proceedings at 1pm before the pros later in the night.

The WBC Australasia super middle, welter and middle weight titles will go on the line in what is sure to be a blockbuster night of pro fights.

With a spot inside the top 20 world rankings going to the victor in two of those fights here’s our look the main event bouts.

Dylan Biggs hits Nikita Tszyu during the bout between the two fighters last year. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Dylan Biggs vs Yeze Wu

Belt: Middleweight

A man of few words Wu promised he would go for the knockout and take Biggs’ belt home to China.

Biggs responded in kind saying the fight would go one of two ways.

“He’s going to wake up on the plane ride home,” Biggs said.

“It’s going to be a knockout or a long flight home for him.”

The fight will be the biggest in Biggs’ career with the Beaudesert boxer in negotiations to secure a lucrative spot on the WBC Grand Prix where he have multiple bouts in Saudi Arabia.

Brendon Smith: “He (Biggs) is up against the WBC Asia China champion Yeze Wu for a top 20 spot in the world – there’s so much at stake here for him his fight has just become ten times bigger with that tournament around the corner.

“I’ve been a fan of Dylan right from the start, from a young age he’s been a professional athlete he’s lucky to even eat a lolly, he trains and trains.

“He’s only had the one blemish on his record, Nikita Tszyu, and we never like to make excuses but it’s the only time he’s carried an injury.

“Just before the fight his hand was swollen up, we blood tested him the next day and he had golden staph.

“In the first round he still put Nikita down and full credit to Nikita to get back up – not many do against Dylan.

“He (Dylan) is an amazing young fighter.”

Stoneleigh Jackson vs Yangcheng Jin

Belt: Welterweight

“I know his style – it’s an exciting style,” Jackson said of his opponent.

“I’ve trained hard and I’m not overlooking him as an opponent.

“We both throw a lot of punches and I think it’s going to be exciting.”

Brendon Smith: “We’ve been moving Stoneleigh up, his last fight against Miguel Vazquez was a huge step forward. His biggest fight ever.

“I believe this is a harder fight, a much harder fight, his most important fight.

“The style of Yangcheng Jin there’s not going to be much breathing room for either fighter.

“He (Jin) comes forward and throws, he fights, he’s smart and experienced.

“Jackson will have to go into the trenches for this one – I believe he can do and he’s prepared well.”

Originally published as Stoneleigh Jackson goes distance to defend his WBC title belt