Gallant Rice slugs out Aussie title draw

Toowoomba lightweight fails narrowly to claim second national belt.

Toowoomba’s Brent Rice (right) and Gaige Ireland fight out a draw in last night’s Australian lightweight title fight at the Melbourne Pavilion in Melbourne. PICTURE: AAP Image/Scott Barbour.

BOXING: Toowoomba’s Brent Rice failed narrowly to win his second Australian title after slugging out a draw in last night’s Australian lightweight title match in Melbourne.

Rice shared the bout with Gaige Ireland at Flemington’s Melbourne Pavilion.

It is the second successive time the pair has met after their previous meeting for the vacant belt in Toowoomba on July 13 was stopped in Ireland’s favour due to a Rice eye cut.

Rice’s bid for a second national championship victory follows his Australian super featherweight title in over Matt Casboult.

His record now stands at eight wins, two losses and a draw.