Samoan champ robbed

The Southland Times - Samoa’s Vaitele Soi has had to settle for second at the Super 8 contest in New Zealand after a controversial decision saw Australian, Brad Pitt, win in the final.

Pitt took home the NZ$50,000 (T$90,000) winner’s cheque with a controversial majority decision over Soi, who dominated the opening and third rounds but suffered the first loss of his 25-fight career.

The crowd at the North Shore Events Centre erupted with discontent at the Pitt decision but he felt he was a deserving winner.

“What was that about?” Pitt said of the crowd reaction.

“I did enough with the jabs.”

Pitt, who improved his record to 17-1, had previously collected purses of around $6,000 and he said he would now use the money to take the next step in his relationship.

“It’s very nice. It’s easily the biggest. Prior to that it was about five or six grand.

“I’ve got to buy my girlfriend an engagement ring. That might not be enough.”

While the big-punching Soi was unlucky to lose final, he was fortunate to progress from a first-round match-up with Lance Bryant in the best fight of the night.

The final was a clash of contrasting styles with Soi coming forward and pushing the pace while Pitt, conversely, attempted to use his experience and pick his moments to counter from distance.

“I’m very happy with the win,” Pitt said. “It’s a different concept fighting three times in one night. You can’t plan ahead.”

Pitt now wants a rematch with leading Aloua after suffering a fourth-round knockout in April this year.

“I wasn’t 100 per cent focused on the Aloua fight and I got some redemption tonight.

“Hopefully he wins tonight and we can work on a big fight in the future.

“That’s what I want. He took my titles and I want them back.

“I’m happy to come over and do it again. It was a great environment, a great atmosphere.”

Leading Kiwi cruiserweight David Aloua and Anthony McCracken promised a war and they more than delivered tonight.

McCracken pulled off a major upset with a shock seventh round TKO to claim the WBA Pan African and WBO Asia Pacific titles and spoil Aloua’s homecoming fight after returning from three years in Anthony Mundine’s camp in Sydney.

After losing a controversial split decision to Aloua in 2012, McCracken found redemption. The Australian, who was called up on three week’s notice after Daniel Baff’s late withdrawal, took some huge early punishment but his street brawling tactics ultimately paid off when three big right hands landed flush on Aloua’s jaw to end the fight.

Aloua dominated the first four rounds and seemed to have more poise. It could best have been described as a beauty and the beast clash.

McCracken found his range in the fifth round and never looked back.

Earlier, fellow Australian favourite Brad Pitt emerged victorious from the controversial cruiserweight Super 8 and planned to buy his girlfriend an engagement ring with the biggest purse of his career.

Soi, who collected NZ$25,000 for making the final, stole a controversial split decision win but Bryant had every reason to feel he was robbed after dominating the first and third rounds.

Soi’s semifinal victory over New Zealand champion Monty Filimaea, who earlier floored James Emerson three times in the final round to claim a knockout win and a $7,000 bonus, was much more straightforward.

Pitt advanced to the final after two composed points wins over international wildcard Joseph Kwadjo and countryman Daniel Ammann - the latter being the only lacklustre affair.

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