There are now two Australian cruiserweight world champions based within a stone’s throw of each other after Floyd Masson won a bloody affair to claim the IBO belt.
Brisbane-based Masson (13-0) beat Italian Fabio Turchi (21-3) via a unanimous points decision at his Eaton’s Hill Hotel home arena on Saturday night.
Victory did not come easy, with both boxers battered and the referee covered in blood when Masson’s arm was raised after 12 torrid rounds.
Masson did it with heavily pregnant wife Hannah, who is expecting twin girls later this month, watching in the crowd.
The IBO is not regarded as one of “the big four” organisations and its world titles are not universally recognised as such.
But his shock chance, coming after a year out of the ring, was still a career-defining moment that will fire Masson further up the IBF rankings, where Gold Coast-based Jai Opetaia is the champion.
Opetaia, who also owns The Ring world champion status, was on hand to watch Masson claim the title.
Injury and administrative red tape have delayed Opetaia’s first defence, but Masson showed he would be a worthy rival in a brutal showing that sets up the tantalising prospect of an all-Australian title fight.
-AAP
