Locals take multiple bouts at Jake Peacock’s Mano a Mano WA regional boxing titles in Geraldton

The Mano a Mano boxing hit Geraldton on Saturday in a flurry of fast jabs and technical battles.

Local and regional fighters won many of the bouts during the first boxing event to be held at the Queens Park Theatre, with an all-Geraldton pair of main events setting the stage for two fighters with international ambitions.

Faycal “Mehdi” Mechiche, fighting under the banner of organiser Jake Peacock’s Peacocks Boxing Gym & Hurtslea Courage Boxing Team, won by a split decision against Skybox fighter Dean “The Punisher” Fairclough in their 71kg intermediate men’s regional championship bout.

In the other main event, South Australian Callum “50 Cal” Peters beat WA fighter Kirra “Big Knuck” Ruston by unanimous decision.

“Mehdi was a little bit stronger and fitter from his activity of fighting throughout the year,” Peacock said.

“Dean fought better than I expected and obviously brought his A game.

“That’s (the Peters vs Ruston fight) Australian title quality, international quality.

“In two or three years time when people see these guys on the news and TV, they’ll be able to say ‘we saw them live at Queens Park Theatre’.”

He thought Mechiche did not show his usual aggression in the first round but probably won the second round after he started landing his right hand more cleanly.

Peacock reckons Mechiche also won the third, landing more punches despite a standing count.

Schoolgirl Frauke Rawlings, a Peacocks Gym fighter, beat Fighter Fit Mandurah’s Oceana Stevenson in a unanimous decision, landing strong shots punches to the body.

Young Peacocks Gym fighter Eric Kyanga used overhand rights to force a stoppage in the second round against Broome PCYC’s Baden Trunfio.

Peacocks Gym fighter Jett Hewison won a unanimous decision against Broome Boxing Club’s Blake Wilton. Leighton Reid lost a split decision against Stryka’s Cody Lacy.