Pakenham’s Jesse Backman will fight Commonwealth Games gold medallist Brad Pitt in the Victorian Amateur Boxing State championship finals next Sunday. PAKENHAM heavyweight boxer Jesse Backman will shape up to Commonwealth gold medal champion Brad Pitt in the Victorian Amateur Boxing State championship finals next Sunday at the Reggio Calabria Club in Brunswick.
This follows his win against the tough Australian ranked numberseven in the national top10 ratings, Mohamed Hamoud from Fitzroy in the semifinal eliminations last Sunday.
Younger brother Bobby wasn’t as lucky, losing his fight in close contest to Warrnambool’s Lynden Edney in the lightheavyweight division.
When Jesse fought Hamoud six weeks ago, it was a tough affair with a close decision in favour of the Pakenham boxer.
Sunday’s fight was similar where Hamoud’s brawling style made him an awkward opponent as he quickly tried to tie up his opponent, fight in close and force him onto the ropes or into a corner.
Backman was able to avoid some of Hamoud’s traps as he slipped to his right and delivered an overhand right. However Hamoud weathered the blows and grappled into a clench, tying him up.
In amateur boxing finals and championships, an extra round is added to the normal three.
The final was Backman’s best, as both fighters poured on the pressure knowing this round would decide the winner.
Good scoring punches by Backman caught Hamoud with some solid left and rights, but the stocky brawler was able to weather the blows.
Both worked hard to the final bell and the judges scored a unanimous points decision in favour of the Pakenham boxer.
Jesse knows he is the underdog next Sunday against such a talented seasoned fighter but plans to give it his best shot.
A win would not only see him get a place in next month’s Australian Championships in Darwin, but he would be a serious contender in the selectors’ eyes for future games events.
Younger brother Bobby had fought Edney only three weeks ago in a close scoring fight.
This saw Backman take the decision on that occasion when he sealed his victory in the closing seconds as he had Edney in trouble on the ropes.
This also was Edney’s first loss.
The Backman boys’ father and trainer Peter said although Bobby fought well in last Sunday’s fight, Edney was the better boxer on this occasion.
The fight was fairly even up to the end of the third round with Edney maybe just ahead. In the fourth and final round Edney was able to keep taking the lead with clear scoring left jabs.
This week Bobby will be Jesse’s numberone sparring partner as he helps prepare his big brother for Sunday’s title fight.
