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Locals dominate ring

The Parksville fighters put on a great show for the hometown fans for the big boxing event in Nanaimo.
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Parksville’s Aubrey “Bam Bam” Morrow delivers a shot to Jonah Arbuckle during their fight at the Port Theater in Nanaimo Friday night.

The locals put on a great show for the hometown fans and the rest of the card brought it as well for the Strawson Boxing and Gloved Up Promotions Fight Night July 18.

Both Mark “Machine Gun” Woolnough and Aubrey “Bam Bam” Morrow were victorious in their bouts and “Shotgun” Shane Andreesen fought to a draw in his battle against Rob Nichols in a slugfest that saw Andreesen break his right pinky finger.

Aubrey “Bam Bam” Morrow got the night started for the local talent with a TKO at the 1:09 mark of the third round against the number nine ranked Canadian middleweight Jonah Arbuckle. Morrow scored two knockdowns in the first two rounds and then finally put an end to thing knocking him to the canvas once more, as Arbuckle’s corner threw in the towel.

Morrow picked up his victory after four years out of the ring, showing a little bit of rust in the opening moments, but he seemed to find his timing soon. Arbuckle looked out matched by the younger and stronger Morrow, who is now the seventh ranked middleweight in Canada with a 6–1–2 record including five knockouts.

In the battle of the heavyweights, Andreesen and Edmonton’s Rob Nichols put on a show, standing toe to toe and giving it everything they had. Shotgun had the advantage in the first three rounds, even after breaking his pinky in the first. Nichols wouldn’t buckle to the heavy shots, bringing the fight to Andreesen in the last half.

Shotgun had to change his game after the injury and it showed. Still finding his jab with his left hand, Andreesen left himself open more than he would have liked. The fighters spent the match trading punches, with both men getting the upper hand at different stages. In the end, the match was declared a draw as both left it all in the ring.

The main event featured Mark “Machine Gun” Woolnough and Billy Bailey from Bakersfield, California. Bailey, a former WBC USNBC light heavyweight champion, was against a crowd firmly behind Woolnough, who was back in the ring for the first time in over two years.

Woolnough controlled the fight from the opening bell, picking Bailey apart with pinpoint accuracy. Looking like he had fought recently, Woolnough dictated the match’s relentless pace, giving Bailey more than he could handle through all six rounds. Woolnough improves his record to 20–6–1.

Langley’s Alisah McPhee defeated Peggy Maerz via split decision, Paul Mpendo, from Oregon, defeated Alabama’s Gundrick King and Brampton, Ontario’s Chris Aucoin picked up a unanimous win over Eddie Gates.