Kielsa Defends Canadian
Heavyweight Crown with Huge TKO Over Cook
March 21, 2009
(MAR 21) Greg “The Steel Pole” Kielsa
(9-0, 4 KO’s) made the first defense of his Canadian Heavyweight title a
memorable one, bombing out Winnipeg’s Arthur Cook (14-5-2, 5 KO’s) via
devastating 8th round TKO Friday night at Casino Rama, in Rama, Ontario.
Cook came out aggressively in the first half of the fight pressing the
pace, but never landing any damaging shots, all the while walking into
stiff Kielsa counters.
In the fifth, Kielsa started landing his jab at will, bloodying Cook's
face, and establishing a violent rhythm that continued to play a
bruising tune on the clearly overmatched challenger.
By the eighth, Kielsa was in complete command, delivering pinpoint
combinations with devastating effect, until the champion landed the
bout’s final shot, a titanic left hand.
Kielsa claimed the title last November with a ten-round unanimous
decision over Raymond Olubuwale, shooting some life into a Canadian
heavyweight scene that had been mired in mediocrity for years.
However promising Kielsa’s future is domestically, Kielsa’s manager,
James Jardine, has his sights set for Kielsa well beyond Canadian
shores.
“Once we get him to ten fights, we’ll be able to get him ranked by the
sanctioning bodies. And once he gets some international belts around his
waist, he’ll prove to people around the world that he’s no Polish joke,”
Jardine quipped.
“Greg doesn’t back up, or press pause for a second. And he’s a fighter
that people can get behind because he’s so honest, both in and out of
the ring. He’s a throwback to the way fighters used to be.”
