YARRAWONGA sharpshooter Kayne Pettifer has enjoyed the perfect start to his professional boxing career.
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Stepping into the ring as a light heavyweight, Pettifer scored a unanimous 39-37 points decision over Thai boxer Terkiat Sitheppitak in the three two-minute round bout held at Melbourne Pavilion on Saturday night.
Yarrawonga co-coach, Brendan Fevola who was one of about 25 Pigeons who was on hand to support his teammate, said the bout was nearly cancelled after Pettifer suffered a bout of gastro in the lead-up.
“Before the fight he had gastro and was spewing up until 4 o’clock Saturday morning,” Fevola said.
“After the weigh-in on Friday he loaded up on carbs for the fight but he wasn’t able to keep anything down.
“I was so proud watching him and it takes a lot of guts just to step into the ring.
“I was surprised how well he fought.
“As coach of the Pigeons I’m glad he didn’t get hit and was able to land a few good punches.”
Pettifer stepped into the ring in peak fitness after putting in the hard yards under trainer Nigel McCarthy, who also trains former IBF world middleweight champion Sam Soliman.
In contrast Sitheppitak, 44, looked desperately out of shape and has a poor record after losing eight of nine previous bouts — five by knockout.
“His opponent looked like me and was carrying a bit,” Fevola said.
“But to his credit he kept coming despite copping plenty of punches.”
Pettifer’s mother made the trek from Kyabram but missed watching her son when the bout started earlier than scheduled after two cancellations.
Several former Richmond teammates were also ringside including Chris Newman, Dustin Martin and Collingwood’s Dane Swan.
“We all went out for a few beer afterwards and it’s fair to say Petts was up and about,” Fevola said.
“He was strutting around telling everyone that Kayne ‘The Train’ Pettifer was one and zip.
“But all the boys were quick to remind him that Joel Mackie is one and zip over Petts after landing a few on him when we played this year.”
In the main event, Melbourne’s Blake Caparello, 28, claimed the WBO Asia Pacific light heavyweight title with an overwhelming unanimous points decision against Maximillano Jorge Gomez, 31.
