Native fighters 3-0 on Edmonton card

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In his debut as a fight promoter, former Canadian heavyweight boxing champion Ken Lakusta put together one of the better fight cards Edmonton has seen in some time. Called "Title Bound," the Aug. 14, seven bout card featured junior middleweight sensation Tony Badea. He extended his pro record to 10-0 with a 10 round decision over Vancouver's al Harper at the Italian Cultural Centre in Edmonton.

The lead-in to the Badea-Harper fight was the popular and improved Willard Lewis, a Cree who now makes Slave Lake, Alta., his home. Lewis, who recently returned from training in Las Vegas, was one of three Native boxers on the card. All three came away winners.

Regina's Don Laliberte just managed to squeak by to win a decision over Edmonton heavyweight Patrick Graham, who outweighed him by 27 pounds. Edmonton's super middleweight Benny "The Jet" Swanson stopped Prince George journeyman Todd Hatley at 2:46 of the third round.

"He came to fight," said Swanson, who took an early right to his left ear that seemed to effect his equilibrium. "He made me dig down ? I need that challenge." Swanson, a Metis who's been working on his combinations, now stands at 4-0 with three KO's.

In a recent comeback, Vancouver's Manny Sobral won a third-round TKO over Ron Pasek, thus improving his record to 12-0. The next match-up had Edmontonian Jeff Anderson take a close decision over Darren Kenney.

Lewis wasted no time at all disposing of Ray Wilson in a light heavyweight bout. The last time these two faced off, about a year ago, Wilson took Lewis the six-round distance. Fresh off a three-week camp, Lewis waded in a fired away at will. He didn't recall being hit even once by Wilson.

"I set him up with some jabs and body shots straight down the pipe," explained Lewis, who then followed with a thundering right.

"(In Las Vegas) I got some great sparring, and worked on head movement," he said. I'll be heading back right quick here, getting ready for our next one. We think it will be within the month."

"He's maybe the best young prospect I ever had," claimed his manager, Jerome Coffee. "I'm so honored to be a part of what he's

doing because think he will be a champion of the world."