Malik Scott schools Alex Leapai, wins by wide decision in Logan

 
AN injury to Alex Leapai’s calf may have postponed his non-title fight with enigmatic American Malik Scott by just over a week, but the outcome was inevitable, with Scott handing Leapai a ten-round boxing masterclass.

 
Scott, 34, was vocal about his belief that he was in a seperate class to Leapai in the lead-up to last night, vowing to retire if he didn’t return to America with a much needed win.

 
Like Leapai, 35, the American had only fought once this year, a humiliating first round knockout loss to big-punching Deontay Wilder in March, in a fight that served as an official eliminator for the WBC heavyweight title, presently held by Bermane Stiverne.

 
Logan-based Leapai had not fought since April, earning a lucrative pay cheque in his five round loss to lineal heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in Oberhausen.

 
Despite having the backing of an enthusiastic crowd at the Logan Metro Sports Centre, there was nothing Leapai could do to stifle the piercing combinations thrown by a confident Scott. The American worked off his sharp jab for the majority of the fight, which in many ways, interrupted any kind of rhythm that Leapai was trying to develop.

 
Scott’s lead was never really in doubt – aside from a fleeting moment in the tenth – where Leapai (now 30-6-3, 24 KOs) appeared to stun the visitor with a looping overhand right, which the Queenslander threw for ten straight rounds with little success.

 
Using all the craft and experience garnered over his fourteen-year professional career, Scott (now 37-2-1, 13 KOs) hung on to clinch a clear unanimous points win.

 
Judge Wally Lewis favoured Scott by a margin of 99-91, while judges and Geoff Frazer delivered 97-92 and a shutout 100-90 verdicts, respectively.

 
“We have to get back and line up again. I’ve still got plenty in me. It was just one of those things,” said Leapai in his short post-fight interview. “There’s no shame that I lost to one of the best fighters out there. I wasn’t going to come back to Australia and fight a cab driver.”

 
“We wanted to fight the best.”

 
“Good on him but I’d love to get a chance with him again, he’s a slick fighter,” Leapai said in closing. “I’m still going to be pushing, it’s not the end of the Lionheart.”

 
Having lost two consecutive fights, it appears as if Alex Leapai is at a legitimate career crossroads. While there is no shame in losing to two elite operators in Wladimir Klitschko and Malik Scott, Leapai is now a long way from securing another six-figure pay day with no marquee fights on the horizon.

 
While the Australian public have previously clamoured for a fight between Leapai and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Lucas Browne, there is too much on the line for Browne to make a fight with Leapai – which in reality – is only lucrative on one end.

 
Leapai could perhaps sit the rest of the year out and look for a fight with the winner of the looming clash between Kali Meehan and Shane Cameron next month.

 
He has continually chased the hardest fights available and for that, Alex Leapai should be praised. And while Leapai says the loss to Scott will not be the end, at this point, it doesn’t look too far away.

 
 
Photo: Getty Images Asia Pacific