Star Search

Editorial by Robert Smith

 Sucker Punch Pro Series : Star Search

Though you wouldn't know it by looking at the ranking Sucker Punch Pro Series in Sydney is an organization on the rise. I don't believe owner Hare Rampler cares as much about being in the top ten org rankings as handles putting on great shows week in and week out but the promoter should be aware that his org is rising. 

At SPPS being ranked 13th globally is just fine because that's not something they are focused on. One thing they are focused on is creating stars and keeping each division growing. Well this weekend Hare , Donkey and company have another shot at a chance to create more stars. 

Pro Series 29 takes place at The Bridge (10,000) in Sydney and is loaded with a fun card and lots of chances for guys to break out. 

In a lightweight fight Raleigh St. Clair 7- 2 faces Bobolo Jubbly 5 - 3. Raleigh has a chance to cement himself as a true top contender and break out star at lightweight if he can beat the streaking bjj wiz kid. Jubbly has bounced back winning three in a row all by submission.  St. Clair's last loss was due to submission and though Raleigh has won three in a row and seven if his last eight. Showing he can withstand the ground game of Bobolo would go a long way in earning a title shot. Raleigh is currently ranked fifth and his opponent fourth , with a stoppage win St. Clair could use that momentum to catapult himself into superstardom and a title shot. Did I mention all of St. Clair's wins have been by knockout? This kid has star written all over him , he just has to win and he is the next challenger for Frankie Logan's Championship.  

Middleweight Sean Smith is undefeated at 4-0 with all by way of (T)KO and many believe he is yet to be tested. This 21 year old power puncher has a chance to break into title discussions with a big win this weekend. He faces fellow KO artist 4-2 Bill Sherman , Sherman has won all four of his fights via Knockout as well. Sherman is coming off a loss to Smith's teammate. They share the same manager and Smith feels like that gives him the edge this weekend. Currently ranked sixth in his division Sean Smith Hope's that a big win and some match ups in the top 5 in coming weeks lead to him being next in line for a Championship.  Smith is very brash and believes he will starch Sherman inside of one round. 

Also this weekend in the middleweight division is up and comer Ibrahim " Storm" Volkov 3-1. Storm has two knockouts via vicious ground and pound on his resume. A win this weekend over Kiryu Kazuma will launch this prospect into the top five in the division. The 21 year old Volkov has said on occasion that he has a way to go before he is ready for a title shot but a win this weekend would surely mean a step up in competition. 

Our final chance for a breakout star comes from this weekend's Heavyweight Title challenger Kingston Wall 8- 4. Wall has reeled off three huge KO victories in a row and has seemingly turned his career around. This weekend he faces a huge challenge in the form of Champion Thoth "Erudite" Chontamenti. If Kingston can finish the reigning champion not only will he become an overnight star but he'll become an overnight target as well. 

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