For Ali Nestor is was to be a coronation. He was the promoter of the event, he was fighting in the main event, he picked the right opponent (a man he previously defeated), and he sanctioned the bout as a CPBC Middleweight championship. All the skilled Quebec champion had to do is duplicate his victory over limited Martin Desjardins over 10 rounds however he found out that Desjardins wasn't cooperative as expected as well as the three judges at ringside.

After a feeling out round to start the bout, things got a little interesting in the second round. Nestor (8-5-2, 5 KOs) threw his first flurry of the bout. Desjardins, who's ability to slip a punch is equivalent to that of a dead guy dodging a bullet, absorbed the salvo but found himself sitting on the canvas. Referee Alain Villeneuve waved off the knockdown once Desjardins regained his footing. Instead of jumping on Desjardins, Nestor took the cautious approach. Using his southpaw jab, Nestor picked away at Desjardins from the remained of the round, allowing his prey to finish the round unscathed.

Round three was a Desjardins round as the 30 yr old started to throw plenty of leather at his tentative stalker. Slapping punches began to rain down on Nestor from various angles and while none of which hurt him, they did keep him in a defensive shell, looking for openings. While he did manage to land a left hook that caught the now back peddling Desjardins flush, it was enough to steal the round.

Nestor returned to the jab as his weapon of choice in round 4, he couldn't match the sheer volume of Desjardins. Still, the punches that he did land, shook Desjardins and sent spray's of head sweat into the crowd. Nestor moved forward landing the right jab and followed it by either a hook to the body or the occasional shot to the head. While Desjardins' chin is noted as durable, Nestor's punches(when he threw them) began to show their effect.

Desjardins opened up in round 5, throwing punches in bunches, even the occasional jab. For his part, Nestor simple shuffled forward and walked through the barrage. His inactivity gave the round away in Desjardins favour.

After throwing plenty of leather, Desjardins started to look fatigue to start the 6th round. His mouth was wide open and he began to suck in much need oxygen. Unfortunately, Nestor recognized that and upped his punch output. Working the body more, Nestor pursued his opponent who wasn't punching back as much as previously before. As a result, it was a big round for Nestor. Same in round 7 with both combatants fighting hard after the bell.

Nestor hammered an exhausted Desjardins with 20 unanswered punches to start round 8 and Desjardins wore the look of survival on his reddened face. Nestor also began to show the effects of Desjardins assault, sporting a small mouse under his left eye. Still, Nestor looked like the stronger fighter with more left in the tank. Although he returned to throwing single punches in the final minute of the round, each punch landed with authority as well as cleanly.

Desjardins dipped into the reserves and started the 9th by again throwing dozens of punches with little behind them. The punches were more to keep the onrushing Nestor in check and little less eager to engage. Desjardins finished the round by throwing a shoulder into the chest of Nestor as the two returned to their respected corners. This did not sit well with the boxer/promoter. (Referee) Villeneuve was quick to jump in a restore order.

Heading into the final round, most on press row had Nestor ahead. Desjardins, who was completely gassed given his output a round early, looked as if surviving to the final bell would be a victory on it's own. He was in full retreat, hands low, mouthpiece sticking out. Nestor tried to end Desjardins night by throwing solid hard punches but Desjardins was not to be deterred. As the bell rang to end the fistic 10 rounder, the result was left to the judges to decide.

One judge saw the contest in Nestor's favour at 97-93, approving of Nestor's power punches and aggression. Judge two scored the bout 98-92 Desjardins, favouring Desjardins volume punching. The third judge scored the bout even at 95, the end result was declared a draw. FightNews Canada scored the bout 98-92 for Nestor. While most in attendance booed and jeered the decision, there were some in the pro Nestor crowd that felt that Desjardins got robbed. This one begs rematch.

The Canadian middleweight title, belonging to the CPBC, will remain vacant.

On the undercard, Mississauga's Tebor Brosch ended Benyamine Besmi's run as an up and coming prospect with an impressive 2nd round stoppage. Brosch (4-3-3, 2KOs) came out very agressive to start the bout, forcing Besmi into the ropes, nullifying his speed and punching room. As Brosch rushed in, he threw left hooks instead of jab and each time he did, they landed. Each time they landed, Besmi's knees buckled. Besmi, who came in off a stoppage loss to Frank Abbiw in April, offered little in return. The majority of the opening round was spent on the ropes with Brosch's punches leaving red welts on the body and face of Besmi. The bell saved Besmi (10-2, 5KOs). Brosch on his way to his corner, gave Besmi a little smile/smirk, knowing that this fight would be over soon. He was right.

Brosch jumped all over Besmi to start the second round, trapping Besmi in his own corner and pummelled him with a variety of hooks and head shots. Only Besmi's courage held him up and when Brosch robbed him of that, Besmi crumbled in this own corner, completely out of it. With the referee counting, Besmi bravely tried to climb to his feet but was in no condition to continue. The referee Claude Cusson waved the bout off immediately giving Brosch, the Ontario welterweight champion, the victory. Brosch, the best 4-3-3 fighter in the country, will return to the ring in January to take on Harrison McBain. Besmi's future in the ring is uncertain.

Longueuil, Quebec's Adbou Sow hammered Tim Watts from the opening bell, until the referee halted the massacre at the 3 minute mark. Watts (0-6) hits the canvas 4 times with only two counting as knockdowns, in reality they all were. Sow was just too big, too powerful, and simply too much for the win-less Winnipegger. Sow improves to 2-0, 2KOs.

Chicoutimi, Quebec's Francy Ntetu made quick work of trailhorse Patrick Tessier, stopping him at 1:58 of the opening round of their 4 round light heavyweight bout. A short right to the temple of the onrushing Tessier (3-11, 2KOs) dropped him along the ropes. Tessier managed to regain his feet at the count of 7 but the fight was immediately waved off. Ntetu, a native of the Democratic Republic Of The Congo, is a winner in his pro debut.

If you wish to contact the author of this article, email Dave Baggs at FightNews Canada