And after beating Geelong fighter Kane McKay in Ballarat on Saturday night, now the world can call him light-heavyweight champion of the Asia-Pacific.

In a 12-round feud in front of a big crowd at the Ballarat Badminton Stadium, Angelo out-danced his heavier opponent as the pair traded blows and taunts.

But the gutsy McKay continually hunted the elusive Angelo and probably won the latter half of the bout.

The Geelong fighter certainly won the crowd.

In the end, it came down to a split decision from the judges as neither fighter could floor the other _ one judge giving the fight to McKay, but two awarding it to the new champ.

``It was like a training run. Like sparring in the gym,'' an elated Angelo said after hearing the verdict.

``I saw him all the time. He tried to pull my head off, but I saw him easy and moved too fast.''

While McKay was the aggressor throughout the fight, it was Angelo who scored the first telling blow, and the African fighter drew blood in round four when he cut McKay above the eye.

But McKay absorbed the punches Angelo struck him with and rocked Angelo in the 10th round with a big hit.

Both fighters appeared confident of victory after the bout.

In the earlier professional bout South Australian Robbie Sanders was too strong for Philippines fighter Julan Ceniza, while in the women's bout Michaela Ng came from a long way behind to win a narrow points victory over

German fighter Rebekkah Atz.

*More boxing in The Courier tomorrow.