19 hours ago
Inside Aussie boxing's wildest fight night as coaches and even the ref throw punches in melee that saw the sport BANNED from the Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House, known for its majestic architecture and hosting some of the world's most high-profile performers, was once the stage for the most chaotic night in Australian boxing history.
In April 1982, a title fight between super welterweights Alex Temelkov and Ken Salisbury descended into such mayhem that the referee, trainers and even spectators got involved.
The event, promoted by rugby league legend Tommy Raudonikis and businessman John Singleton, was meant showcase the best in Aussie boxing and was billed, somewhat aptly, as 'World War III at the Opera House'.
The fights went off without a hitch until the main event where Salisbury was stepping up to fight Temelkov for the Australian super welterweight title.
Both fighters were hard as nails, with Temelkov holding the belt and Salisbury known for his ability to finish a fight.
The bout was being refereed by former Commonwealth champion Charkey Ramon - one of the nation's top unrealised boxing talents who had close ties to Sydney's underworld.
Ramon's birth name was Dave Ballard, but had been given the nickname by a boxing trainer in honour of great black American and Mexican fighters.
By the ninth round of the headline bout, Salisbury was cruising to victory when he was hit by several illegal punches from Temelkov seconds from the bell.
Ramon dashed over to discipline Temelkov, but before he got there Salisbury's trainer, Bernie Hall, leapt onto the the ring apron and grabbed Temelkov by the hair.
This caused Temelkov's older brother to sprint across the ring to deliver a flying kick toward Hall's head.
From there, things really went downhill.
Ramon quickly forgot he was a referee and waded into the action, delivering a series of punishing uppercuts to Temelkov's older brother.
Temelkov meanwhile decided to have another crack at his opponent, landing a looping left hand on a confused Salisbury.
The crowd roared as several others stormed the ring and joined the chaotic melee erupting in front of them.
Raudonikis, perhaps for the first time ever, tried to deescalate the violence and restore order in the hallowed Opera House until the fighting eventually subsided.
Several fights then erupted in the crowd of 3000, probably fueled by adrenalin and a few too many KB lagers.
Despite the turmoil, Ramon finally got the chance to raise Salisbury's hand as the new Australian champion.
Temelkov regained his temper and apologised to the 3000 stunned onlookers.
'I'm sorry, people who came to see me winning,' he said on the announcer's microphone.
'I'm just not the same bloke tonight. Thank you for coming.'
After the event, Opera House management swiftly banned pugilism within their pristine establishment, a decision that remains in place to this day.
The wild night made the front page of national newspapers the following day, but what was more worrying for promoter Raudonikis was his mum calling him to say, 'what have you done this time son?'
