Keene Punches Right Button To Win Cruiserweight Title

Gary Steiger was feeling fine - and the next thing he knew he was staring at the lights above the boxing ring.

“I’ve never been knocked out, but he caught me with a punch right on the button,” Steiger said.

That second-round punch gave Kenny Keene, of Emmett, Idaho, a knockout over Steiger and the International Boxing Association cruiserweight title on Wednesday night before a standing-room only crowd of 2,300 at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Bingo/Casino.

Along with the belt - a bookend to Keene’s International Boxing Council title - the punch brought satisfaction to a month that started with tragedy. Keene’s father, Jim, died this month of a heart attack.

“When you go in the ring, you have to block everything out,” said Keene. “You can’t afford to think of that (his father’s death), because people are punching you and you’ve got to take care of yourself.”

Keene took care of Steiger 43 seconds into the second round to improve his record to 37-1 with 25 knockouts. The fight was close through the first round as Steiger landed a left hook that Keene admitted hurt him. In the second round, though, Keene put Steiger on the defensive before the big right that ended the bout.

“In the beginning, I was basically trying to see what was in front of me,” Keene said. “But then I figured him out.”

Steiger dropped to 41-5. Keene’s next bout is Dec. 7 in Caldwell against Jay Snyder (19-2).

In earlier bouts, Helga Risoy of Las Vegas (12-4-2) claimed the IBA northwest welterweight women’s championship with a technical knockout of Norma Mosley (6-5) 70 seconds into the second round.

Spokane cruiserweight Frank Vassar improved to 5-0 with four KOs by stopping Shawn Elliott, of Medford, Ore., about halfway through the first round.

“Elliott got no standing 8 count and I would have liked more of a workout,” Vassar said.

Albert Williams, of Las Vegas, beat Keith McMurray, of Salt Lake, to improve his heavyweight record to 14-1.

Tim Shooks’ middleweight bout was canceled due to flight problems of his opponent, officials said.