Aussie Wrap-up: Bilal Akkawy plans to KO Giovanni De Carolis, Billy Dib targets Tevin Farmer for IBF belt, Jai Opetaia challenges Luke Watkins for Commonwealth crown, Balla boys are back, ANBHOF announces Class of 2018, Vale Gary Cowburn
By Anthony Cocks
It’s not every day you come across a boxer that possess real power. The type of bone-crunching power that discombobulates opponents, that separates men from their senses, that snaps their heads back like a slingshot.
Sydney super middleweight Bilal Akkawy has that type of power. He knows it. And he enjoys it.
“Pure entertainment,” says Akkawy of his fighting style that has already resulted in 14 highlight reel KOs. “All my fights are fought with the intent to hurt and KO the opponent.”
Hurting and knocking out opponents is what Akkawy does best.
From his debut on the Anthony Mundine vs Xavier Toliver undercard six-and-a-half years ago when he left Kiwi Mick Jones’ head spinning like a top in less than a minute, to his body shot stoppage of the normally durable Daniel Maxwell in the first round of his eighth pro fight, Akkawy has shown from early on that he has clout in both hands and can whack with equal power to the body and head.
In his best performance to date Akkawy took a step up in class to face former European middleweight champion Kerry Hope in October 2016 in what was his 15th professional bout. The Welsh-born, Brisbane-based Hope was a fringe contender with a reputation as something of a spoiler with a difficult southpaw style. In 2012 he delivered the first loss to middleweight contender Grzegorz Proksa – then 26-0 (19) – and in 2009 he went the 10 round distance with future world champion Caleb Traux in front of the American’s hometown crowd in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The 35-year-old Hope came into the bout off a 10 round decision loss to Indian prospect Vijender Singh in New Delhi three months earlier.
In a brutal fight that featured see-saw action in the early going, Akkawy took control in the middle rounds, shattering Hope’s jaw in the fifth round and dislodging four teeth before forcing his retirement at the end of the seventh round of the scheduled 10 round bout.
The fight was widely regarded as the best domestic dust-ups of the year.
“Kerry Hope is my best win,” says Akkawy, who turned pro without the benefit of an amateur career. “To destroy such a fighter and put him into retirement I feel was a big statement.”
In three weeks’ time Akkawy gets the opportunity to pit his formidable power against the experience of seasoned campaigner Giovanni De Carolis, a former WBA “regular” champion at 168-pounds who holds a record of 1-2-1 in world title fights including a loss and a draw against current WBA titleholder Tyron Zeuge. The fight will headline a Neutral Corner promotion on Saturday 24 February at Club Punchbowl in Sydney where Akkawy’s last three fights have taken place.
“I don’t think he will be able to handle the power too well,” says Akkawy, 16-0-1 (14). “He has fought some great fighters but none that cause me any concern. He is very experienced and at 33 years of age and with approximately 14 weeks’ notice and having recently come off a second round TKO, he will be confident.
“I believe I’ve got what it takes and after this fight everyone will see that I should be up there mixing it with the elite in the world super middleweight division.”
While many boxers struggle to get quality sparring over the Christmas and New Year period, Akkawy has been fortunate to round up some quality boxers who also have fights scheduled to assist him with his preparation.
“Before Xmas it was Anthony Mundine and a couple of amateur fighters,” says Akkawy. “But more recently it has been the likes of amateurs Ali Elrich, Ato Leau Plodzicki Faogali (prepping for the Commonwealth Games), Aaron Lai, Wes Capper and for the next two weeks we have flown up from Melbourne Jake Carr.”
Akkawy is expecting the 33-year-old Italian to come into the fight in tip-top shape.
“He is a very fit and busy fighter which will make for very fast paced and exciting fight,” says Akkawy.
Despite his growing reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the super middleweight division, Akkawy says his opponents often overlook his boxing skills that provide the foundation for his devastating knockouts.
“Absolutely,” says Akkawy. “I love seeing the look on their face when they discover my boxing skills and realise I have great footwork, speed, power and accuracy and that the super power-punching is just a bonus that is in my genes.”
Akkawy comes from strong boxing stock. His father and trainer Mick Akkawy, who was coached by Hall of Fame trainer Johnny Lewis in the amateurs, was known as a devastating puncher in his own right.
The younger Akkawy is cut from the same cloth.
A week before his fight against De Carolis, WBA “super” champion George Groves of the UK will be defending his title against enigmatic and outspoken countryman Chris Eubank Jr at the Manchester Arena in the semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series 168-pound tournament.
“Eubank wins,” says Akkawy. “Since his loss to [current WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe] Saunders, Eubank and his team seem to only take fights he is expected to win.”
The 24-year-old gunslinger is confident that he can already match it with the best in the world and has his sights firmly set on the WBA “regular” champion.
“I believe I am ready now and would love a shot at the current WBA super middleweight champion Tyron Zeuge,” says Akkawy. “I believe I will beat him convincingly.
“Tyron Zeuge is my target and if we do meet, I have no doubt that I will beat him even if it is in his own backyard.”
BILLY DIB TO FACE TEVIN FARMER FOR VACANT IBF SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE?
Former IBF featherweight champion Billy “The Kid” Dib 43-4 (24) could get a shot at winning his second world title if the IBF strips Kenichi Ogawa 23-1 (17) of the super featherweight crown he claimed against Tevin Farmer 25-5-1 (5) last December after the Japanese titleholder failed a pre-fight drug test.
Ogawa controversially outpointed Farmer to win the vacant IBF 130-pound title by split decision 115-113, 116-112 and 112-116 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The results of Ogawa’s pre-fight drug test were not available until after the fight when it was revealed he tested positive for two forms of androstanediol – a synthetic form of testosterone – and was subsequently suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) at their first meeting for 2018.
Although Ogawa’s post-fight test results were negative, both the A and B samples of his pre-fight test turned up positive results.
The NSAC has given Ogawa’s team the opportunity for a hearing on 14 February, although the commission’s executive director Bob Bennett has indicated they would be prepared to push the hearing back to March to give them more time to prepare.
Ogawa faces a ban of up to two years and a possible fine of $21,000, the equivalent of 30% of his purse for the Farmer fight.
If the guilty verdict stands the result of the bout would be changed to a no contest and the IBF would be compelled to strip Ogawa of its world title.
Dib is the highest ranked contender for the 130-pound crown at number three in the IBF rankings behind two vacant spots. Farmer is ranked number four by the New Jersey-based sanctioning body.
“We are just waiting to see what happens with Ogawa but it looks like they’ll strip the kid of the belt, and Farmer and I would fight for the vacant title,” Dib told The Daily Telegraph.
“We’re looking at some time in April, and we’re doing everything in our power to make sure that the fight takes place in Sydney.
“I am very confident we’ll get Farmer here.”
The Ogawa-Farmer fight was featured on an all-super featherweight tripleheader on HBO that also included Orlando Salido vs Miguel Roman and Francisco Vargas vs Stephen Smith. In his first fight in the United States, Japan’s Ogawa started well but Philly southpaw Farmer outboxed and outworked the Tokyo resident in the second half of the fight.
32-year-old Aussie veteran Dib changed trainers last year and is now working under the tutelage of three-time world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Fenech.
JAI OPETAIA LODGES CHALLENGE TO UK’S LUKE “THE DUKE” WATKINS FOR COMMONWEALTH CROWN
The management of undefeated Sydney southpaw Jai Opetaia 14-0 (11) have lodged an official challenge to reigning Commonwealth cruiserweight champion Luke “The Duke” Watkins 13-0 (9).
Opetaia, the youngest boxer to be selected for the Australia Olympic team at 16, had an excellent 2017 with five victories including a TKO9 for the vacant Australian and OPBF 200-pound titles against experienced veteran Daniel Ammann in July and a stunning first round TKO of the Virgil Hill-trained Frankie Lopez for the IBF Youth title in October. Just last month he dished out Ben Kelleher’s first loss with a TKO3 in defence of his national crown on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine vs Tommy Browne fight.
The 22-year-old Opetaia’s manager Michael Francis has revealed they would be happy to travel to the UK to face Watkins if that’s what it would take to get the fight made, but noted they have other options on the table if that fight doesn’t come off.
“Jai is ready to step up and while ‘The Duke’ Luke Watkins is our immediate focus, we have a number of top 15 rated opponents on our radar,” said Francis.
Watkins claimed the vacant Commonwealth title with a 6th round TKO of previously unbeaten Robin Dupre 12-1 (1) in October last year and backed that up with an 8th round stoppage of Mike Stafford 16-4 (3) in defence of that title in December.
BALLA BOYS RETURN TO HEADLINE WESTSIDE RUMBLE
Talented boxing brothers Qamil and Ibrahim Balla will headline a Hosking Promotions card called “Westside Rumble” at the Grand Star Reception Centre in Altona North on Sunday 11 March against opponents to be named. It will be the first show at the venue since July 2014.
27-year-old Ibrahim “La Bala” Balla 13-1 (7) represented Australia at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games as a bantamweight. The current WBA Oceania featherweight champion, Ibrahim logged three solid wins against durable opponents in 10 round bouts last year, including a victory over former world title challenger Silvester Lopez of the Philippines.
The “Golden Boy” Qamil Balla 11-1-1 (5) also represented his country at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and was runner-up for the 2012 Olympic team in the light welterweight division when he missed out on selection to current WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn, who he had beaten early in his amateur career. The 28-year-old lightweight was last in action in May when he dropped a 10 round decision to world ranked Sydneysider George “Ferocious” Kambosos 13-0 (7) in Manukau City, New Zealand on the undercard of Joseph Parker’s first WBO heavyweight title defence against Razvan Cojanu.
The card is also expected to feature unbeaten super middleweight Mark Kassab 9-0 (5), cruiserweight and former AFL player Shane Tuck 3-1-1 (1), junior welterweight Kayne Clarke 3-0 (1), cruiserweight Nathan MacLean 1-2, light heavyweight Matt Sheehan 1-0 and welterweight Jyl Wright 1-0.
ANBHOF ANNOUNCES INDUCTEES FOR 2018
The Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame has announced their inductees for 2018.
Two-time world title challenger and all-round excitement machine Paul “Hurricane” Briggs 26-4 (18) will be inducted in the Modern category. Briggs is best remembered for his two bloody battles with Polish hardman Tomasz Adamek for the WBC light heavyweight championship in 2005 and 2006. Briggs went painfully close to winning both contests, losing by majority decision each time.
In the Veterans category former Commonwealth featherweight champion Bobby Dunne 20-3-1 (5) will be inducted, while long reigning Australian middleweight champion and Commonwealth titleholder Arthur Cripps 36-12-4 (17) is recognised for his accomplishments in the sport in the Old Timers category.
“Gentleman” George Dawson 11-1-3 (11), a hard-punching lightweight who turned pro in 1887 and boxed through until 1893, will be inducted in the Pioneers category. American middleweight Fritz Holland 42-24-12 (17), who won national honours at 147 and 160 pounds and defeated Les Darcy in two of their four fights, will be inducted in the International category.
In the Non-Combatants category Australia’s leading boxing journalist Grantlee Kieza will be inducted for his tireless work chronicling the sport since 1982 for News Corp mastheads the Daily Telegraph and the Courier Mail. Kieza has penned two comprehensive books on the history of Australian boxing and recently co-authored the Jeff Horn’s biography The Hornet: From Bullied Schoolboy to World Champion.
Promoter and media personality Peter Maniatis will be honoured with the Gus Mercurio Award for his ongoing contribution to the sport.
The Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will take place at the Pullman on the Park Hotel at 192 Wellington Parade, Melbourne on 3 March from 7pm. All living inductees will be in attendance, along with a who’s who of Aussie boxing. The Hall of Fame will also announce and present the “Fighter of the Year” award as well as the “Future Hall of Famer” award on the night.
VALE GARY COWBURN
Former Australian welterweight and junior welterweight champion Gary Cowburn 24-15-2 (13) has passed away in Queensland at the age of 80.
Born in Gayndah in 1937 and turning pro in 1959 at the age of 21, Cowburn boxed professionally for seven year, twice beating George Barnes and splitting a pair of sixth round knockouts with George Bracken. He twice won the national crown at 147-pounds and moved down in weight to claim the Australian junior welterweight championship in his second-last professional contest. In his 41 pro fights Cowburn boxed 411 rounds against many notable pugilists of the time, including Sid Prior, Johnny Tapp, Ralph Dupas, Aldo Pravisani, George Fleming, Arthur Persley and Tommy Collins, amongst others.
A soft-spoken gentleman away from the ring, Gary’s contribution to the sport of boxing in Australia won’t be forgotten. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and the boxing community as a whole.
RIP Gary Cowburn.
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