Boxing in the land of Oz

MICHAEL ZERAFA LOOKING FORWARD TO KELL BROOK TEST IN TWO WEEKS TIME

Commonwealth junior middleweight champion Michael ‘Pretty Boy’ Zerafa 25-2 (14) is looking forward to testing himself at world level when he takes on former IBF welterweight world champion Kell Brook 37-2 (26) at Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England on December 8.

The 26-year-old Melburnian admits he will have his work cut out for him but says the challenge of taking on the 32-year-old veteran is what the sport is all about.

“Kell Brook is Kell Brook for a reason,” Zerafa said in an exclusive interview with Maxboxing. “He’s a seasoned fighter who has been there with the big boys, but no-one is a perfect fighter and his last performance was good for a comeback fight but I know I’m different to his last opponent in many ways.”

Brook blasted out fringe contender Siarhei Rabchanka 29-4 (22) with a right hand to the temple in two rounds in March at the same venue where Zerafa will do battle with the man known as ‘Special K’.

It was Brook’s first win after back-to-back stoppage losses to former middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin and IBF welterweight boss Errol Spence Jr.

“The fight is massive, biggest of my career,” continued Zerafa. “Beating him gets me a step closer to the ultimate goal and a shot at [WBA and IBF world champion] Jarrett Hurd’s titles. I’m not interested in what it means for him; I’m only focused on myself.

“Fighting outside of Australia is always hard, but we never take easy fights and want to be remembered for that.”

Zerafa suffered his own setback in 2015 when he travelled stateside to face future WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin, unbeaten at the time, in a fight that was broadcast on NBC in the United States.

Quillin entered the ring as a cruiserweight against the natural 154-pounder, using his bulk to outmuscle Zerafa and move him backwards with his punches. Zerafa landed plenty of shots of his own but the size difference proved unsurmountable and the Australian was knocked out cold in the fifth, leaving the ring on a stretcher.

“I don’t regret taking the Quillin fight despite the weight difference and all that,” said Zerafa, who entered the ring at 168-pounds to Quillin’s 182.

“I knew it was going to be a massive challenge but you have to test yourself against the elite-level fighters to find out what your strong points are and what needs improving.

“I’ve learnt a lot since then and that’s what has helped me progress to this point.”

Since returning to the 154-pound weight class Zerafa has claimed the Commonwealth crown against previously undefeated Brit Adam Harper by 12-round decision, gone a solid 10-rounds with tough and awkward southpaw Wade Ryan and knocked out Colombian journeyman Jose Agustin Feria in three.

“Fighting at junior middleweight is where I’m best at,” he said. “I’m tall, agile, quick and making weight isn’t an issue, so I’m very comfortable there.”

ANDREW MOLONEY TAKES STAY-BUSY FIGHT WHILE WAITING FOR WORLD TITLE SHOT AGAINST KAL YAFAI

If undefeated WBA number four ranked super flyweight Andrew ‘The Monster’ Moloney 18-0 (11) had his way, he would be facing WBA 115-pound champion Kal Yafai 24-0 (15) in his next fight.

“My team has made offers to all the WBA rated fighters, including the current WBA titleholder Kal Yafai,” said Moloney, twin brother of bantamweight contender Jason Moloney.

“I really hope I get the opportunity to fight Yafai next for the world title.”

Yafai is scheduled to defend his world championship against Mexican Israel Gonzalez 23-2 (10) in Monte Carlo, Monaco on November 24.

“It’s disappointing to see that he is fighting a guy rated fourteenth in his next fight,” said Moloney.

“Next year is looking very exciting for me and my team. I really hope I get to achieve my dream of becoming world champion. I would love to do it in Australia.”

Moloney will return to the ring against Filipino southpaw Kris Paulino 19-3 (8) when he headlines ‘Thunderdome 28’ at Metro City in Perth, Western Australia on December 14.

“My preparation has been great for this fight so far. I didn’t have any time off after my last fight as I was straight back into the gym to help my brother prepare for his fight [against Rodriguez],” said Moloney.

“I got some good sparring while we were over in Orlando for Jason’s fight and I’m feeling great.”

The 27-year-old Kingscliff-based fighter is coming off a career-best win when he stopped former world title titleholder Luis ‘El Nica’ Concepcion 37-7 (26) of Panama in 10 rounds in Bendigo in September.

JOEL ‘CAMA-KO’ CAMILLERI OUT TO MAKE A SPLASH AT WELTERWEIGHT

Joel ‘Cama-KO’ Camilleri 15-5-1 (7) will test the waters at welterweight when he takes on Adam Diu Abdulhamid 13-6 (5) over 10 rounds for the vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council title at the Malvern Town Hall in Malvern, Victoria this Saturday night.

The vastly improved 28-year-old school teacher is looking to put on a boxing masterclass in what will be his first fight at the 147-pound weight limit.

“I’m actually eating more,” said Camilleri, who is coming off a competitive 10-round decision loss to once-beaten Dwight Ritchie 18-1 (2) at the Melbourne Pavilion in August in what was his first loss in three years.

“I know what to eat and when I need to eat, whereas before I was cutting out meals and not knowing what to eat, so I’m much stronger now.”

The move down in weight came off the back of a battery of tests Camilleri undertook to see if the medical experts could determine the reason he was feeling bloated and tired all the time.

“I wasn’t really allergic to anything,” Camilleri said. “I’ve just stayed away from foods that are commonly known to cause problems. Since the dietary changes I’m feeling much better, much lighter and I can box 10 or 12 rounds and feel great.

“At the time I felt bloated and fatigued and always yawning and I just wanted to sleep. I fought most of my fights on heart alone. I had the skill or whatever else and it wasn’t my fitness that was the problem, it was just fatigue, but my heart got me through. 

“Now I’ve come to a point in my career where I have to win the next few fights to open the big doors up for me. I’ve made the big switch and I’m feeling stronger than ever.”

Camilleri will be facing an experienced and active campaigner in Abdulhamid, who claimed an unexpected win in his last outing against previously undefeated prospect Youli Dong 12-1-1 (8) to annex the WBO Asia Pacific Youth title in Zhengzhou, China in September. This will be the 23-year-old Filipino’s fifth fight for the year.

But Camilleri – who has had arguably the best preparation of his almost seven-year professional career with top class sparring against former world champion Anthony Mundine and world-rated fighters Jamie Weetch and stablemate Michael Zerafa – says he is ready for whatever Abdulhamid brings to the ring.

“I’ve been sparring guys much bigger and much tougher than him,” said Camilleri. “I went over to Perth and sparred Jamie Weetch, who is probably walking around at 75kg right now and he’s tough as nails.

“I’ve been in with Mundine this camp, I’ve been sparring Zerafa as well – he’s one of the best, Australia’s number one super welterweight – and Adam Kaoullas, who’s also fighting on the same night.

Coach Sam Labruna has developed a multi-level game-plan that Camilleri says will shut down any offensive options Adbulhamid thinks he has.

“Adbulhamid can box from the outside if he wants, he can try to walk me down, he can do whatever he wants to do,” Camilleri said.

“I don’t just come in with a game-plan, I come in with boxing intelligence and whatever he brings from that first round on I’m going to adapt to it and do what I need to do to win the fight.”

DDP SPORTS REVEALS PLANS TO BRING DENNIS HOGAN WORLD TITLE FIGHT TO IRELAND

Australian-based Irish promotional outfit DDP Sports wants their star fighter Dennis ‘Hurricane’ Hogan 27-1 (7) to make the inaugural defence of his world title back home in Ireland against Spike O’Sullivan 28-3 (20).

Before that can happen the 33-year-old Brisbane-based Kildare boxer, who is the WBO mandatory challenger at 154-pounds, will need to lift the title from reigning champion and rising star Jaime Munguia 31-0 (26) of Mexico.  

“Dennis wants his first world title defence here. That has always been the dream. He always says I beat Munguia then I go to the 3Arena for my first defence,” Paul Keegan, CEO of DDP Sports, told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I think the Spike fight would be great for that. Just imagine it. Dennis wins the world title, comes home for his first defence and Spike gets the world title shot he has been looking for.

“You have Kildare versus Cork in the 3Arena, world title boxing back in Dublin headed up by a cracking fight.

“Win the world title and Dennis would be up for that.”

O’Sullivan has been competing at middleweight since early in his pro career but a savage first-round knockout loss to 160-pound puncher David Lemieux in September has forced him to reassess which weight class best suits his 5-foot-10 frame.

Meanwhile the 22-year-old Mexican world champion is thought to be considering a move up in weight after a voluntary title defence in January.

Whether or not that comes to pass, DDP Sports are prepared for any eventuality.

“If Munguia doesn’t vacate and move up, I think we have the backers and sponsors that would enable us to make an offer that would tempt him to Australia,” continued Keegan.

“That is a stadium fight in Australia and we will make him an offer to come. Dennis would love to win the title here.”

Of course none of these considerations will matter if Hogan doesn’t first get past Perth-based Welshman Jamie Weetch 12-2 (5) at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on December 15.

ZAC DUNN VERSUS JAYDE MITCHELL IN THE WORKS FOR 2019

Former amateur star and world-rated super middleweight Zac ‘Dynamo’ Dunn 27-1 (22) looks set to face popular local rival Jayde ‘El Matador’ Mitchell 17-1 (9) in early 2019 if both teams can agree to terms.

The fight would present an intriguing contrast of styles with the big-hitting Dunn looking to walk down the slick-boxing Mitchell.

Before the fight can happen Mitchell will first need to get past Kim Poulsen 28-4 (7) of Denmark at the Melbourne Pavilion on December 14.

“Kim Poulsen is 28-4 but if I’m being brutally honest, I feel this guy has no business at all at super middleweight. I want to get in there and make a statement by blowing this guy out of there,” said Mitchell, who is ranked WBC number 10 and WBA number 11.

The 32-year-old Mitchell turned back the challenge of knockout artist Kerry Foley 19-4-1 (16) in September, overcoming some shaky moments in the mid-rounds to outpoint the outspoken Sydneysider seven rounds to three on all three judges’ scorecards.

“I’m going to fix Poulsen up and in 2019 I want the big fights,” continued the proud Mornington Peninsula pug. “The Dunn fight is getting traction now. He’s a step up from Foley, that’s for sure. These next three years for me are important.

“I’m not just boxing because I like the idea of being a fighter. I want to be ready and I believe that I can mix it with the best in the world when my body is 100% right and these next three years, I’m going to give it my absolute all mate.

“I see Kerry Foley as a decent domestic fighter, but Zac Dunn is the next level up. I see it as a step between where I am now and where I need to be. The fight makes perfect sense for me.”

WBO number nine ranked contender Dunn claimed the vacant WBA Oceania title with a sixth round stoppage of Oklahoman Bo Gibbs Jr 20-1 (8) in a scheduled 10-round fight at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington on Saturday night.

It was the 27-year-old Melburnian’s fourth knockout win since losing his unbeaten to record to Scotland’s David Brophy while making the first defence of his Commonwealth 168-pound crown in March last year.

ALEX LEAPAI OUT TO BURST THE BUBBLE OF ‘OVER-HYPED’ NATHAN GORMAN ON CARL FRAMPTON VS JOSH WARRINGTON UNDERCARD

Former world title challenger Alex ‘The Lionheart’ Leapai 32-7-4 (26) will travel to Manchester, England to take on heavyweight prospect Nathan Gorman 14-0 (11) on the undercard of the IBF featherweight title clash between Josh Warrington and Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22.

“A lot of these British heavyweights are over-hyped without really beating anyone. I’m coming over to burst the bubble of the latest hype job,” said the 39-year-old Australian of Samoan descent.

“I’ve had more knockouts than Nathan has had fights. This is way too soon for Nathan.”

Gorman is circumspect about his chances against Leapai, who holds wins over fringe contenders Denis Boytsov, Travis Walker and Owen Beck and went almost five rounds with unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.

“Obviously he is a very experienced opponent who has fought for world titles. He is a dangerous opponent, but also a good one for me, if that makes sense,” explained the 22-year-old from Nantwich.

“He will be a good name on my record if I beat him and beat him in style, which I believe I can do.

“I will have to be on my A’s and B’s because he’s a dangerous fella with such experience. Some people say heavyweights are in their prime when they reach their late thirties.”