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Pugilistic news from the land down under

By Anthony Cocks

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Aussie boxing
Aussie boxing

LEONARDO ZAPPAVIGNA LOOKING TO PROVE AGE IS JUST A NUMBER AGAINST ALEX SAUCEDO IN WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR

 

Some fighters age differently to others. In the lighter weight classes 25 is considered ancient, while the heavyweights can often box effectively into their late 30s. Other boxers – through wear and tear, lifestyle or the luck of genetics – are well and truly done by the age of 30.

 

It seems like just yesterday that Australian junior welterweight contender Leonardo Zappavigna, a 30-year-old veteran of 40 pro bouts, was making his pro debut as a teenage lightweight.

 

“I feel like I’m still 18 but better, due to my knowledge of health and knowledge in nutrition,” said Zappavigna to Maxboxing this week. “My mental state and physical state is perfect, my conditioning has only improved and my body is stronger.”

 

It’s a good thing too because on Saturday night “Lenny Zappa” will be facing his stiffest test in a while when he takes on Alex Saucedo 27-0 (17) in a 10 round bout at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma live on ESPN in the United States. The fight will be the main support bout to WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez 37-0 (25) who makes the fourth defence of the world title he won against Arthur Abraham when he takes on Colombian bomber Roamer Alexis Angulo 23-0 (20).

 

The 24-year-old Saucedo is a highly-prized prospect on the Top Rank roster. A standout in the junior division in the amateurs, Saucedo turned pro before he was old enough to compete in the open division in the unpaid ranks. As a result he was moved slowly for his first 20 bouts but has been slowly stepping up his level of competition in his last few bouts.

 

Zappavigna will be the first former world title challenger he has faced since joining the punch-for-pay ranks in late 2011.

 

In his last fight against Abner Lopez in March, the Abel Sanchez-trained Saucedo started slow, allowing Lopez to bring the fight to him and cutting him under the right eye in the second frame. It took a few rounds for Saucedo to get settled but once he did, he started nailing Lopez with hard shots to the body and head. A brutal left hook to the body finished proceedings in the seventh round.

 

Zappavigna, who is coming off a third round TKO of Argentine journeyman Nestor Faccio on the undercard of Jeff Horn’s WBO welterweight title defence against Gary Corcoran in Brisbane last December, knows he will have his hands full against Saucedo but doesn’t believe the Mexican-born Oklahoman has anything to show him that he hasn’t seen already.

 

“Alex Saucedo is a good fighter, he is tough,” Zappavigna said. “I believe his biggest strength is his hometown advantage. He is really good with both hands, his body shots are good. I feel he doesn’t fight well on the back foot so my plan is to stay in tight and close and force him back, or staying out and taking him the rounds.

 

“Patience is my friend in this fight.”

 

Saucedo was born in Meoqui, Chihuahua and moved to Oklahoma City with his parents and three siblings as a seven year old. The crowd will be decidedly in his favour on fight night, but Zappavigna insists he is ready for that.

 

“I’m mentally pumped for that in training,” he said. “I will use the energy from the crowd for my personal benefit, when they cheer for him it will motivate me more.”

 

Zappavigna, who is trained by Ernie Zavala at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood and managed by Mike Altamura, revealed his has two plans to try out on the night.

 

“Apply smart pressure, but work on the outside if it’s not working,” he said.

 

Zappavigna says isn’t worried about a hometown decision going against him should the fight go the distance.

 

“Look, I’m planning to dominate him and get him out of there, but I’m expecting the judges to do the right things if it goes the distance,” he said.

 

With the winner earning the right to challenge newly-minted WBO junior welterweight champion Maurice Hooker 24-0-3 (16), there’s a lot on the line for the victor.

 

“A win will put me back in the world scene and place me in the mandatory position to fight for the WBO world title,” said Zappavigna.

 

“Preparation has been a long one so I’m confident and ready. I’ve had plenty of rounds of sparring, worked with lots of different styles of fighters, so I’m ready. My American trainer Ernie has been putting a lot of work into me here at Wild Card, so it couldn’t be better.”

 

STANDOUT AMATEUR LIAM WILSON SET TO DEBUT ON DDP SPORT’S INAUGURAL FUTR CARD

 

Liam Wilson was always going to be a professional boxer.

 

From the way he fights to the way he trains and even his approach to the amateurs, it was all geared toward the day he was to make his professional debut.

 

And that day is almost here, with Wilson scheduled to step into the square circle for the first time for money this Friday night when he appears on DDP Sports’ inaugural FUTR card.

 

“The amateurs never meant that much to me, other than learning my craft for the pros,” he admitted to Maxboxing this week.

 

The five-time national, nine-time state and six-time Australian Golden Gloves champion has long been touted as a natural fit for the pro ranks but despite the high expectations on the 22-year-old from Caboolture he insists he doesn’t feel the pressure.

 

“I don’t feel any pressure whatsoever,” said Wilson, who first represented his country in international competition as a 14-year-old. “I truly believe the pros are meant for me, so I’m more excited to showcase my skills. It’s been a long time coming and a dream of mine.”

 

The Kingaroy-born Wilson had a successful amateur career compiling an impressive 124-14 record and was widely expected to medal at this year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in his native Queensland. That was until England’s Luke McCormack got between him and a medal and he bowed out 5-0 in the quarter final stage of the tournament.

 

“Yeah, I was definitely expected to medal at the Games, but this is boxing and it didn’t happen,” he shrugged. “I was beat by the better man, no excuses. It didn’t really get me down or anything, I was still happy with how I went.

 

“Making the Commonwealth Games was never a dream or a goal of mine, it just happened to be on the horizon and I made it, so losing to Luke didn’t really bother me if I’m honest. Although I hope one day we can meet in the pro ranks.”

 

Coach Benny Harrington believes that the hard-charging, pressure-fighting style of Wilson will translate perfectly to the pro ranks.

 

“Liam’s style is very similar to the English fighter Ricky Hatton who ended Kostya Tszyu’s career,’’ Harrington told Brisbane’s Courier Mail late last year. “He has a very high level of skill but he likes to trade punches. Big body shots and non-stop aggression.’’

 

Wilson is excited for the challenges that lie ahead.

 

“I will definitely have to make some changes, that’s for sure!” he said. “And that excites me, it means more learning.

 

“But I think my style will be much more suited to the pros. If anything, I found it very hard and difficult to fight as a high-calibre amateur, my style just didn’t feel like it clicked at [the] top level. My thoughts anyway.”

 

Wilson’s debut will be part of the big DDP Sports FUTR card taking place at the Pullman & Mercure Hotel in Brisbane this Friday night headlined by WBO #10 cruiserweight Jai Opetaia 15-0 (12) versus Kurtis Pegoraro 11-3 (1) in a fight for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title. The show is part of a brand new fight series designed to highlight new and emerging talent and help establish the next generation of boxing superstars as household names.

 

It is the perfect platform for a boxer of Wilson’s skills and credentials to be introduced to Australian fight fans.

 

“I couldn’t ask for a better platform to display my boxing and my debut on,” Wilson said. “This is one of the best cards I’ve ever seen in my time in boxing in Australia. The talent coming through on this card is unreal, I’m very excited. So to be a part of it makes it that much better. Big thank you to Paul Keegan and DDP for the opportunity.”

 

There have been changes in the gym since Wilson made the decision to go pro, all designed to get him battle-hardened and ready ahead of his pro debut.

 

“Training is a lot different mate,” he said. “The sessions are longer and more gruelling. I’m only doing one training session now with my trainer Ben Harrington, more time working on fine touches. Whereas before I was training with the amateur boxers in our gym, working with them and obviously we all couldn’t get the one-on-one work with my trainer Ben.”

 

Wilson’s biggest supporter was his father Peter, who backed his son from the very first day the 10-year-old walked into the Kingaroy Boxing Club to learn the manly art of self-defence. Shortly before his premature death at the age of 52, a 15-year-old Wilson made a promise to his old man on his deathbed. He told him he would win a world title and dedicate it to his memory.

 

It’s a promise he intends to keep.

 

“I’m not gonna put a time limit on it mate, but I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work to get there,” he said. “We are both doing it together, he’s always in the corner with me and we will get it done.”

 

Along with Wilson’s pro debut and the Opetaia vs Pegoraro fight, the FUTR show will also feature Matt Casboult 5-1 (1) versus Pino Geracitano 4-2-1 (2), the return of Olympian Cameron Hammond 16-1 (8), the third pro fight of former amateur star Joseph Goodall 2-0 (2) at heavyweight and much, much more.

 

Tickets for FUTR are available from TicketBooth.com.au

Aussie boxing
Aussie boxing

CHERNEKA “SUGAR NEEKZ” JOHNSON FIGHT DATE CHANGE

 

Big Time Boxing has had push back their big show headlined by Sam Soliman versus Tej Pratap Singh from July 7 to later in the month. The new date is July 27.

 

As a result, Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson’s fight against Siriphon Chanbuala 12-5-2 (5) has been brought forward a day and will now take place on the undercard of the fourth annual Frank Bianco Cup. The show will also feature WBA #9 featherweight “Aussie” Joel Brunker 33-2 (19) versus Nort Beauchamp 16-2 (3) at the Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington on Friday, July 6.

 

The Frank Bianco Cup is an eight-man single-elimination heavyweight tournament named in honour of former boxer and trainer Frank Bianco who passed away in 2014.

 

The unbeaten Johnson 9-0 (4) won the WIBA bantamweight title in her last fight against Thailand’s Rungnapha Kaewkrachang 13-13-1 (1) at the same venue in March.

 

Former AFL hardman Shane Mumford will be making his pro debut on the same show.

 

LIAM PARO LANDS WORLD RANKING, HEADS TO MELBOURNE FOR TO FACE KRAI SETTHAPHON

 

Junior welterweight prospect Liam “The Prodigy” Paro 14-0 (10) has burst into the world rankings at number 10 with the WBO after his two round demolition of previously unbeaten Czech Sebastian Bytyqi 11-1-1 (8) for the WBO Youth title on the Gold Coast last month.

 

The Queensland southpaw will be making his first trip to Melbourne as a pro next month when he takes on experienced Thai Krai Setthaphon 27-4 (17) at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington on July 27 in a 10 round bout promoted by Brian Amatruda’s Big Time Boxing.

 

The big show is headlined by former IBF middleweight champion Sam Soliman 45-14-1 (19) challenging Tej Pratap Singh 13-4-2 (7) for his WBA Oceania middleweight title in a 10 round bout.

 

“BANGING” BEN KITE FACES KATSIDIS-CONQUEROR JAMIE HILT THIS SATURDAY

 

This Saturday night welterweight “Banging” Ben Kite 11-4-1 (5) will clash with Jamie Hilt 9-3-1 (1) at the Famous Fortitude Gym in Newstead, Brisbane, in an intriguing all-Queensland match-up over 10 rounds.

 

Former Queensland champion Kite, 27, is riding a six fight win streak while Hilt, 38, made it through to the final of the Super Eight welterweight knockout tournament last November, scoring a three-round split decision win over former interim world champion Michael Katsidis along the way.

 

Also on the Steve Deller-promoted show middleweight Jason Leuken 7-1 (3) has been matched with New Zealand’s Ruben Webster 8-1 in a battle of southpaws.

 

Queensland junior middleweight James Ryan 3-0 (2) will be looking to keen his unbeaten record intact against Perth lefty Brice Roullo 2-5-3 (1).

 

REAGAN “THE PRESIDENT” DESSAIX SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH DRAGON FIRE BOXING

 

Hot prospect Reagan “The President” Dessaix 14-1 (10) has officially joined the managerial stable of Dragon Fire Boxing, signing a multi-year deal this week.

 

“I feel very privileged to have such a good and experienced management team with Tony Tolj, Angelo Hyder and Dragon Fire Boxing managing my boxing career,” said the 21-year-old IBF International and WBA Oceania light heavyweight champion.

 

Dessaix will be joining the world ranked Moloney twins, Andrew and Jason, under the Dragon Fire banner.

 

The Sydney boxer has been impressive in his last two outings, a fourth round TKO of Shintaro Matsumoto in March and a second round KO of Peter Ato Ricketts in May.

 

Next up Dessaix will face Michael Van Nimwegen 10-5 (4) on the undercard of the rematch between Billel “Baby Face” Dib and Bruno Vifuaviwili at Seagulls Rugby League Club in Tweed Heads, NSW on August 11.

 

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