Aussie boxing scene

MIDDLEWEIGHT ROB BRANT FIRMS AS JEFF HORN’S NEXT OPPONENT

Former WBO welterweight champion Jeff ‘The Hornet’ Horn 19-1-1 (13) insists he’s not fazed by the challenge posed by WBA ‘regular’ middleweight champion Rob ‘Bravo’ Brant 25-1 (17).

Negotiations are underway to match the former Brisbane schoolteacher with the lanky puncher from Texas, who has almost four-inches height on Horn.

“He’s certainly a big challenge,” Horn said to the Courier Mail. “Much taller than me and with a career in the middleweight division while I’ve been fighting at welterweight.

“I saw his last fight when Brant stopped the Russian (Khasan Baysangurov) and Brant is a very good fighter but I do believe that I have the ability to beat him.

“I’m training now to chop down the tree.”

Rather than Brant’s length posing problem, Horn is more concerned about the scheduling of the fight conflicting with his wife Jo’s pregnancy with their second child.

“I went through a lot of extra stress when my daughter Isabelle was born (in Dec 2017). It was around the time that I was fighting Gary Corcoran and it makes it very hard to train when your first thoughts are with your family,” Horn continued.

“I’m hoping the deal for the fight can be sorted soon and that it is not too close to when Jo goes into hospital.”

TJ DOHENY LINES UP TITLE UNIFICATION AGAINST DANIEL ROMAN

IBF super bantamweight champion TJ ‘The Power’ Doheny 21-0 (15) will face his WBA counterpart Daniel Roman 26-2-1 (10) in a unification bout at the Forum in Inglewood, California on April 26.

The fight will be part of a world title doubleheader also featuring the rematch between WBC super flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Juan Carlos Estrada.

“This was my ideal scenario – get the voluntary defence out of the way, then go straight into the unification, so great work from my team and Eddie Hearn with Matchroom Boxing USA for getting this fight on,” the 32-year-old southpaw said.

“It’s unbelievable, it would mean the world to me. It’s just another box ticked; after I won the world title, the next goal was to become a unified champion. I’m looking forward to achieving that.”

The Australian-based Irishman successfully defended the world championship he won against Ryosuke Iwasa in Japan last August against Ryohei Takahashi at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden in January.

Doheny and Roman came face-to-face in the ring after the fight.

“We met in the ring after the fight in New York and there was a lot of respect for each other. That’s the way it should be,” said Doheny.

“We’re two world-class fighters, two world champion in the division. A fight like this doesn’t need any false hype, I think when that when you’ve got two world-class fighters like this, that’s enough of a selling point for a high-calibre fight.”

Doheny, who has fought a third of his pro bouts outside of his adopted home of Australia, said he has no concerns about fighting in his opponent’s backyard.

“Danny’s a great fighter. He adds a lot of pressure, he’s a great puncher, great punch selection; he’s really got it all. It’s going to be a great fight between us and I won’t be surprised if the fans get to see a bit of a war,” Doheny said.

“Fighting Danny in his home city, that doesn’t bother me. I’ve been fighting on the road my whole career, so it will be no different to me. It’s me and him in the ring and it’s going to be all action.”

Roman, 28, has made three defences of the WBA crown he lifted from Shun Kobo in September 2017. In his most recent defence Roman stopped Gavin McDonnell in the 10th round last October.

PURSE BID CANCELLED FOR JAIME MUNGUIA VS DENNIS HOGAN AS PROMOTERS AGREE TO TERMS FOR APRIL 13 CLASH

The mandatory title defence of WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia 32-0 (26) against Dennis Hogan 28-1-1 (7) is set to go ahead after Golden Boy Promotions and DDP Sports agreed to terms at the eleventh hour, avoiding a scheduled purse bid on March 4.

The WBO made the announcement after initially calling for bids at their headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 10:00am local time next Monday. At the start of February both camps were given 30 days to reach an agreement.

The fight will take place in six weeks’ time at the Monterrey Arena in Monterrey, Mexico on April 13.

Mexico’s Munguia, 22, has kept up a busy schedule since upsetting Sadam Ali for the WBO belt last May, defending the title three times since. In his last outing in January Munguia outpointed Japan’s Takeshi Inoue over 12-rounds in a tougher-than-expected fight.

Australian-based Irishman Hogan, 33, has strung together six wins against solid opposition since dropping a 12-round unanimous decision to Jack Culcay in Germany in December 2015.

REAGAN DESSAIX DISPUTES DECISION IN BLAKE CAPARELLO FIGHT

WBA number 11 light heavyweight ‘President’ Reagan Dessaix 16-2 (11) is adamant he deserved the nod over world-rated Blake ‘Il Capo’ Caparello 29-3-1 (12) in their competitive fight at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington last Friday night.

The 10-round bout for the WBA Oceania title was scored in favour of southpaw Caparello 97-93 twice and 96-94.

“I felt I controlled the fight as did everyone in attendance and there was an outpour of dismay on social media after the fight. Surely everyone can’t be wrong,” Dessaix said.

“Caparello was just looking for counters then running or holding. You can’t win a fight like that. I forced the fight, throwing and landing more punches. I won the fight and everybody knows that.

“I am a Queensland fighter fighting in Victoria. I was always up against it in this fight but I’m not downhearted about the result. The world saw who won and I will move on now.”

Dessaix hasn’t ruled out a rematch but stressed there would need to be some concessions made to make the fight a reality.

“If the rematch was offered to me I would be interested definitely, however it would have to be on our terms. I was the true winner so the rematch would have to be on our terms,” Dessaix said.

“I have time on my side and I’ve already shown I am at the top level at 22. I am only going to get better and I know when the time is right I will become world champion.”

BROCK JARVIS RETURNS ON FRIDAY NIGHT

Bantamweight prospect Brock Jarvis 15-0 (14) will be looking to open his account for 2019 with his 16th straight win when he takes on Philip Luis Cuerdo 11-5-1 (4) for the IBF Youth title at Technology Park in Sydney this Friday night.

The Jeff Fenech protégé is confident of victory but says focussing on his own training regime is the most important way to prepare himself for success.

“I’m very confident because of the way I train,” Jarvis said to Fightnews. “I train very hard and feel I’m always ready. I have the best corner and the best people around me.

“I’m just doing what I normally do – stick to my routine and listen to my corner and don’t believe your own hype.

“Jeff believes I can get a title shot next year but I don’t worry about that. I just have to show up every day and do my work.

“World titles don’t come easy. I just have to be patient and be ready when I get the chance.”