As many local boxing fans wait for the Anthony Mundine-Danny Green rematch, a clutch of other Aussie fighters are working towards world titles.
Green and Mundine have largely been the flag-bearers of the sport in Australia since Kostya Tsyzu’s corner threw in the towel at the end of the 11th round in a brutal clash with Ricky Hatton in 2005. But at 39 and 36 years of age respectively, Green and Mundine’s days of chasing world titles are largely over.
A rematch following their 2006 fight will bring a huge crowd and even-bigger payday, one that all ageing fighters seek before they quit the ring.
But there are a number of local boxers ready to take the mantle as Australia’s top fighter.
The main two contenders are the current IBF middleweight and featherweight champions Daniel Geale and Billy Dib. Both hold respected belts, have defended their titles twice and are seeking big fights in the US.
Dib, who is only 26 but has already had 36 fights, has successfully resurrected his career and is believed to be seeking a fight in Australia in July.
Geale, at 31, won his IBF belt in Germany and is planning to take on WBO champion Dmitry Pirog in Washington in August. Doubt has surrounded this fight because the WBO has refused to sanction it, but if the bout doesn’t go ahead, Geale has reportedly lined up WBA champion Felix Sturm. Whether Pirog or Sturm, these would be huge fights with difficult opponents for Geale.
If the Tasmanian wins his career would really take off.
Another Australian world champion quietly making a name for himself is IBO super featherweight title holder Will Tomlinson. ‘Wild’ Will is undefeated after 19 fights and will defend his belt against Daniel Ruiz in Melbourne on May 18. The 25-year old will take on Ruiz, a Mexican fighter with 27 wins and four losses.
Ruiz has fought most of his career in his native Mexico and has won four of his last four bouts. Tomlinson has some experience against Mexicans having beaten the tough Alan Herrera last year in Perth to claim the IBO belt. His fight on May 18 will be broadcast live on Fox Sports.
Then there are a number of promising up-and-comers including Paul Fleming, Joel Brunker, Jarrod Fletcher, Brad Pitt and Corey McConnell.
‘Showtime’ Fleming is highly rated and undefeated after 14 fights. The 24-year old super featherweight is trained by Billy Dib’s cornerman, Billy Hussein, and is promoted out of the US by leading outfit Top Rank. Showcasing Australia’s depth in the featherweight ranks is fellow undefeated fighters Brunker and McConnell.
WBA champion Chris John pulled out of a fight in Singapore with Brunker in March, and both him and McConnell could go far in the boxing world.
Fletcher is an undefeated middleweight, ranked 45th in the world according to BoxRec, while Pitt is an undefeated cruiserweight (22nd) who will take on Joel Casey on the Tomlinson undercard.
Of course there is also Vic Darchinynan, a three-division world champion who at 36 is at somewhat of a cross roads in his career after two losses in the past seven months. Darchyinyan may switch to mixed martial arts, as has been mooted, while Michael Katsidis’ career has also taken a hit with four losses in his past five fights.
Katsidis remains a very popular boxer among fight fans around the globe. Former IBO lightweight world champion Lenny Zappavigna recently got back on track after beating Brad Milner in three rounds in Sydney in April.
These fighters might not get the attention or media coverage that Green and Mundine generate, but they are a very talented bunch that deserve our respect. And with Australia taking 10 fighters to the London Olympics, more than we ever have before, the future looks bright in the professional ranks as well.
This team may be able to break Australia’s long boxing medal drought at the Olympics. It includes Youth Olympic gold-medallist Damien Hooper, Luke Jackson and Jai Opetaia. A cousin of Socceroo Tim Cahill, Opetaia is only 16 but the heavyweight won gold at the Junior Boxing World Championships in Kazakhstan last year.
There is also the spectre of Sonny Bill Williams looming over Australian boxing, a part-time fighter who brings equal amounts of interest and scorn.
The sport may have fallen from favour with many, along with the impact of UFC, but Aussie boxing continues to punch on and dream of returning to the glory days of Fenech, Ellis, Michael and Rose.
I spoke to leading local trainer Billy Hussein not long ago about the state of Aussie boxing, his thoughts on Sonny Bill Williams and are our amateur Olympic team.
Watch the interview below.
Follow John on Twitter: @johnnyddavidson
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