Quade Cooper might want to make the most of his latest bout in January, after ARU boss Bill Pulver made it clear he doesn’t like the idea of the Wallabies’ vice-captain combining rugby and boxing.
Cooper is slated to fight on Anthony Mundine’s undercard on January 29 in Brisbane, but continuing his career in the ring could prove difficult, with the star five-eighth to negotiate a new deal with the ARU later next year.
Pulver said he couldn’t be more impressed with Cooper’s career turnaround in 2013, but indicated boxing could be off the table in future contract talks.
The ARU chief is against one of his most valuable commodities risking injury in another sport.
“Quade has an agreement in place which does allow him to participate in that. Personally I’m not a huge fan of it, I’ve got to tell you. I wasn’t around when that agreement was put in place,” Pulver said.
“Quade in my mind has … done a great job for Australian rugby throughout this year, I could not be more glowing in my praise of his personal performance over the course of the last six months.
“My personal preference would be he’s not stepping into a ring but it is what it is.”
Cooper won his debut professional fight by knockout in February and showed potential as a boxer.
Cooper hoped he would be allowed to vie for an Australian boxing title in the next two years but stressed that rugby was his first love.
“It is (frustrating having one fight) if you look at it like that but I look at it that it’s great that I am even allowed to have one fight a year,” Cooper said in Brisbane.
“I think of it as a bonus being able to do something I love to do outside the parameters of rugby which I am basically doing 12 months of the year.
“I am in a very fortunate position.”
“I don’t want the rugby world to think I am neglecting the sport and I don’t want the boxing community to think I am not treating it seriously.
“But rugby is my initial love. I am in a good head space with rugby.”
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
Who does like Quade Cooper?
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
Who does like Quade Cooper?
chann wee
Guest
"" Sonny Bill Williams: New Zealand rugby star loses boxing belts Sonny Bill Williams has been stripped of his professional boxing belts after failing to defend his international and New Zealand heavyweight titles. The dual code rugby star, 28, was part of the New Zealand team beaten by Australia in last month's Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford. He is also being linked with a return to rugby union in 2015 to be part of New Zealand's World Cup defense. Williams won all of his six professional heavyweight bouts. His last fight in February saw him defeat South African veteran Francois Botha to win the World Boxing Association international heavyweight title. But since then he has been playing with the Sydney Roosters, helping them win the NRL Grand Final, before joining the Kiwis' World Cup bid, meaning his boxing career is on hold. "He's no longer the WBA international champion," said a WBA spokesperson. "He's been stripped." New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) has also stripped Williams of his heavyweight belt after he failed to respond to challenges. "We haven't heard a thing back and, personally, that's rude," said the association's president Lance Revill. "He's not even said he's received the challenge and that they're going to think about it. If that was the case we'd hold off - but we've got no choice now but to strip the title." ""
Tongue in Cheek
Guest
Boxing training is good for athletic conditioning - no argument. But the world of boxing is connected to a criminal underworld and the less that rugby union players have to do with boxing promoters the better. This should apply doubly to those who wear the Australian Wallabies gold jumper. Boxing? It's not a good look.
Mental
Guest
It should not be about the risks it should be about the benefits. When you train a fight sport seriously and develop a skill it gives you a level of confidence that could give someone in Coopers role a significant mental edge.
Ajax
Guest
Boxing is a great way for a footballer to stay in shape in the off season, refreshes the mind, gives you a new challenge. Jeff Harding used to have a resting heartrate of 40 something.. great for improving your cardio performance. Im not saying QC should be fighting as a pro.. but a few amatur bouts with headgear wouldnt hurt him ;-)
Ajax
Guest
Boxing is a great way for a footballer to stay in shape in the off season, refreshes the mind, gives you a new challenge. Jeff Harding used to have a resting heartrate of 40 something.. great for improving your cardio performance. Im not saying QC should be fighting as a pro.. but a few amatur bouts with headgear wouldnt hurt him ;-)
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
In this case, not much - the clause was put in QC's contract before young Bill took up employer duties. Otherwise, if it's a contractual relationship - such as as this one - that falls outside of the Fair Work Act, as much as the employer can get away with.
He may not fight the best boxers, but it remains a risk no matter how you look at it. If the ARU contracts the man for a large sum of money, the risk is simply too great. What if he cannot represent the Wallabies in the RC because of a freak shot?
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
+1
Sprigs
Guest
An athlete whose results depend on a clear brain and excellent physical condition is given a high salary to achieve success in his sport. As a hobby, he decides to take part in an activity that often causes brain injury and in which the participants deliberately try to hurt and knock out the opponent. It seems that Mr Pulver is quite within his rights to knock some sense, figuratively speaking, into Quade.
kunming tiger
Guest
Seriously most Rugby players face a greater chane of injuries in night clubs on end of year tours than in rings or cages. It will be interesting to see if Pulver can actually disuade Copper from boxing.. How much control should your employer exert over an employee?
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Jerry : Doubt if Cooper will get a crowd in any other place for a boxing bout. Unless it is headed by a title bout between two "professional" boxers :)
Jerry
Guest
Quade puts bums on seats, Nasser puts bums in the ring.
Chan Wee
Guest
Mccaw will be good on the floor. Cooper will hit and run around the cage :)
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Cooper vs McCaw in a cage fight?
TembaVJ
Guest
Golden... he had a shocking S15 and a horrid start to the international season right after the fight so if anything its taken him a while to get over the boxing.
Rugby is Life
Guest
Hey Likesrugby, Loved your comment "If he were so worried about injuries to his Wallabies… he would be cancelling whatever plans he has of the Wallabies playing against ANY Rugby-League team before the world cup." Maybe if Cooper pays him $5 million it will be OK. Perhaps they shouldn't even play any rugby before the world cup, or cross the road.... Pulver defines rugby as being about the Wallabies full stop.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Not sure you can classify it as boxing. If mugs are going to fork out money to see this circus, good on Nasser and Cooper for getting paid!
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Golden : using boxing to train / fitness and getting in the ring to fight are like chalk and cheese. most "professional" boxers suffer injuries above the belt; hands ribs jaws face and muscle injuries. the recent fight between Carl Froch and WBA and George Groves for IBF super-middleweight titles was stopped in round 9 when refree stopped for perceived concussion. (however there has been a debate since if he stepped in too soon.) very much doubt if Cooper is fighting at simillar level of skill / professionalism. still a freak injury is always a distinct possibility. on the other hand boxing has been fused for many fitness training systems like TAIBO, Aerobics, T90 , etc. Many sportsmen & women now use some form of martial arts in their fitness schedules. mainly for swiftness, hand eye cordination and flexibility.