Plenty of Aussie boxers were active in 2020 despite the COVID-19 restrictions both here and abroad. Here’s a look at the local fighters to keep an eye on in 2021.
Andrew Moloney
Super flyweight Andrew Moloney (21-1) was robbed of a world title belt in Las Vegas in November when it was ruled that an accidental headbutt had caused a cut eye to champion Joshua Franco (17-1-2).
This was despite no video evidence of the butt, and plenty of evidence of 29-year-old Moloney landing punches in the opening two rounds before the bout was stopped.
Franco had beaten Moloney via a contentious split decision five months earlier.
The WBA have mandated an immediate rematch that will take place in 2021 on a date and venue still to be confirmed.
George Kambosos Jr
Lightweight ‘Ferocious’ George Kambosos Jnr (19-0) only had one fight in 2020, but it was a big one. His split decision win over Welshman Lee Selby (28-3) at Wembley in October has set him up for a world title shot in 2021. He’s the mandatory challenger for 23-year-old Teofimo Lopez’s IBF world title belt.
Lopez (16-0) shocked the boxing world in October when he easily outpointed Ukrainian legend Vasyl Lomachenko (14-2) in Las Vegas. The 27-year-old Kambosos has based himself in the US over the past few years and he could be set for a huge payday against Lopez.
Jason Moloney
Andrew Moloney’s twin brother Jason (21-2) lost his bantamweight world title shot against Japanese dynamo Naoya Inoue (20-0) via a seventh round TKO in Las Vegas in October. He put in a brave effort but the power-punching Inoue was too strong.
Inoue currently has the WBA and IBF world title belts, so Jason Moloney’s best path to a world title might be via the WBC or WBO.
Tim Tszyu
Super welterweight Tim Tszyu (17-0) dominated former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (20-3-1) in Townsville in August, with Horn’s corner stopping the fight at the end of the eighth round. He followed that up with a first round KO of New Zealand’s Bowyn Morgan (21-2).
Tszyu will be looking to challenge himself on the world stage in 2021.
Tim Tszyu knocks down Jeff Horn. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Justis Huni
At the start of the year, amateur super heavyweight Justis Huni was hoping to win an Olympic gold medal for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics.
With the Olympics being postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19, he set his sights on winning the Australian professional heavyweight championship instead. He did it in his first fight in the paid ranks in October, and defended the title again in early December.
He’s still hoping to win that gold medal for Australia if the postponed Olympics eventually go ahead in 2021.
Other Aussie fighters on the rise
Plenty of promising Aussie boxers kept their unbeaten records in tact in 2020 and will be looking for bigger challenges in 2021, including cruiserweight Jai Opetaia (20-0), super featherweight Liam Wilson (8-0), super middleweight Cesar Mateo Tapia (12-0), featherweight Brock Jarvis (18-0), super lightweight Liam Paro (19-0), lightweight Jacob Ng (14-0) and heavyweight Demsey McKean (18-0).
Plastered Plasterer
Guest
No mention of Big Gal :stoked:
The Grafter
Guest
Not forgetting Alex Leapai went 5 rounds in a unification title fight against Wladimir Klitschko during 2014. Australian boxing is in a very good state with plenty of up and coming youngsters looking to join the established fighters on the world stage as pointed out by John. Along with decent promoting and matchmaking, the support of pay tv giving further exposure to local talent, 2021 is shaping up as a big year possibly with at least one world title fight being held in Australia.
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Nice article. I somehow missed that Maloney fight. Will try to check it out
John Coomer
Roar Guru
It sure is Golden Eye. AIBA (the world governing body for amateur boxing) changed their stance a few years ago and now allow pros to come back to the amateur ranks, but they can only do it once, you can’t chop and change as often as you feel like it. So Justis could turn pro and still go back and have a crack at the Tokyo Olympics. Lucas ‘Big Daddy’ Browne actually won the WBA heavyweight title in 2016 by stopping Ruslan Chagaev in Russia, but he was stripped of the belt after failing a drug test. Aussie Joe did win a version of the world title (WBF) when he was well past his prime, but that organisation isn’t really recognised anywhere around the world. I didn’t see the Ryan/O’Meley fight, but I note that it was a split decision so it must have been close. They’re always good fights to watch and I’m sure that Ryan having a knockdown of Tszyu on his record (and taking him the distance) will look even more impressive as time goes on.
Mr Lopez
Guest
Golden Eye, Olympic boxing rules now allow boxers who've competed 'professionally' for up to 10 bouts to compete at the Olympics. Our last Aussie heavyweight title challenger [and champion, subsequently stripped of the title] was Lucas Browne who beat Ruslan Chageav in 2016. I don;t recall the O’Meley v Ryan right, but 2 recent bouts certainly were both brutal and entertaining in my mind; Hoane v Ng [about 3 weeks ago] and Foley v Telford on the Tszyu PPV. Regards, Mr L
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
Hi John, Australian boxing is certainly looking good, with the many great prospects showing their wares and hopefully catching the public's imagination. A question for you, how is Huni still able to compete at the Olympics after his Pro fight? I'd love to see an Australian Heavyweight Challenge for a title. Was Aussie Joe our last? Also, I'd like to give a shout out to the O'Meley v Ryan fight. Highly entertaining & probably not receiving the accolades it deserved, with Ryan winning Aussie & International title. Ryan also, took Tszyu to 12 rounds, putting Tszyu on his back-side but losing a UD. Like Tszyu he has improved. Great to see Boxing has been able to continue during these difficult times.