* With Breidis moving to HW Opetia IBF no 3 in line for possible world title shot or title eliminator against Polish no 2 Michael Ceslaik in Poland or Sydney in Oct. Opetia recovered from hand surgery. * Word is Triller in financial difficulties and its possible Lopez could vacate the Title and that means Kambosos Jr could face Mexican Isaac Cruz No 2 for Title. https://www.revolutionise.com.au/boxing/view/online/&id=xeabh7kvqtrdam5e
The lack of activity for Zerafa contrasted with the Headsplitter's busy schedule is another plus in the Headsplitter column. Taking the Mundine money-grab path cost Horndog badly (ironically against Zerafa). Not sure who I'd pick in this. Very difficult to say. I like the improvement I've seen in Hardman & the qualities he possesses but Zerafa would be a tough match-up for him. Zerafa is vastly more experienced & has a good skill level (an area the Headsplitter is rapidly improving in but will it be enough?).
Yeah, I was concerned following Timmy's last fight & the withdrawal of Huni from the Olympics that we had nothing really interesting lined up, but glad to see that's not the case. All of those guys mentioned will have their hands full between now & the end of the year by the looks of it. Liam Smith is a great opponent for Tim. There were plenty who thought he did well enough against Kurbanov so seeing how Tim measures up will be interesting. You'd reckon Kurbanov is a future opponent of Tim's as well, either in an eliminator for a mandatory position or ideally for a vacant world title. So let's see the Liam Smith fight & then we can start making comparisons. If the Headsplitter had Liam Wilson's skills & Wilson had the Headsplitter's chin & physical robustness, we'd be looking good. Not sure if the Headsplitter's skill level is good enough to foot it with Zerafa but he ticks a lot of the other boxes so who knows? I think Hemi Ahio is a very dangerous fight for Justis Huni first up after an injury layoff. If Huni was coming in off an Olympics campaign having faced world class opposition it would be a different story but he's not. I guess if they want to sell PPV's they need to find compelling opponents for him & from this part of the world the two Kiwis are right up there. If Huni wins those two impressively, it really opens things up for him. As a marketing exercise & from a boxing development point of view, I'd like to see him matched with a couple of Olympic medalists from the Super Heavy division who don't appear to have any money behind them. The two boys from Kazakhstan, Ivan Dychko & Kam Kunkabayev would be very tough fights for Huni but the type he needs if he's to make it to the top. Then bring on that other Kiwi. What's his name? Joe Plodder I think it is. No.........make that Joseph Parker. Before attempting to rule the world, Huni needs to rule the Southern Hemisphere.
Let's hope Opetaia gets a shot at a vacant world title. He's been very inactive due to Covid & injury layoff so it's going to be extremely difficult for him to seize this opportunity when it comes. I think the fight needs to take place out here for him to be a realistic chance of winning. I'd hate to see George lose the megabuck's payday that goes with fighting Teo, but winning a vacant IBF Lightweight world title would be a decent consolation prize. Win the fight & unification with Teo down the track could hopefully still occur. We've also got Andrew Moloney fighting for the WBA Super Fly world title on 15 August. I'd like to think we will have a couple of nice, shiny world championship belts to put in the trophy cabinet before the year is out. We can put them in the spot reserved for the Olympic gold medal we were supposed to collect this (last) year.
No doubt it will be a good fight. I agree that Zerafa's experience could win him the fight he would be best off staying cautious and out boxing Hardman to a decision. That is the game plan for a lot of Hardman's recent opponents but he manages to drag them into a dog fight and stops them. Horn was able to drag Zerafa into a dog fight in the rematch so you think he would learn from that mistake.
Kambosos winning a vacant belt would still be great. I could see somebody like Ryan Garcia and Golden Boy thinking that Kambosos might be an easy fight to make for them to pick up a belt if Kambosos wins the vacant IBF.
I am looking forward to Charlo Castano this weekend boyo's. I got a feeling that the winner will end up vacating some belts and our man Tszyu will pick up a vacant title. Any chance they could make Tszyu v Smith for the vacant WBO in September?
I'd feel bad for George getting promised Yia Yia's Moussaka for so long but ending up with a Coles Brand vegetable lasagne. I mean if he can get his own title he has a pretty big bargaining chip but even then its hard seeing him get that kind of money again unless he upsets a big scalp.
Zerafas late pull out is one of the most disgraceful ducks in recent memory, I have zero interest in seeing that clown compete again.
I heard from Bendigo / Ballarat boxing contacts that Zerafa is looking to do a celebratory role in a tv show...like a bachelor - bride competition show on tv. I haven't had a tele since the digital changeover so hopefully that means more to you than me....don't know if he'd going to go into tv full-time or hopefully just try and juggle the two things. Such a weird move....he could make so much more coin in boxing than on tv.
Yeah, looking forward to finding out who the second best Junior Middleweight in the world is tomorrow. Don't think Junior v Smith can be for a world title but don't be surprised if it's Junior v Kurbanov for the vacant WBO title next up after that. It will be interesting to see where that gets put on given Junior's apparent desire for a fight in Red Square.
* Justi Huni finished for 2021. Hand Surgery recovery to take longer than expected and likely to be out of action for up to seven mths . * Paul Gallen in talks for another fight in 3 mths. * Tai Tuivasa next fight Dubai Oct against either no 9 Augustus Sakai or no 12 Walt Harris.
I enjoyed yesterday's fight, guys. There must have been a big difference between the commentary on our international feed to what there was elsewhere b/c I had it real close. Timmy was congratulating Castano afterwards though so he saw it the same way most appear to have. I don't think a draw was a bad result for Tim. There likely would have been a rematch had Castano won anyway so while that's being arranged / happening Timbo Slice can get in the additional two or three fights he needs against international competition. While Charlo may be heading north when things are done, Castano likely won't be & will need to be dealt with at some point. So Junior needs that additional international seasoning. Let's say Liam Smith, Tony Harrison & Kurbanov. Then let's see if he can drop a hammer on Castano.
