Australian Boxing/SM Memorial thread

Road Warrior Andrew Maloney has arrived early in Mexico to acclimatise for his reschedule now Aug 9 IBF eliminator at 115lbs with Agri Cortes. This seems likely to be the last hurrah for AM and hoping he wins and gets a chance to fight again for the world title on home soil.

 

I think it's a bit harsh to say management mishandled his career, I think he exceeded his ability and got some good pay days..... They spoon-fed him for years you can't do that forever..... At the end of the day, he doesn't have the killer mindset for the game like his father, it's a combination of his upbringing in a first world country and private school education. He doesn't have to die in the ring, and it showed when the going got tough..... NO MAS. Good on him, but let's not hear rubbish from his mouth if he makes a comeback.

 

"...but let's not hear rubbish from his mouth if he makes a comeback."

I was really hoping that he'd stop talking rubbish after the beatdown by Murtazaliev.
But in the lead up in the Fundora rematch, he was saying the Fundora's punches felt like nothing and that he was constantly being hit by a cheese-stick.
Well, the cheese-stick dropped Timmy in the first round and cut him in the second.

And then more rubbish about being prepared to die in the ring, and we all know what happened after the 7th round.

 

There's only so many "real ones" in this sport in this country. Jai Opetaia is a real one and he's proved it a number of times, including the first Briedis fight. Plenty talk it, few walk it.

 

100%...King Jai

 

With his new ranking of IBF no5 at 130lbs Jon Jackson England has entered into negotiations with no3 Kazakhstan Sultan Zaurbek for IBF eliminator to face Eduardo Nunez. Hoping it's held at home and on TV and not in foreign country in another time zone with no coverage . As JJE has paid his dues and this could be his deserved breakthrough big fight.

 

Yeah, would be great if here in Australia and from memory, I think he last fought on a Stan show.

 

Fenechs blowing up on social media , laying the boot in Fox Sports and Tszyu. Never change Jeff

 

Jeff & Channel Nein are trying to re-write history here. Jai was featured regularly on Foxtel on his way to a world title & his world title shot against Briedis was bankrolled by Dean Lonergan & Main Event. Jai would likely never have become world champ if that fight took place in Europe rather than Australia. Foxtel / Main Event then bailed out on Jai and Dean Lonergan b/c they obviously weren't making any money from his fights in terms of PPV sales. They also bailed on Justis Huni at the same time for presumably the same reason. They weren't prepared to play the long-game which is a great shame. Maybe Channel Nein & Stan can put their money where their mouths are & start headlining Jai & Justis on their domestic telecasts? Teremoana as well. Foxtel are so short-sighted they wouldn't put Teremoana on television after his initial professional debut despite his obvious talent. That had a silver lining with him going back to the amateurs but was an example of their unwillingness to back Australian talent with great potential unless it's making them money here & now.

 

For a change l probably agree with him.

 

I didn't hear any lies.

 

"Maybe Channel Nein & Stan can put their money where their mouths are & start headlining Jai & Justis on their domestic telecasts?"

Wonder how that would work as both guys are with Matchroom and their fights are shown on DAZN, which in October, will be screened on Fox Sports/Main Event

 

Can't see Opetaia heading up to heavyweight without having first won all the cruiserweight belts but that isn't going to happen anytime soon with the seemingly already reluctant Ramirez having just had his shoulder operated on.

 

I wouldn’t rule out Opetaia heading to Heavyweight before too long. The other Cruiserweight champs don’t want to know about him. Time will tell but Ramirez is now out for approx 6 months and then has his WBO mandatory.

 

The #1 contender spot at Heavyweight in the IBF is currently vacant.

The IBF should put Jai into it & have him face #2 Derek Chisora for the mandatory position.

Jai should be next in the queue for a title shot at Usyk after Joseph Parker.