I was actually going to drive down to Bendigo to watch this one but didn't get the chance. I wasn't worried though b/c I thought I could watch a stream but that pin obviously got pulled when ESPN purchased the broadcast rights. Interesting comments about Moloney. Some of the self-appointed Australian boxing "experts" on this thread (I use that term loosely) have been critical of both Moloney boys but it does seem like they are good examples of how Australian-based fighters should prepare themselves for international fights. Both have won Commonwealth titles in addition to regional alphabet belts & have brought in world class international opponents & sparring partners prior to seeking world title shots. It would seem to me that's the way to do it if you are based in Australia.
NSW Boxing has introduced new laws to ensure that there will not be a repeat of Davey Browne death in the ring and 28 yr father three yrs ago. Boxing referee's and Doctor's will need to agree exactly what constitutes's a knockdown and there will need to be extra medical equipment ringside. Liam Paro WBO no 7 JW Oct 13 fight with German Robert Tlatlik has proven such a hit with fans that promoter Angelo Di Carlo has moved it from the Mansfield Tavern to Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Bilal Akkawy opponent announced. This content is protected
I remember someone in here saying they had never heard of El Nica - well, trust me, while he is certainly past his prime that still is a HUGE scalp for young Moloney (and was a cosmic leap up in degree of difficulty from past competition), and has been an extremely dangerous world class mainstay in his weight range for several years.
Also if you'd never heard of him before he fought Moloney, go watch a ton of prime El Nica bouts, pure entertainment. You'll thank me later.
I'd seen virtually nothing of Moloney so I was impressed with what I saw against Concepcion. Really good fundamentals. He's quite well credentialed for an Australian fighter. A Commonwealth games gold medalist as an amateur, a professional Commonwealth champion & he's now faced world class opposition as a pro. Angelo Hyder is looking after both Moloney boys. He looked after Vic Darchinyan for a while & did a good job with him.
I think he used to work with Fenech when Fenech was a trainer. But yeah, he looked after Danny Green. I think Vic went from Fenech to Billy Hussein (who also worked with Fenech) & then to Angelo Hyder. Pretty sure Hyder was in the corner when Vic unified against Mijares.
Crazy, such a small world, Aussie boxing - a real tight-knit community despite the country being almost identical with the (obviously far more densely populated) US in land area. It seems like everybody knows and has worked alongside each other...usually here you don't even automatically get that insular a feel in a single major city (where there can be a few rivaling big gyms that never have any fighters or trainers overlap)
Some fights to watch out for rest of yr ( subject to change) Big punching Matraville slugger Aaron Lai ( 9 ko in 10 wins ) fighting Japan Shintaro Matsumoto for OBPF LHW Title on Sept 21 North Sydney Leagues. Lucas Browne vs Julius Long on Sept 28 Gold Coast. 118 lb Mark Schleibs 9 - 0 6 ko vs Robert Trigg a Team Ellis Promotion on Oct 5 Melb. Aust HW Champ 6 '6 Demsey Mckean fighting 5 '9 Victor Oganou . Most will remember Victor from fighting a decade ago on Aussie version of the contender. Sat 13 Brisbane Convention Centre. Willie Nasio fighting Herman Ene Purcell for vacant Queensland State HW Title. Nasio power 10 ko in 11 wins makes him a dangerous proposition for anybody taking up as a stepping stone to higher honors. Nov 3 Toowoomba. Tej Pratup Singh vs Jason Leukin for vacant Aust MW Title . Former champ David Toussaint retired because of injury. Singh deserves a break after the Soliman fight farce. Nov 17 Melb Pavilion. Reminder the Bilal Akkaway USA debut is be shown on Fox Sports Fri 14. ESPN 2 10 am to 12 pm.
Townsville slugger Mark Bam Bam Flannagan will be fighting Frenchmen Arsen Goulamirian for the interim WBA CW Title on Oct 20 at Marseille France. Arsen was born in Armenia but is based at Big Bear and is coached by Golovokin trainer Abel Sanchez. Bam Bam has been sparring Brisb based fighter Aaron Rusell and Ben Kelleher and will hit Melb next week to train with Olympian turned pro Jason Whateley. He will spend the last 3 weeks of his preparation in Philadelphia sparring with America former world champion Steve Cunningham best remembered for knocking down Tyson Fury. This content is protected
Boxing continues to make a welcome revival on Fox Sports. Aust Boxing Promotions Angelo Di Carlo Oct 13 card headlined by Liam Paro vs German Robert Tlatlik will be broadcast live on Fox Sports. Lets hope Angelo can convince Fox to show Bam Bam Title fight. Also DDP hard work in Aus Boxing is paying dividends with DDP big QLD promotion in Dec with Dennis Hogan and Rohan Murdock headling being shown live on Fox Sports.
Sharks skipper Paul Gallen is eyeing a fight with former Am star Joe Goodall 4 -0 4 ko ( all first rd ) on the Horn vs Mundine card. Phil Murphy the largest private owner of the Brisbane Bronco organised a hookup between Gallen and Goodall after Joe scored a first rd stoppage over former Aust HW Champ Colin Wilson at the Pullham Hotel last Sat night. Gallen will make a final dec after the end of the NRL season.
I admit i am disappointed. I was seriously hoping Jai Opetia fight Oct 20 fight in Belgium would be shown on Fox Sports but at will be instead streamed on Epic Centre TV $ 19.95 and PPV in Belgium. 4 weeks out Jai has been busy sparring at the Bondi Boxing Club. I admit i'm worried for the Central Coast slugger as he is one of my fav. 12 Round Promotion Alan Vanackee who promotes jai opponent Bilal Laggoune who is the IBF Intercontinental Champion and Jai who is the mandatory challenger has stated that he acknowledges the rugged Aussie will present a tough test he is confident his charge will draw upon his superior exp to get him across the line. Bilal is tough and has fought a better level of opponents than Jai and while he has a loss on his record he hasn't been stopped in 25 fight. When you look closely at Jai record you will see that this is his first 12 rd fight and the longest he has gone in his career is 9 rds. Vanackee added on the other hand this will be Bilal 8th 12 rd fight and has gone the distance in 4 of them . Bial never underestimates his opponent and is confident his superior work rate and pressure he can apply will tire the young Aussie and that he will finish him off in the later rds. Opetia promoter Michael Francis of Xtreme Sports said that his fighter is looking forward to his toughest test in his 16 fight career to date. " Our team has been looking closely at Bilal for some time now and Jai is confident he can give a career best performance and cruise to victory. I will be very intrigued what the odds will be for this fight. This content is protected
While everyone here wants to see our guys get better international experience before challenging for world titles, the best ways to do it are to either bring world class / intermediate level opponents out here or base yourself overseas. The way not to do it is to travel overseas & take fights in the other guy's backyard. In saying that, Jai is very talented (possibly our best) & may well spark the other guy out. He won't get robbed on the scorecards if he does that. He's ready to step it up notwithstanding the circumstances so let's see if he can. I've watched fights through Epicentre before & they have provided a reliable service in the past. Certainly it's a lot better than having no option of watching the fights live at all (as was the case with TJ Doheny's title tilt & the recent Bendigo show). What's the world coming to when fans in the US can watch a promotion in Bendigo live but we can't? Come on, Foxsports. If it's good enough for US tv it's good enough for us. Fair dinkum.