Now that Meehan and Leapai lost and Tua retired...

[oliverfennell]

Who are you pinning your hopes on in terms of Antipodean heavyweights?

Are DeMori or Lucas Browne anything to get excited about? (I haven't watched them yet)

What about Tupoe?

Anyone else I should know about?

[Brute]

Browne and de Mori are the top two. We don't have many heavyweights because the big blokes do better financially out of the Rugby codes and Australian Rules football. Tupou is a Samoan who seems to have taken US citizenship. Australia and New Zealand are separate countries and do not cheer for each other.

[Grant]

Browne and de Mori are the top two. We don't have many heavyweights because the big blokes do better financially out of the Rugby codes and Australian Rules football. Tupou is a Samoan who seems to have taken US citizenship. Australia and New Zealand are separate countries and do not cheer for each other.

With the exception that if they are winners and merely fly over Australia, we claim them!

[caveman]

wouldnt give up on leapai just yet

[colin russell]

Oh come on guys one loss and you give Leapai away. He will be back

[iron rhino]

There is no reason to give up on leapai after his recent loss.I give him more credit than any aus heavyweight at the moment!Demori and browne have nothing on Alex,period...Both those fighters are at Aus level,nothing more.This is a minor speedhump in the progression of alex,he fought a good level boxer and I hope learning from this now will benefit him so he can shut them down more effectively.Its obvious he needs more latteral and head movement and with fitness,he will be unstoppable.Keep an eye out on his next few fights,I hear there going to be doozies...

[Sweet P]

There is no reason to give up on leapai after his recent loss.I give him more credit than any aus heavyweight at the moment!Demori and browne have nothing on Alex,period...Both those fighters are at Aus level,nothing more.This is a minor speedhump in the progression of alex,he fought a good level boxer and I hope learning from this now will benefit him so he can shut them down more effectively.Its obvious he needs more latteral and head movement and with fitness,he will be unstoppable.Keep an eye out on his next few fights,I hear there going to be doozies...

I think Mick has summed it up well. Leapia lost to a world class guy. If he can learn from it he will be a better fighter in the future.
He Deffinently needs to work on his foot work and head movement though, The top guys will land far to many shots if he dosnt.

Getting back to the original question, I think Demori and Browne both have a good future in the division. They do a lot of sparring which will only help them both in the long run. Lucas has come long way in a very short time. He is improving with each fight.

[N2 Shape]

Agree with Mick and sweet p, Alex is far from done! If anything he'll be better for the fight against Johnson!

Browne and De Mori still have question marks surrounding them, obviously Mark is embarking on a comeback of sorts after a layoff and has done well taking care of experienced fighters to date. Im interested in where he goes next (NZ Mark ? ) as for Browne he looks the part is big and undeafeted so far.........will be interesting to see if he takes off in the UK.

Joseph Parker is supposed to be making his pro debut after bombing at the Oceania trials so hes another potentially decent heavy to add to the mix if he gets going this year.

[cjscott]

Who you kidding Craig??Parker was lucky to beat a 17yr old at NZ trials and IMO it will the 17yr old who makes more headlines in NZ than Parker..As for Parker going Pro IMO alot would have to change including him self a decent trainer overseas for a start and a decent fitness resume.Since fighting in the open age group he has lost more fights than he has won.

[Craig14]

Who you kidding Craig??Parker was lucky to beat a 17yr old at NZ trials and IMO it will the 17yr old who makes more headlines in NZ than Parker..As for Parker going Pro IMO alot would have to change including him self a decent trainer overseas for a start and a decent fitness resume.Since fighting in the open age group he has lost more fights than he has won.

How did Dempsey get on, on the 31st at the ABA?

[cjscott]

Who you kidding Craig??Parker was lucky to beat a 17yr old at NZ trials and IMO it will the 17yr old who makes more headlines in NZ than Parker..As for Parker going Pro IMO alot would have to change including him self a decent trainer overseas for a start and a decent fitness resume.Since fighting in the open age group he has lost more fights than he has won.

How did Dempsey get on, on the 31st at the ABA?

Lost pts

[Craig14]

Who you kidding Craig??Parker was lucky to beat a 17yr old at NZ trials and IMO it will the 17yr old who makes more headlines in NZ than Parker..As for Parker going Pro IMO alot would have to change including him self a decent trainer overseas for a start and a decent fitness resume.Since fighting in the open age group he has lost more fights than he has won.

How did Dempsey get on, on the 31st at the ABA?

Lost pts

Shame. You going to Craig's promotion in town 20th? And when's the next promotion at ABA? Pro or Am.

[Brute]

Agree with Mick and sweet p, Alex is far from done! If anything he'll be better for the fight against Johnson!

Browne and De Mori still have question marks surrounding them, obviously Mark is embarking on a comeback of sorts after a layoff and has done well taking care of experienced fighters to date. Im interested in where he goes next (NZ Mark ? ) as for Browne he looks the part is big and undeafeted so far.........will be interesting to see if he takes off in the UK.

Is there anything to the story about Big Daddy fighting that Butlin character? On history Browne would kill him.

[cjscott]

How did Dempsey get on, on the 31st at the ABA?

Lost pts

Shame. You going to Craig's promotion in town 20th? And when's the next promotion at ABA? Pro or Am.

Some good fights at the Super city complex on the 21st but only AM,next AM fights at ABA are on 27th April not to sure about Pros at the ABA.

[Brute]

Agree with Mick and sweet p, Alex is far from done! If anything he'll be better for the fight against Johnson!

Browne and De Mori still have question marks surrounding them, obviously Mark is embarking on a comeback of sorts after a layoff and has done well taking care of experienced fighters to date. Im interested in where he goes next (NZ Mark ? ) as for Browne he looks the part is big and undeafeted so far.........will be interesting to see if he takes off in the UK.

Is there anything to the story about Big Daddy fighting that Butlin character? On history Browne would kill him.

OK, so it's on. Browne is taller, stronger and younger than Butlin whose last win was in 2008, before Browne started pro boxing. Is this arrogance on the part of the matchmaker or doesn't he like Butlin?

[oliverfennell]

Browne and de Mori are the top two. We don't have many heavyweights because the big blokes do better financially out of the Rugby codes and Australian Rules football. Tupou is a Samoan who seems to have taken US citizenship. Australia and New Zealand are separate countries and do not cheer for each other.

I'm aware of that but this is the Australia & Pacific board so thus non-Aussies may contribute to this thread.

In any case, Meehan has been claimed by both Aus and NZ (not to mention Fiji) at different career stages.

[oliverfennell]

Oh come on guys one loss and you give Leapai away. He will be back

Well, 4 losses actually, but yes, only 1 that really matters. I know what you're saying and I'm a Leapai fan, but if he can work his way back up from that it will take time, so I wondered if the attention would shift at least for the time being.

[oliverfennell]

Nobody going to chuck Chauncy into the mix?

[Brute]

Ask the Kiwis. To the best of my knowledge Chauncy is still a US citizen who fights in the USA and New Zealand with occasional trips to China and one fight in Europe. I don't think he has ever come to Australia.

[N2 Shape]

Agreed Colin I dont rate Parker, especially under his current "training" and "management" conditions. But on natural ability alone he'll cruise through the usual suspects on the local scene here with the exception of maybe Joey Wilson, and Afa Tatupu could give him a shake up also! But he's really the only one of any real potential/pedigree comming into the pro mix as a heavy in NZ! I do however love Patrick Mailata I think hes a true diamond in the rough mate. I organised the Sunday News Article on him last weekend. Will be watching him with interest but in my personal opinion he still 4 years or more away from turning pro if he focuses on making Commonwealth Games then Brazil Olympics as I believe he should. He'll only be 21 years old after Brazil if im not mistaken!? He could do well for himself fighting on the WSB whilst chasing the Olympic dream.

There ar eplenty of talented big men around who'd make good prospects but many choose to chase the NRL or Super rugby opportunitys as there are more chance sof getting pro contracts that pay well in those sports and good on them. To be honest unless you have a real deep passion and love for the sport I can see why alot of guys wont spend years grafting away in the amateurs only to turn pro and earn $400-600 per 4 round fight in NZ as they currently earn. Some sit on the shelve though demanding more $$ but bring no one to the promotion, its really a continual circle no one gets anywhere. The guys have to realise they need to fight there way out of NZ become the best on there country then they can entertain thoughts of competing internationally wether its Aussie, Asia or further abroad. Of course theres also the option of being the next Dion McNabney who chooses to only fight in Australia on the meat wagon, being over matched and badly beaten each outing cause the pay is better.

[Brute]

If you want to talk about Kiwis named Dion, Dion Murphy was about the best NZ produced.

[cjscott]

Agreed Colin I dont rate Parker, especially under his current "training" and "management" conditions. But on natural ability alone he'll cruise through the usual suspects on the local scene here with the exception of maybe Joey Wilson, and Afa Tatupu could give him a shake up also! But he's really the only one of any real potential/pedigree comming into the pro mix as a heavy in NZ! I do however love Patrick Mailata I think hes a true diamond in the rough mate. I organised the Sunday News Article on him last weekend. Will be watching him with interest but in my personal opinion he still 4 years or more away from turning pro if he focuses on making Commonwealth Games then Brazil Olympics as I believe he should. He'll only be 21 years old after Brazil if im not mistaken!? He could do well for himself fighting on the WSB whilst chasing the Olympic dream.

There ar eplenty of talented big men around who'd make good prospects but many choose to chase the NRL or Super rugby opportunitys as there are more chance sof getting pro contracts that pay well in those sports and good on them. To be honest unless you have a real deep passion and love for the sport I can see why alot of guys wont spend years grafting away in the amateurs only to turn pro and earn $400-600 per 4 round fight in NZ as they currently earn. Some sit on the shelve though demanding more $$ but bring no one to the promotion, its really a continual circle no one gets anywhere. The guys have to realise they need to fight there way out of NZ become the best on there country then they can entertain thoughts of competing internationally wether its Aussie, Asia or further abroad. Of course theres also the option of being the next Dion McNabney who chooses to only fight in Australia on the meat wagon, being over matched and badly beaten each outing cause the pay is better.

Patrick fighting Joseph tonight in Christchurch in a rematch.Plan already in place for Patrick he is only just 17 and still a novice in the sport and can already match it with Joseph who is NZ no1.

[Brute]

16 year old Jai Opetaia is the Australian Heavyweight for the London Olympics. He will probably stay amateur until the 2016 games whatever happens.

John Linde is our Super Heavyweight for the games, but at 29 and with University Degrees in Economics and Accountancy I can't see him turning pro.

[N2 Shape]

Jai has a good future ahead of him, just competing at the Olympics at this stage is fantastic experience for him, he could easily do another Olympics possible another 2 before going pro.

I did read an Emmanuel Stewart artcile Re Amateurs staying in the Amateur code to long before going pro and hindering there transformation into the pro game. Personally I think young guys should give the amateurs a good crack see how far they can get wether is a National Title, Oceania Title Commonwealth games rep or the ultimate as an amateur the olympics. Either way once they have given is an honest crack they should make the switch to the pro game if they are at interested in it. Alot of what Stewart was saying rings true, really after 40-50 amateur bouts in my opinion you should have picked up enough ring experience, training etc that you can handle yourself and make the switch without having the amateur style to heavily ingrained into your system. Just my humble opinion, and of course id never knock a guy for staying Amateur and just competing for the love of the sport!! But i firmly believe there comes a point when you can spend to much time learning the points game that you can never make a really succesful switch to the hurt game. Although everyone is different it also comes down to the individual as well.

Thoughts?

[iron rhino]

Oh come on guys one loss and you give Leapai away. He will be back

Well, 4 losses actually, but yes, only 1 that really matters. I know what you're saying and I'm a Leapai fan, but if he can work his way back up from that it will take time, so I wondered if the attention would shift at least for the time being.

I would love to see either demori or browne fight alex's last 4 opponents,cos as I see it,they would have lost all four.He hasn't ducked anyone and his record is a real one not padded rubbish.Alot of people have been waiting for alex to lose and come up with the('I told you so's')But I know alex and he's more of a warrior and hungry now that he's been been beaten,Maybe aus fans have put all their eggs in the one basket,but damn!alex is giving it a real crack,something I think that can only be admired!