I agree with his assessment of Mason but think he may be a little harsh on Hoppa. I think Hoppa has tried to learn the basics and is improving with each fight. I thought that Tutaki was troubling Hoppa with his jab and Hoppa attemped to nuify it by ducking under and moving in. At least that shows some ability to adapt rather than just storm forward swinging wildly. It was also clear that he had worked on his body attack, so I think he is trying... Mason on the other hand was clearly lost, not really knowing what to do in his first venture into the squared circle.By Dave Lewis
March 09, 2007 12:00
AUSSIE world champion Lovemore Ndou has accused former footballer John Hopoate and Willie Mason's brother Les of turning boxing into a "sick joke" after the pair scored quick knockouts against hapless opponents on the undercard to the Anthony Mundine-Sam Soliman fight.
The newly-decorated IBF junior welterweight warlord derided the heavyweight duo as "an embarrassment to the sport", insisting they are still in pugilistic nappies and don't belong anywhere near a ring.
"I was so disgusted with what I saw at the Entertainment Centre I felt like getting out of my seat and going into the ring and giving them a lesson myself," said the South African-born Ndou.
"Footballers like them thinking they can box turns what is a scientific and artistic sport into a circus. They are making fools out of themselves and fools out of a sport I love.
"If footballers want to fight, go to the gym and learn the basics first.
"I'd rather watch a woman box. I'm training Sharon Anyos, who is the WBC featherweight champion, and she's a better fighter than either of them."
Mason, the 124kg brother of Bulldogs battering ram Willie and a former rugby union player of little renown, took just 1min 59sec to stop John Justice – a 34-year-old former Young Liberal leader and philosophy student who had made his mind up to quit boxing before Mason had laid a glove on him.
Hopoate, the one-time NRL mischief maker, clobbered clueless Kiwi Richard Tutaki in two rounds for his sixth straight win since switching sports in a holding and grappling match more suited to the WrestleMania ring.
"If I want to watch brawling, I can go to my local pub any time," scoffed Ndou. "This is a big joke that's tainting boxing. It's like taking a sumo wrestler and putting him into a ballet contest.
"Anthony Mundine is different, he's a former footballer who came from a boxing background – he always had it in his blood. That's why he's a world champion today."
Mason, a self-professed world heavyweight champion in the making, left Ndou incredulous.
"When I saw Les Mason, I felt terrible," he said. "I thought to myself, 'is boxing dying bit by bit'? The guy has got balls for getting in a ring but he doesn't know what he's doing."
Ndou wasn't any kinder to Hopoate, saying: "He's been up against pub fighters which makes him think he's good. But if he comes up against somebody proficient he'll get badly hurt."
He made an exception for former NRL heavyhitter Solomon Haumono, who marked his return to the ring with his ninth straight win – a first-round KO against Fijian fallguy Fatu Tuimanoro.
"The Fijian was a joke but at least Solomon can box," said Ndou. "He has a great trainer in Johnny Lewis and he has potential compared to the other two. He can go somewhere in the sport."
Les Mason and Hoppa...
Les Mason and Hoppa...
What are your thoughts on these two heavyweights? Lovemore Ndou is not a big fan:
I also thought it was circus. Probably more so because of the matchups than the fighters having ago.
Hoppa now has had 6 fights and he was $%^&ed after that 2nd round. If he had someone infront of him who could throw a straight punch he would be sat on his arse real quick or at least have his nose and face rearranged.
Hoppa now has had 6 fights and he was $%^&ed after that 2nd round. If he had someone infront of him who could throw a straight punch he would be sat on his arse real quick or at least have his nose and face rearranged.
Both were very average and good on Lovemore for saying so. Hoppa looked like the same brawler, winging punches from miles back that we saw on the Mundine/Green undercard. Didn't improve his technique, his defence or his stamina. The only thing that really improved was his opposition and even he was pretty terrible.
As for Les Mason, if he's the future heavyweight champion, I shudder to think of the rants we'll see on the current scene about the state of the division. Didn't look to be carrying any sort of power for a guy that size and had no speed and very limited skills.
As for Les Mason, if he's the future heavyweight champion, I shudder to think of the rants we'll see on the current scene about the state of the division. Didn't look to be carrying any sort of power for a guy that size and had no speed and very limited skills.
Want to see some of the best fights then go to a local show and watch a bunch of guys just get out and have ago because they want to and skip the Mundine and mates circus, because thats all it is.
Good on Hoopa for having ago but he should be on some local card show, fighting 4 rounders instead of having the privledge of being on a PPV world title card. Give that privledge to a fighter who has done his appretiship and put the hard work in.
Good on Hoopa for having ago but he should be on some local card show, fighting 4 rounders instead of having the privledge of being on a PPV world title card. Give that privledge to a fighter who has done his appretiship and put the hard work in.
Re: Les Mason and Hoppa...
Marlin wrote:What are your thoughts on these two heavyweights? Lovemore Ndou is not a big fan:
I agree with his assessment of Mason but think he may be a little harsh on Hoppa. I think Hoppa has tried to learn the basics and is improving with each fight. I thought that Tutaki was troubling Hoppa with his jab and Hoppa attemped to nuify it by ducking under and moving in. At least that shows some ability to adapt rather than just storm forward swinging wildly. It was also clear that he had worked on his body attack, so I think he is trying... Mason on the other hand was clearly lost, not really knowing what to do in his first venture into the squared circle.By Dave Lewis
March 09, 2007 12:00
AUSSIE world champion Lovemore Ndou has accused former footballer John Hopoate and Willie Mason's brother Les of turning boxing into a "sick joke" after the pair scored quick knockouts against hapless opponents on the undercard to the Anthony Mundine-Sam Soliman fight.
The newly-decorated IBF junior welterweight warlord derided the heavyweight duo as "an embarrassment to the sport", insisting they are still in pugilistic nappies and don't belong anywhere near a ring.
"I was so disgusted with what I saw at the Entertainment Centre I felt like getting out of my seat and going into the ring and giving them a lesson myself," said the South African-born Ndou.
"Footballers like them thinking they can box turns what is a scientific and artistic sport into a circus. They are making fools out of themselves and fools out of a sport I love.
"If footballers want to fight, go to the gym and learn the basics first.
"I'd rather watch a woman box. I'm training Sharon Anyos, who is the WBC featherweight champion, and she's a better fighter than either of them."
Mason, the 124kg brother of Bulldogs battering ram Willie and a former rugby union player of little renown, took just 1min 59sec to stop John Justice – a 34-year-old former Young Liberal leader and philosophy student who had made his mind up to quit boxing before Mason had laid a glove on him.
Hopoate, the one-time NRL mischief maker, clobbered clueless Kiwi Richard Tutaki in two rounds for his sixth straight win since switching sports in a holding and grappling match more suited to the WrestleMania ring.
"If I want to watch brawling, I can go to my local pub any time," scoffed Ndou. "This is a big joke that's tainting boxing. It's like taking a sumo wrestler and putting him into a ballet contest.
"Anthony Mundine is different, he's a former footballer who came from a boxing background – he always had it in his blood. That's why he's a world champion today."
Mason, a self-professed world heavyweight champion in the making, left Ndou incredulous.
"When I saw Les Mason, I felt terrible," he said. "I thought to myself, 'is boxing dying bit by bit'? The guy has got balls for getting in a ring but he doesn't know what he's doing."
Ndou wasn't any kinder to Hopoate, saying: "He's been up against pub fighters which makes him think he's good. But if he comes up against somebody proficient he'll get badly hurt."
He made an exception for former NRL heavyhitter Solomon Haumono, who marked his return to the ring with his ninth straight win – a first-round KO against Fijian fallguy Fatu Tuimanoro.
"The Fijian was a joke but at least Solomon can box," said Ndou. "He has a great trainer in Johnny Lewis and he has potential compared to the other two. He can go somewhere in the sport."
Spot on, Hoppa has improved and is a draw so he ends up on the card and is televised, Mason is a joke he needs to show some respect to the sport and learn to box a bit BEFORE he fights, and to put the debarcle on TV was an insult to paying fans. I said earlier I bought the show to watch Lance Gostelow one of Australias hotest propects, and it wasn't shown.....instead we saw Masons entrance into boxing.
Ross
Mason is a disgrace, but then again, his opponent was not any better, so if he doesn't deserve a spot in boxing, his opponent surely shouldn't be there as well.
Hoppa has improved, but he won't do much in the sport.
Haumono, however, does seem to have potential. Let's see if he is committed to his job though.
Hoppa has improved, but he won't do much in the sport.
Haumono, however, does seem to have potential. Let's see if he is committed to his job though.
I have to agree with your acessment Jaafar. I cant stand watching Hoppa and Mason ruining what could be a top card instead making it into a joke, At least Haumono has the basics and looks like he can box.jaafar wrote:Mason is a disgrace, but then again, his opponent was not any better, so if he doesn't deserve a spot in boxing, his opponent surely shouldn't be there as well.
Hoppa has improved, but he won't do much in the sport.
Haumono, however, does seem to have potential. Let's see if he is committed to his job though.
I was at the fight. There were plenty of people there who would have called it controversial that Hoppa lost. However it was a close thing and Fitzgerald did well not to get knocked out, although Hoppa was much more controlled than his last fight.
It was a little odd that the best fight that Hoppa has had in terms of technique was his first loss.
Any way according to this site he has another 4 fights between now and August, so he has plenty of time to prove himself
It was a little odd that the best fight that Hoppa has had in terms of technique was his first loss.
Any way according to this site he has another 4 fights between now and August, so he has plenty of time to prove himself
Good point mate and hopefully it will give Hoppa the extra motivation to put in an even better perfomance... Who knows it might even spark a local rivalry between the two?dave896 wrote:Not really worth a rematch from a spectators point of view... but im sure that Hoppa feels cheated and wants another shot at it, its definitly a match he can win, and it may generate some interest for people who want to see the Hoppa go down
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I want to see Hopoate go down. He's a disgrace to the sport. He can't fight for shit, and he brings the entire sport into disrepute. When he gets knocked out, I'll be there cheering. N'Dou was right on the money, I feel bad for him watching his profession become cheapened.
Mason is a bum. Pure and simple.
Mason is a bum. Pure and simple.
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thunderfromdownunder
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 15 May 2005, 06:55
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comeinspinner
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 23
- Joined: 03 Mar 2007, 01:37
I'm pretty sure he is just trying to earn enough cash to feed his kids. There aren't too many lines of work for a bloke like Hoppa...comeinspinner wrote:Can anyone enlighten me as to what Hoppa is out to prove?
He is listed on the boxrec schedule for heaps of fights and they are all so close together.... whats he trying to do.. be the first to knock 100 guys out in a 12 months period? Maybe that will be the only title he'll win!!