BoxRec

Boxing: Heavyweight Hopoate on undercard
4:00AM Saturday Aug 15, 2009
By Steve Deane
John Hopoate will defend his Australian heavyweight title against countryman Kali Meehan on the undercard of October's Tua-Cameron bill. Photo / Getty Images
John Hopoate will defend his Australian heavyweight title against countryman Kali Meehan on the undercard of October's Tua-Cameron bill. Photo / Getty Images

John Hopoate is coming to New Zealand but don't panic - he'll be wearing boxing gloves.

The Herald understands the former rugby league bad boy turned boxer will defend his Australian heavyweight title against countryman Kali Meehan on the undercard of October's Tua-Cameron bill.

Infamous for his one-fingered tackling technique and numerous other indiscretions as a league player, Hopoate's boxing career has followed a similar roller-coaster path.

After a 6-0 start he suffered two straight defeats, including being KO'd in 90 seconds by former kick-boxing champion Ben Edwards. In May he was knocked out in two rounds by ageing former champion Oliver McCall but he has also picked up some notable wins, including two over Bob Mirovic - also a victim of Shane Cameron.

While Hopoate is certain to have at least car-crash appeal in New Zealand, his battle for Australian bragging rights with the veteran Meehan should expand the promotion's appeal across the Tasman.

Meehan, a 39-year-old Fijian-Australian, has some quality opponents on his CV, although he was stopped in short order by both Hasim Rahman and Danny Williams.

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Former world champion Rahman has also been touted to appear on the undercard, although no opponent has yet been confirmed.

"Rahman is still in the mix and still an option that is being given careful consideration," promoter David Higgins of Duco Events said.

Ticket sales for the October 3 event at Hamilton's Mystery Creek have been strong, with over 3000 general admission tickets and 100 corporate tables already sold.

Higgins was quick to dispel any lingering doubts about Cameron's surgically repaired hand, insisting there would be no more delays to the event originally scheduled for June.

"Shane has got his full repertoire. He is probably a week or two away from throwing his big right hand with full power into the heavy bag."

Cameron, who suffered a treble fracture to his right hand during his victory over Robert Davis in Gisborne in March, confirmed his recovery was progressing well.

"I'm hitting pretty hard on the pads now, it is the top two inches I suppose," he said.

"I don't wake up in the middle of the night thinking, 'poo, my hand'. You deal with injuries throughout you whole career. I definitely know by fight time it is going to be right.

"I want this fight to happen. I could still beat him with one hand."

Great news, interesting match up

You would think meehan and he could very well win but he panics when a big puncher bombs away on him and has been stopped a few times, he is a bit of a bitch if you will.

Meehan in 2 rounds, i don't know why this fight is happening, or why NZ thinks this fight will help with PPV numbers, we know Hoppa is shit, and Kali can beat the crap out of limited fighters..............so why i ask?

This card wont boost NO PPV numbers , its a predictable fight, it wont go the distance thats for sure, and thats going Meehans way

edwards did hoppa in 1, mccall did it in 2, meehan prob in 3.

i'd like to fight hoppa actually.

Good to see Hoppa stepping up although Meehan will probably be too skilled and experienced. But you just never know in this game...Could take Meehan the distance which I will be impressed if it does go past 8 rounds

Seems a bit odd defending one's national title in another country. The Kiwis will probably bill it as a Fiji versus Tonga matchup.

If this is really true, it will be the end of the section for Hoppa!

Meehan isn't that talented defensively though, when someone with world class power jumps on him all he does is covers up and panics

Bob said hopoate hits harder than tyson but tyson wasn't exactly in his prime when he sparred him a few years ago, infact that was just before tyson got beaten by mcbride, but bob also said after his 1st fight with him that he was the hardest hitter he fought, he has fought danny williams, Meehan was knocked down 2 or 3 times in the 1st round by danny williams and stopped by rahman in the 4th i think it was so i wouldn't count hopoate out, either guy could ko the other

Kali will tear Fingers a fresh arsehole. This is a pointless exercise.

Brute wrote:Kali will tear Fingers a fresh arsehole. This is a pointless exercise.

Well said

Waste of time for Kali, but I suppose he is fighting !! Kali will win inside 5 rounds. This fight doesnt really excite me, but neither does the main event. If I can watch it at a pub (highly unlikely where I am living) I will, otherwise I will probably cop the cost and buy it. I dont think this fight does anything for PPV numbers other than people just wanting to see Kali in the ring.

^^ I'm just glad to see him fighting

Hounddawg wrote:Meehan in 2 rounds, i don't know why this fight is happening, or why NZ thinks this fight will help with PPV numbers, we know Hoppa is poop, and Kali can beat the crap out of limited fighters..............so why i ask?

I know it seems a mismatch, I too think Kalivath will win, how?..KO/decision Im not to sure.. but it'll be a chance heavyweight undercard bout for us kiwis to see cos it involves Hopoate and Meehan. We all know Hoppa over here and he has a strong Tongan fan club here too that'll be there for him on fight night.
Apart from boxing purists, fans and some boxers that have worked or fought him here, Meehan is the unknown in NZ and this fight will gain him popularity in NZ and showcase his skills and talent as well as add prestige to the Australian Heavyweight title.
Also if Hoppa can come together nicely on the night and really give it to Kali and gives us all a fight to remember to the point where it drowns out the main event, that'll be great for us viewers but greater for aussie boxing as it'll shine a brighter light towards future aussie HW title fights.
More importantly boxing in NZ needs and undercard bout of this kind because there simply isnt any other good high profile HW boxers available worth watching. We got heavyweights but Id rather watch Meehan/Hoppa at the moment.
Rahman??...if he's fighting this will be thee best fight night in NZ boxing history.

foxdog1923 wrote:

Hounddawg wrote:Meehan in 2 rounds, i don't know why this fight is happening, or why NZ thinks this fight will help with PPV numbers, we know Hoppa is poop, and Kali can beat the crap out of limited fighters..............so why i ask?

I know it seems a mismatch, I too think Kalivath will win, how?..KO/decision Im not to sure.. but it'll be a chance heavyweight undercard bout for us kiwis to see cos it involves Hopoate and Meehan. We all know Hoppa over here and he has a strong Tongan fan club here too that'll be there for him on fight night.
Apart from boxing purists, fans and some boxers that have worked or fought him here, Meehan is the unknown in NZ and this fight will gain him popularity in NZ and showcase his skills and talent as well as add prestige to the Australian Heavyweight title.
Also if Hoppa can come together nicely on the night and really give it to Kali and gives us all a fight to remember to the point where it drowns out the main event, that'll be great for us viewers but greater for aussie boxing as it'll shine a brighter light towards future aussie HW title fights.
More importantly boxing in NZ needs and undercard bout of this kind because there simply isnt any other good high profile HW boxers available worth watching. We got heavyweights but Id rather watch Meehan/Hoppa at the moment.
Rahman??...if he's fighting this will be thee best fight night in NZ boxing history.

Kali will probably win the usual way. KO 3 with an overhand right to the temple.

Fell asleep after 4 rounds of Hoppa V Mirovic. Watching two slow fat old men grappling for 10 rounds isn't all that stimulating.

It's all downhill for Hoppa from here.

The Raw Prawn wrote:Fell asleep after 4 rounds of Hoppa V Mirovic. Watching two slow fat old men grappling for 10 rounds isn't all that stimulating.

It's all downhill for Hoppa from here.

Sour grape!

adamheight wrote:edwards did hoppa in 1, mccall did it in 2, meehan prob in 3.

i'd like to fight hoppa actually.

Not sure of the logic there, the better the fighter the longer it takes him to KO Hoppa?

what happened to the Rahman thing?

Why wouldnt Meehan take a easy tune-up even if there aint much cash in it. Chances arew he'll face Valuev shortly or one of the champs anyway.

Meehan KO2

Soundkamp wrote:what happened to the Rahman thing?

er...what happened is that Rahman iced him


fight was never going to happen


fight with hoppa is a joke

meehan will be the new Jd Chapman

this could be Meehan "Jumping the shark"

Hoppa's got balls.

Rahman thing will still happen.... that's the word

funso banjo baby wrote:

Soundkamp wrote:what happened to the Rahman thing?

er...what happened is that Rahman iced him


fight was never going to happen


fight with hoppa is a joke

meehan will be the new Jd Chapman

With luck you will be the next body found floating in the Thames.

Brute wrote:

funso banjo baby wrote:

Soundkamp wrote:what happened to the Rahman thing?

er...what happened is that Rahman iced him


fight was never going to happen


fight with hoppa is a joke

meehan will be the new Jd Chapman

With luck you will be the next body found floating in the Thames.

No one likes Weirdo Funso?