Australia's next boxing world champions

[Like a Boss]

Extract from an interesting article from the Daily Telegraph:

New generation of Australian boxers can be world champions

The likes of Jeff Horn, Lucas Browne, Willis Meehan, Rocky Jerkic and Bilal Akkawy have an opportunity to become Australia’s next world champions. They’re all undefeated, have shown signs of world-class ability, and highlight the fact that Australia’s boxing breeding ground remains fertile.

Australia still has a number of active fighters within touching distance of world titles including Anthony Mundine, Danny Green, Daniel Geale, Billy Dib, Sakio Bika, Joel Brunker, Will Tomlinson and Lenny Zapavigna.

But it will be tough for them, and without a single recognised major world titleholder from Australia, the next generation need to make their move.

Browne has already earned notoriety on the world stage with his knack for knockouts and is in the mix for big fights. While some would consider him old at 36 years, that is just the start of maturing for most good heavyweights — undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko is 39.

Last Thursday night, unbeaten welterweight Horn got through 10 rounds of diligent work against the awkward and wily Argentinian Alfredo Blanco.

Horn has many good judges buzzing. He is a walk-forward fighter with great movement and power, and has Olympic Games pedigree.

The Brisbane product is tipped to shake up a star-studded division that includes the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Tim Bradley and Kell Brook.

Another rising undefeated Australian welterweight, Cameron Hammond (14-0, 8KO), is promising but has padded out his record against lowly challengers in the past year and needs to step up his quality of opposition.

A showdown between Horn and Hammond would be a great all-Australian match-up.

Meehan is a baby in the sport, having just four pro bouts wedged between his NRL career, which was put on hold this year after the Roosters sacked him for off-field misbehaviour.

But he possesses enough power and potential to have a lasting impact on the world scene like his father Kali, who fought for world titles but most recently was knocked out by Kiwi heavyweight prodigy Joseph Parker and has retired.

Meehan says he will continue to box and pursue a football career like good friend and mentor Sonny Bill Williams, so his progression in the sweet science is set to take longer.

The heavy-hitting southpaw is still prone to error — dropping his guard, leading with the chin — but the pedigree and improvement in each fight so far is undeniable.

Jerkic is in the infancy of his career despite his 27 years, but is staying active with five bouts in the past 18 months and two more planned next month, including a long-awaited showdown with Shannon King for the Australian super-welterweight title.

Jerkic, from Brisbane but now based in Newcastle, has worked with Mundine, Jeff Fenech and famed US trainer Jeff Mayweather, and has garnered high opinions.

Meanwhile, Akkawy fights for a lesser alphabet title next Friday week against undefeated Argentinian Guillermo Ruben Andino (9-0,4KO) in Melbourne.

Akkawy needs to respond in impressive fashion after a very disappointing and lucky draw in his last outing in a four-rounder against Joe Rea (10-23-5).



Australia’s top five rising boxers

JEFF HORN (welterweight). Age: 27. Record: 12-0-1, 8KO

LUCAS BROWNE (heavyweight). Age: 36. Record: 23-0, 20KO

WILLIS MEEHAN (heavyweight) Age: 20. Record: 4-0, 3KO

ROCKY JERKIC (super-welterweight). Age: 27. Record: 11-0, 8KO

BILAL AKKAWY (super-middleweight). Age: 22. Record: 10-0-1, 9KO

[Like a Boss]

So who do you think will be Australia's next boxing world champion??

[littlepug]

I feel sorry for OZ boxers as geographically you couldn't be worse off, your only regular visitors are the worst of SE Asia which obviously hampers the progress of the prospects, the thought of travelling abroad or casting the net wider for the right opponents is simply not possible financially, another option is to base your lads abroad but then you lose out on a domestic scene, the only one on the list I know is Browne and he's just the product of good matchmaking, the rest may or may not make it but based just on geography I would bet not.

[littlepug]

I feel sorry for OZ boxers as geographically you couldn't be worse off, your only regular visitors are the worst of SE Asia which obviously hampers the progress of the prospects, the thought of travelling abroad or casting the net wider for the right opponents is simply not possible financially, another option is to base your lads abroad but then you lose out on a domestic scene, the only one on the list I know is Browne and he's just the product of good matchmaking, the rest may or may not make it but based just on geography I would bet not.

Sorry if that came across a bit anti OZ, I'm actually a big fan and former resident

[stevedoc]

I feel sorry for OZ boxers as geographically you couldn't be worse off, your only regular visitors are the worst of SE Asia which obviously hampers the progress of the prospects, the thought of travelling abroad or casting the net wider for the right opponents is simply not possible financially, another option is to base your lads abroad but then you lose out on a domestic scene, the only one on the list I know is Browne and he's just the product of good matchmaking, the rest may or may not make it but based just on geography I would bet not.

100% right my brother was offered a few fights when he was commonwealth champ the names Lester Ellis and Barry Michael was mentioned but it made no sense once all the travel was paid

[stevedoc]

I feel sorry for OZ boxers as geographically you couldn't be worse off, your only regular visitors are the worst of SE Asia which obviously hampers the progress of the prospects, the thought of travelling abroad or casting the net wider for the right opponents is simply not possible financially, another option is to base your lads abroad but then you lose out on a domestic scene, the only one on the list I know is Browne and he's just the product of good matchmaking, the rest may or may not make it but based just on geography I would bet not.

[DA GOOSE]

Jeff Horn is our best hope.

[MidniteProwler]

Jeff Horn is our best hope.

After seeing his fight last week he gets beat by any Welterweight rated in the top 30.

[Mr Icaman]

Best hope is to try and claim Joseph Parker.

Not like Aussies haven't claimed Kiwi's before..

[bogan whisperer]

Jeff Horn is our best hope.

After seeing his fight last week he gets beat by any Welterweight rated in the top 30.

Which of the top 30 welterweights have you watched fight?

[DA GOOSE]

Jeff Horn is our best hope.

After seeing his fight last week he gets beat by any Welterweight rated in the top 30.

Still our best hope. He's nowhere near ready yet but him and Hammond are our best prospects for the future IMO. That being said they may well fail when they step up. We will see.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Jeff Horn is our best hope.

If that's the case then we are in trouble

[DA GOOSE]

Jeff Horn is our best hope.

If that's the case then we are in trouble

Maybe Rohan Murdock will land a hail mary punch if he fights Ward. With improvement and the big dogs retiring and some changing divisions hopefully Jeff can pick up a strap.

[buster007]

midnight,

After seeing his fight last week he gets beat by any Welterweight rated in the top 30?

hahaha!!

u just cannot say anything positive can u?

u must have a sad life dude.

[smith-striker]

Best hope is to try and claim Joseph Parker.

Not like Aussies haven't claimed Kiwi's before..

Nope, not again, hands off he ours lol

[bogan whisperer]

Best hope is to try and claim Joseph Parker.

Not like Aussies haven't claimed Kiwi's before..

It is the Australia AND Pacific forum after all

[MidniteProwler]

midnight,

After seeing his fight last week he gets beat by any Welterweight rated in the top 30?

hahaha!!

u just cannot say anything positive can u?

u must have a sad life dude.

Please name a top 30 welterweight that he can beat?

[Like a Boss]

midnight,

After seeing his fight last week he gets beat by any Welterweight rated in the top 30?

hahaha!!

u just cannot say anything positive can u?

u must have a sad life dude.

Please name a top 30 welterweight that he can beat?

You have already claimed Jeff Horn can't beat any of the top 30. Yet you can't even name which of the top 30 you have even seen fight

[buster007]

it just doesn't stop.

oh I miss the good old boxrec.

[Like a Boss]

midnight,

After seeing his fight last week he gets beat by any Welterweight rated in the top 30?

hahaha!!

u just cannot say anything positive can u?

u must have a sad life dude.

Please name a top 30 welterweight that he can beat?

You have already claimed Jeff Horn can't beat any of the top 30. Yet you can't name which of the top 30 you have even seen fight

I'm not making the claims here. You are, and obviously you can't even substantiate them

[Like a Boss]

it just doesn't stop.

oh I miss the good old boxrec.

Things have gone from clockwork to guesswork recently

[Like a Boss]

BILAL AKKAWY, who gets a mention in the article above has a fight coming up in a weeks time against Guillermo Ruben Andino 9-0
for the vacant IBO Youth World super middleweight title.

[Pauljh]

midnight,

After seeing his fight last week he gets beat by any Welterweight rated in the top 30?

hahaha!!

u just cannot say anything positive can u?

u must have a sad life dude.

Please name a top 30 welterweight that he can beat?

There are several I'm not familiar enough with to add to this list, but how's this for starters. Horn beats - Brandon Rios, Jessie Vargas, Leonard Bundu, Robert Guerrero, Chris Algieri, Frankie Gavin, Paul Malignaggi, Sammy Vaquez, Devon Alexander, Kevin Bizzer, now, and there will be others. Reports are that he was sick with the flu before his last fight. He will have gained much more benefit than harm by spending the 10 rounds in his last fight. I think it was obvious that if it was over 12 it doesn't go the distance.
Horn has plenty to prove, he knows that, but is only focused on who is put in front of him. The fact that the Tall Poppy harvesters are around mean he must be on target.

[buster007]

he is just trolling.

that's all he does on here.

[expe]

he is just trolling.

that's all he does on here.

Not sure who's trolling more if he thinks Horn beats any of those names he listed.