BoxRec

Today's Manly Daily had this "puff" piece about Hoppa getting back into the ring soon and that no one wants to get their fingers out and fight him. Read it and weep:

The boxing career of John Hopoate was resurrected yesterday with the former Sea Eagle back in action next month. The news comes just two months after the 34-year-old heavyweight thought his career was over due to a lack of worthy opponents.

The Manly Daily can reveal that Hopoate will fight New Zealander Junior Pati at Shark Park in Townsville on April 4. If successful, the Hopoate camp hopes to secure further bouts this year against Nathan Briggs, Alex Leapai and Michael Kirby.

But a loss against the unheralded Pati could end Hopoate's career with the gloves. ``If he doesn't win, we'll have to look at his career,'' Hopoate's trainer, Dino Billinghurst, said yesterday. ``He's got to beat these guys if he wants to beat Nathan Briggs. But Hoppa's a strong man and hard to beat.''

Billinghurst said recent publicity about Hopoate's return to rugby league with Cromer in the Manly Warringah A-grade premiership this year has been a distraction.

``I sometimes think he thinks he's still a footballer,'' the Kogarah-based trainer said.

``When he puts footy out of his mind, he's a very good boxer.''

In February, Hopoate's boxing career was on hold when Pat Kennedy pulled out of a scheduled fight against him on the Anthony Mundine-Nader Hamden undercard. Hopoate's manager, Dave Millward, said rivals were ``running scared''.

``We've been in contact with a host of fighters, but no one wants to fight Hoppa,'' Millward said. The father of eight was concerned his career appeared over.

``I'm gutted that this could be it,'' Hopoate said. ``I'm in no-man's land and I'll have to reassess if it's all worth it. I'm not going to fight guys that have never fought before and then get bagged for it.''

Hoppa opponent: Junior Pati from New Zealand, boasts the imposing record of:

10 fights - 2 wins (both by KO) and 8 losses (4 by KO).

Pati has not fought above 4 rounders as a professional.

glad hes found a worthy opponent. Nathan Briggs is hardly a major goal for his boxing career. Nathan has his moments, but any time he has stepped up, he has been knocked down. Hoppa surely can't be making a living out of boxing, a couple of thousand dollars here and there doesn't feed the kids. If who he is naming are his current career goals, then he should get out now.

I'm sure any extra cash helps

Marlin wrote:I'm sure any extra cash helps

They are calling it a career though.

what a joke

Look, I think he knows he isn't going to be a world beater but I'm not going to lambast him for trying to make a fist of it on the local scene...

Lack of worthy opponents? I know plenty of blokes that would fight him but Hoppa wont go near them

Marlin wrote:Look, I think he knows he isn't going to be a world beater but I'm not going to lambast him for trying to make a fist of it on the local scene...

Is he really trying to make a fist of it? From what you here he doesn't take everything on offer to him, then complains of no opponents. If that is how he wants to play it then fine. But there should not be compliants from his trainer or manager about him not being able to find fights. It's a bit like the big fish in a small pond scenario.

toppity wrote:

Marlin wrote:Look, I think he knows he isn't going to be a world beater but I'm not going to lambast him for trying to make a fist of it on the local scene...

Is he really trying to make a fist of it? From what you here he doesn't take everything on offer to him, then complains of no opponents. If that is how he wants to play it then fine. But there should not be compliants from his trainer or manager about him not being able to find fights. It's a bit like the big fish in a small pond scenario.

he is giving it a go but he isnt fighting the best in aust yet... give it time he is only new to the sport im sure with time he will fight better opponents

p4p1 wrote:

toppity wrote:

Marlin wrote:Look, I think he knows he isn't going to be a world beater but I'm not going to lambast him for trying to make a fist of it on the local scene...

Is he really trying to make a fist of it? From what you here he doesn't take everything on offer to him, then complains of no opponents. If that is how he wants to play it then fine. But there should not be compliants from his trainer or manager about him not being able to find fights. It's a bit like the big fish in a small pond scenario.

he is giving it a go but he isnt fighting the best in aust yet... give it time he is only new to the sport im sure with time he will fight better opponents

I'll bite my lip and be patient then.

toppity wrote:

p4p1 wrote:

toppity wrote: Is he really trying to make a fist of it? From what you here he doesn't take everything on offer to him, then complains of no opponents. If that is how he wants to play it then fine. But there should not be compliants from his trainer or manager about him not being able to find fights. It's a bit like the big fish in a small pond scenario.

he is giving it a go but he isnt fighting the best in aust yet... give it time he is only new to the sport im sure with time he will fight better opponents

I'll bite my lip and be patient then.

Marlin wrote:

toppity wrote:

p4p1 wrote: he is giving it a go but he isnt fighting the best in aust yet... give it time he is only new to the sport im sure with time he will fight better opponents

I'll bite my lip and be patient then.

so how long do u guys think it will be until we see hoppa flat on his back wondering where he is?

he does not have enough skill yet to step up too quick but there aren't enough people in his class willing to get ko'd. if he was 60kg there would be more willing oponents even if it was these phillipino kids who usually put up a good fight.

hoppa and haumono should both go to the usa to give themselves every chance. they might not be up to it but there's only one way to find out.

just look at bowie tupou. he went to the usa and although he hasn't fought anyone too flash at least he has someone to fight.

p4p1 wrote:

toppity wrote:

Marlin wrote:Look, I think he knows he isn't going to be a world beater but I'm not going to lambast him for trying to make a fist of it on the local scene...

Is he really trying to make a fist of it? From what you here he doesn't take everything on offer to him, then complains of no opponents. If that is how he wants to play it then fine. But there should not be compliants from his trainer or manager about him not being able to find fights. It's a bit like the big fish in a small pond scenario.

he is giving it a go but he isnt fighting the best in aust yet... give it time he is only new to the sport im sure with time he will fight better opponents

Agreed, but he is 34, and his level of competition hasn't even hit par yet,competition thus far has been woeful.

N2 Shape wrote:Lack of worthy opponents? I know plenty of blokes that would fight him but Hoppa wont go near them

I shouldn't....... Who?

How about a rematch with Ben Edwards?

Beltane wrote:Hoppa opponent: Junior Pati from New Zealand, boasts the imposing record of:

10 fights - 2 wins (both by KO) and 8 losses (4 by KO).

Pati has not fought above 4 rounders as a professional.

At the moment Pati's record stands at 2-9. His first round KO win was against Matuita, whose next fight is against Tutaki. Kiwi matchmakers are as bad as ours.

I wonder who they've been approaching that are scared of Hoppa. Do any of them have a winning record I wonder?

But looks like a step up in competition with the Kiwi

Hey Brute, appreciate your honestly in regards to the Tutaki VS Matautia bout on my April 24th promotion.

I actually think its a fairly even bout over 4 rounds, Tutaki is training hard sparring with Cameron and Matautia is also training hard desperate to avenge a K1 loss to Tutaki.

Welliver VS Hopoate - Lets get it on!

N2 Shape wrote:Hey Brute, appreciate your honestly in regards to the Tutaki VS Matautia bout on my April 24th promotion.

I actually think its a fairly even bout over 4 rounds, Tutaki is training hard sparring with Cameron and Matautia is also training hard desperate to avenge a K1 loss to Tutaki.

Welliver VS Hopoate - Lets get it on!

I remeber Welliver fought on a card in Auckland(?) recently. Sorry for my ignorance, but may I ask how you are involved with him?

Thats right he fought Seiaute Mailata it was regarded as one of the better fights in NZ of 2007.

I promote Welliver down in these parts. We'll take Hopoate, hes openly complained of a lack of opponents willing to face him now lets see if he steps up to the plate.

N2 Shape wrote:Thats right he fought Seiaute Mailata it was regarded as one of the better fights in NZ of 2007.

I promote Welliver down in these parts. We'll take Hopoate, hes openly complained of a lack of opponents willing to face him now lets see if he steps up to the plate.

I just checked out his record. It looks pretty good. A fight like this would be a good challenge for Hopo. I don't think his team would let him step up at this stage, but one can only hope.

Welliver VS Hopoate a fight I would like to see. Don't know if the boxing purists would agree. But in my opinion Hopoate's 'I gonna kill you' mentality verses Welliver's showmanship would be an interesting watch. From what I have seen Welliver can take a hit and has good boxing skills (maybe lacking power?) and I think if he show boated it would really get on Hopoates nerves resulting in fireworks!!

Hey N2 Shape, do you know if Welliver is fighting on the Shane Cameron undercard? Boxrec doesn't have him listed but Ticketek is advertising that he is fighting Joey Wilson.

You can watch the Welliver VS Mailata fight on the TV3 website http://www.tv3.co.nz I believe it is then just search there website for Welliver in there search engine and there you go you can watch the fight and make your own minds up.

If you know anything about both Welliver and Hoppa its a fight anyone would want to see. Your right Hoppa's raw agression and power punching against the slicker iron chinned Welliver who you know will throw in some showboating. not only that but its a Big muscular islander against a fat, dorky white guy who wouldnt wanna watch that!