BoxRec

POWER-punching, Samoan-born demolition man Alex Leapai is set for a shot at the Australian heavyweight crown on the Gold Coast against ageing warrior Bob Mirovic.

The pair will do battle at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on February 20 if, as expected, reigning champion John Hopoate relinquishes his title rather than fulfils his obligation for a rematch against Mirovic.

Hopoate was ordered last week by the Australian National Boxing Federation to face 42-year-old Mirovic for a second time after it was deemed he had used illegal tactics against the time-worn slugger en route to a stoppage in their title bout on the Gold Coast in September.

Mirovic was left with a broken arm and a 6cm scar following surgery to go with a searing sense of injustice.

But former rugby league bad boy Hopoate, who claims Mirovic belongs in a rocking chair rather than the ring, is chasing bigger fights in the US and has no intention of undertaking what he considers a sideshow.

All of which opens the door for 29-year-old Brisbane-based Leapai, the WBF Australasian heavyweight champion, dubbed the Australian Mike Tyson.

He took his record to 13 wins from 18 fights by out-pointing South African giant Pieter Cronje on the Gold Coast last month and believes he is destined to dominate the domestic heavyweight scene for years to come.

While Gold Coast promoter Jamie Myer hasn't ruled out a U-turn from Hoppa, he is pushing ahead with plans to stage the Leapai-Mirovic fight.

"Alex is ready to go. He's supremely confident and believes he's going to be the next big noise on the Australian heavyweight scene," said Myer.

"Hoppa is chasing the big money overseas and good luck to him. But he's moving into unchartered territory after only 12 fights and there are many dangerous fighters with more experience."

Mirovic is contemptuous of Hoppa, saying: "He knows I'll beat him second time around. The only reason he got the better of me was because he'd broken my arm in a deliberate ploy ... I'll knock him out if we face off again."

Good luck to Leapai he has a future in the Heavyweight division.

Poor old Bob.

How old is he now? This is getting close to "senior abuse."

I said in another thread this should be his last fight, i think leapai would have learn't from his Wilson fight to more busier.

Hounddog wrote:I said in another thread this should be his last fight, i think leapai would have learn't from his Wilson fight to more busier.

ur right da kid has cum a long way from da wilson fight n proved dramatically against cronje if he learns 2 listen 2 his corner if dis kid improves his skills further he can compete with da big boys n proven 2 hav a solid jaw,our h/ws look really strong at the moment its great 2 c.

good luck 2 leapai i'm a big fan n we all should get behind him

Leapai should end this one early.

I can't believe Mirovic is getting another shot at the Title though... I wonder what the ANBF saw in his last 5 fights to warrant giving him another shot?

War Leapai

According to the schedule Alex and Big Bob are on the same card but not meeting one another.

Maybe Big Bob is going to put it all on the line with Colin Wilson for the millionth time!

Marlin wrote:Leapai should end this one early.

I can't believe Mirovic is getting another shot at the Title though... I wonder what the ANBF saw in his last 5 fights to warrant giving him another shot?

Mirovic made an appearance at ANBF's AGM in November & managed to convince head honchos to order a rematch.

AntonS wrote:

Marlin wrote:Leapai should end this one early.

I can't believe Mirovic is getting another shot at the Title though... I wonder what the ANBF saw in his last 5 fights to warrant giving him another shot?

Mirovic made an appearance at ANBF's AGM in November & managed to convince head honchos to order a rematch.

How? Perhaps i should ask them for a "loan"?

Alex Leapai a great man father and great for Aussie boxing I wish you all the best.

There are some really good matchups to be made in the Aussie heavyweight scene, Its a pity there isnt the money to make a lot of them happen.

ben k wrote:There are some really good matchups to be made in the Aussie heavyweight scene, Its a pity there isnt the money to make a lot of them happen.

and Mirovic isn't included in any of them.

Yeah, I've been a longtime mirovic supporter however i thought he should've retired after that brutal shane cameron knockout.
I was happy for him to go round once more with col wilson however enough is enough, Big bob has to move on

^^ fully agree. The Cameron KO should have been his last fight. Even if he has nothing else to do at the moment, he is only delaying the inevitable. Get on with the next stage of your life now Bob, before it is too late.

anyone who fights Big Bob is a ghoul...and shame on them

he should retire ..he's a warrior ..but he needs to stop now.

leapai and hopoate should fight young quality fighters

personally i think Peter Okhello should comeback and spank them good and proper...go go Ishimaru !!!!

funso banjo baby wrote:anyone who fights Big Bob is a ghoul...and shame on them

he should retire ..he's a warrior ..but he needs to stop now.

leapai and hopoate should fight young quality fighters

personally i think Peter Okhello should comeback and spank them good and proper...go go Ishimaru !!!!

they have but leapai fought way better opponents than hoppan.

funso banjo baby wrote:anyone who fights Big Bob is a ghoul...and shame on them

he should retire ..he's a warrior ..but he needs to stop now.

leapai and hopoate should fight young quality fighters

personally i think Peter Okhello should comeback and spank them good and proper...go go Ishimaru !!!!

Hey Dickwit! Who was the only boxer to KO Ohkello in a pro fight?

You got it! Kali Meehan KOed him in 3. Poor old Bob Mirovic went the distance with Okhello in Okhello's second last fight. Okhello come out of retirement? Jesus! He was over 18 stone in his last fight in 2006. He would look like a sumo wrestler now.

Brute wrote:

funso banjo baby wrote:anyone who fights Big Bob is a ghoul...and shame on them

he should retire ..he's a warrior ..but he needs to stop now.

leapai and hopoate should fight young quality fighters

personally i think Peter Okhello should comeback and spank them good and proper...go go Ishimaru !!!!

Hey Dickwit! Who was the only boxer to KO Ohkello in a pro fight?

You got it! Kali Meehan KOed him in 3. Poor old Bob Mirovic went the distance with Okhello in Okhello's second last fight. Okhello come out of retirement? Jesus! He was over 18 stone in his last fight in 2006. He would look like a sumo wrestler now.

agreed that was actually meehans best result...even tho he got dropped

Got up and won though, didn't he?

Maskaev could not stop Okhello when he defended his WBC title against him.

ryan711 wrote:POWER-punching, Samoan-born demolition man Alex Leapai is set for a shot at the Australian heavyweight crown on the Gold Coast against ageing warrior Bob Mirovic.

The pair will do battle at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on February 20 if, as expected, reigning champion John Hopoate relinquishes his title rather than fulfils his obligation for a rematch against Mirovic.

Hopoate was ordered last week by the Australian National Boxing Federation to face 42-year-old Mirovic for a second time after it was deemed he had used illegal tactics against the time-worn slugger en route to a stoppage in their title bout on the Gold Coast in September.

Mirovic was left with a broken arm and a 6cm scar following surgery to go with a searing sense of injustice.

But former rugby league bad boy Hopoate, who claims Mirovic belongs in a rocking chair rather than the ring, is chasing bigger fights in the US and has no intention of undertaking what he considers a sideshow.

All of which opens the door for 29-year-old Brisbane-based Leapai, the WBF Australasian heavyweight champion, dubbed the Australian Mike Tyson.

He took his record to 13 wins from 18 fights by out-pointing South African giant Pieter Cronje on the Gold Coast last month and believes he is destined to dominate the domestic heavyweight scene for years to come.

While Gold Coast promoter Jamie Myer hasn't ruled out a U-turn from Hoppa, he is pushing ahead with plans to stage the Leapai-Mirovic fight.

"Alex is ready to go. He's supremely confident and believes he's going to be the next big noise on the Australian heavyweight scene," said Myer.

"Hoppa is chasing the big money overseas and good luck to him. But he's moving into unchartered territory after only 12 fights and there are many dangerous fighters with more experience."

Mirovic is contemptuous of Hoppa, saying: "He knows I'll beat him second time around. The only reason he got the better of me was because he'd broken my arm in a deliberate ploy ... I'll knock him out if we face off again."

Bob should be thankful John had gloves on. Many NRL players will attest as to where he has been known to stick his index finger.