As Iron Mike Tyson narrows in on an opponent, the interest he has created for boxing has been almost immeasurable.
The champ has raised the profile again of the sport and got people talking. It was good to see Tyson put the Sonny Bill Williams rumours to bed. Tyson’s journey back in will only be with a legitimate fighter, most likely in the form of another champ, Evander Holyfield.
Talking of boxing in Australia, Demsey McKean has been touted as a possible opponent for New Zealand’s Joseph Parker. If this bout happens it will be a positive injection for boxing in Australia. Parker’s manager has confirmed he will fight a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent in Queenstown, a resort area in the southern part of New Zealand’s South Island.
Speaking of Australian fighters, the Moloney twins Andrew and Jason have returned to Bob Arum’s camp for upcoming bouts to be held at a spectator-less MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas with Top Rank Boxing. The twins have trained right through the COVID-19 crisis, meaning they can step straight into the ring.
Jeff “The Hornet” Horn will meet Tim Tszyu, with Brisbane being discussed as a probable venue. Horn’s rise to the top of boxing is a great Aussie story culminating in the upset defeat of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. It really embodied the spirit of the nation. It was a fight that I’ve have watched on multiple occasions, showing Horn has the true heart of a lion.
With all of the recent excitement in the heavyweight division, there has been keen interest in up-and-coming international fighters. With Deontay Wilder’s loss to the “Gypsy King” Tyson Fury, the division opened up further. Ivan Dychko is a Klitschko lookalike ready to challenge for a title.
Vladyslav Sirenko is a young up-and-coming heavyweight to watch improving with every fight. Big Croat Filip Hrgovic is also another to watch in the division.
Women’s boxing has been on the rise with Mikaela Mayer, former Olympic fighter, ready to step back into the ring. With convincing defeats of Baby Nansen and Allison Martinez, she is looking for a title shot against Terri Harper.
I think post-COVID-19 Australia is ready to host more top international boxing events. It would be good if Arum or another significant promoter stepped up to put on an event here.
The sport of boxing ties in well with the spirit of this country and big events are always well received by the public here. Professional boxing in Australia has a rich history, and long may that continue into the future.
from The Roar https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/05/27/boxing-bonus/
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