Alex Leapai Interview: “I’m going to let my fists do my talking against Klitschko”

04/13/201404/12/2014 Tony Nobbs

On April 26, Samoan born banger Alex Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KOs) has the opportunity to become boxing’s next “Cinderella Man” when he challenges Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KOs) for the WBA (super)/IBF/WBO/IBO and Ring magazine heavyweight championships in Oberhausen, Germany.

The thirty four year old Leapai from Logan, a satellite city of Brisbane, Queensland, earned his shot as the WBO mandatory challenger by upsetting Hamburg based Russian Dennis Boystov (33-0, 26 KOs) in Bayern on November 23. He scored two knockdowns in the most impressive performance of his career.

Alex’s family moved to New Zealand when he was four before settling in Australia eight years later. A promising Rugby League junior, he held the Australian Amateur Boxing League heavyweight title before turning professional in 2004.

He was 2-2-2 after six bouts before winning 23 of his next 25 with one draw and one points defeat that was later avenges with a knockout. He was good enough to defeat handy Americans like Travis Walker and Darnell Wilson while supporting his family as a full time delivery truck driver and part time fighter.

Randy Petalcorin: “I’m here to win a world title”

03/10/201403/10/2014 Tony Nobbs

As a young teenager Randy Petalcorin was touted as a future World Champion by none other than Manny Pacquiao. Later this year the once beaten twenty two year old from General Santos City hopes to fulfil that prediction when he challenges for the WBA light flyweight title.

Now based in the Melbourne suburb of Yarraville, the current WBA number 2 is gearing for a bout on March 28 at the Malvern Town Hall against Thailand’s Lookrak Kiatmungmee, as he applies for Permanent Residency in Australia.

Standing 5’3, Petalcorin is like his idol and friend Pacquiao, a southpaw. He began boxing at age twelve and turned professional in 2009 after an outstanding amateur career, having over 100 fights and being a National Champion in The Philippines.

Brian Minto Stops Cameron

12/15/201312/14/2013 Tony Nobbs

Brian Minto scored a technical knockout victory when Shane Cameron’s corner stopped their WBO regional heavyweight title bout at The Trusts Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday night.

In the main event of the Annual Fight For Life Charity Night, Minto (39-7, 25 KOs) started quickly, backing Cameron (29-4, 22 KOs) up and working away hard in close.

Cameron hurt Minto in the third with a short left hook, but it was all Minto from there. Cameron ended the third, the only round he took, with a cut over his left eye which referee Lance Revill ruled was caused by a punch.

A series of rights pushed Cameron back late in the fourth round.

The American was deducted a point in the fifth (elbow) and sixth (elbow).

Sakio Bika Draws With Anthony Dirrell: Retains WBC 168 lb Strap

12/08/201312/08/2013 Tony Nobbs

Super middleweight warhorse Sakio “The Scorpio” Bika, from Sydney, NSW, Australia, retained his WBC strap with a split draw against Flint, Michigan’s Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell in Brooklyn, New York, Saturday night.

In the opening televised bout from the Barclays Center, Douala, Cameroon born Bika was the much more aggressive fighter throughout the twelve rounds.

In his first defense, thirty four year old Bika, rated 8 at 168 pounds by The Ring, began the fight looking intent on a knockout, recklessly throwing wild over hand rights and was picked off by the five years younger Dirrell, who had a three and a half inch reach advantage.

But Bika never stopped pressuring and from the start did good work to the body which told late in a gruelling match up but the big moments early came from the challenger.

Mundine dominates Mosley

11/28/201311/27/2013 Tony Nobbs

Back spasms saw stopped multi time world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley (47-9-1, 39 KOs) for the first time in his glorious twenty year career in his bout with Anthony “The Man” Mundine (45-5, 27 KOs) at the All Phones Arena in Sydney, NSW on Wednesday night.

Mosley was ruled out by Doctor Lou Lewis and referee Raul Caiz senior but the three division titlist was being dominant by an impressive Mundine who put on his best display since edging Daniel Geale in 2009.

As in his bouts against Vernon Forrest, the shorter American, who had a two centimetre reach advantage, had trouble with get Mundine’s left lead and was forced to fight mostly going backwards. Coming down from 168 pounds in 2008 , Mundine’s size and strength was evident as he bullied Shane both outside and in close.