Jeff Fenech’s advice for Justin Hodges ahead of boxing debut

Jeff Fenech has some advice for Justin Hodges ahead of his professional boxing debut on Friday night: relax, breathe — and get ready for speed greater than anything on the rugy league field.

Hodges takes his first step into the ring this week. (AAP image, John Gass)

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Australia’s most successful boxer Jeff Fenech has warned Maroons great Justin Hodges that heavyweight fighting is much faster than any burst of speed he ever saw on the rugby league field.

The three-time world champion says the keys for Hodges in his professional boxing debut on Friday night is to “relax and breathe’’.

“Rugby league is a super-fast game,’’ Fenech said. “But it’s nothing like the speed of boxing when big punches are coming your way.

Hodges takes his first step into the ring this week. (AAP image, John Gass)

“On the footy field you’ve still got time after each play to get your head together. There’s time to rest and recover.

“But in boxing it’s all split-second stuff. It’s all reactive. Even top professional fighters lose focus and are unable to keep to their plan when they get tagged.

“The key for Hodges is not to panic if he gets hit hard but to keep a clear focus on what he’s trying to achieve in there and stick to the skills he’s been practising in the gym.’’

Fenech’s advice — don’t lose your head … (AAP image, John Gass)

Hodges, 36, who retired from league in 2015, fights Ipswich heavyweight Rob Baron, who is also making his professional debut, on a huge night of boxing being televised by Main Event.

The fight takes place at the Hordern Pavilion, where Fenech won the first of his three world titles 34 years ago and the card is topped by a heavyweight battle between Sharks skipper Paul Gallen and league’s perpetual sinner John Hopoate, a former Australian heavyweight boxing champion.

“Hoppa is a tremendous puncher,’’ Fenech said. “He won the Australian title from Bob Mirovic, who was a long-time sparring partner for Mike Tyson, so that tells you Hoppa can really fight.

“But I think Gallen is something special as a boxer. I’ve put him through the punching pads and I know that if he had started his boxing career when he was a lot younger, he really could have made a big career from fighting.’’

Who doesn’t want to see Paul Gallen and John Hopoate smash each other? (Dylan Robinson)

Also on Friday night, the unbeaten Tim Tszyu, son of the great Kostya, fights British junior-middleweight Denton Vassell, a former Commonwealth champion.

Brisbane’s Adam Copland, who is one of Jeff Horn’s cornermen, faces undefeated Sydney fighter Cesar Mateo Tapia, while another Brisbane fighter Rocky Jerkic tackles Orient and Pacific middleweight champ Mark Lucas.

Meanwhile, Fenech’s rising star, unbeaten bantamweight Brock Jarvis, fights for the IBF world youth title against Filipino Philip Luis Cuerdo on March 1 in Sydney.

Jarvis, 21, who is unbeaten in 15 pro fights, is the nephew of former Test rugby league forward, Pat Jarvis.

■ THE World Boxing Organisation has ordered junior-middleweight champion Jaime Munguia to reach an agreement to fight Brisbane’s Dennis Hogan within 30 days.

If the parties do not agree within the next month, the WBO will order a purse bid, with the right to stage the fight going to the highest bidder.

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