Boxing news: Aussie world-title prospect Paulo Aokuso stripped of his title after failing to make weight for NRL’s gala fight night

He was on track to join Jeff Fenech as Australia’s fastest world champion. But Paulo Aokuso’s world-title hopes are in tatters after failing to make weight ahead of his Townsville bout.

Australian boxing’s rising star Paulo Aokuso has been rocked by a weigh-in debacle that has cost him $7500, a title belt and a potential world ranking.

Aokuso has been stripped of his IBO Intercontinental light heavyweight title after busting the weight limit by a whopping five pounds in a shocking look for ‘Sweet P’ ahead of his main-event bout in Townsville on Saturday night.

Rated a world-title prospect, the unbeaten Aokuso (5-0, 3KO) takes on Argentina’s Gabriel Omar Diaz (14-5, 6KO) as the headline act on a fight card featuring NRL stars Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Junior Paulo and Jason Taumalolo.

Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo (left) and Paulo Aokuso (right) will be headline acts on a fight card in Townsville on Saturday night.

But the main event was plunged into chaos when Aokuso failed to make weight on Friday. This masthead can reveal Aokuso tipped the scales at 81.3kg, more than two kilograms over the light heavyweight limit of 79kg, which his rival Diaz (79kg) met perfectly.

Sweet P was given two hours to make weight, but Aokuso’s camp conceded defeat, costing him the IBO Intercontinental belt in a disastrous outcome for the Sydneysider.

It is the second consecutive fight in which Aokuso has failed to make weight — he had the same problem against Renold Quinlan in a non-title bout July — raising concerns over his professionalism.

Aokuso was on course to equal the legendary Jeff Fenech by winning a world title after just seven fights, but that lofty ambition is now in tatters.

The 26-year-old has also lost the chance of stealing Diaz’s No.10 world ranking with the WBA, while Aokuso has been forced to hand over $7500 of his purse to his rival in the ultimate salt to the wound.

Aokuso’s manager Fidel Tukel said the classy southpaw is bitterly disappointed and has suffered a nightmare build-up after his long-time trainer, Lincoln Hudson, recently suffered a heart attack.

Aokuso almost missed weight for his last fight against Renold Quinlan in July.

“It’s very disrespectful to the sport. Not acceptable,” said Tukel, who will fill Hudson’s boots on Saturday night.

“He has gone well over weight, it’s more than a kilo.

“In boxing that’s not right. We have some soul-searching to do.

“To be honest, there have been a number of issues that created the problem we had (with Aokuso’s weight).

“We have had the worst preparation we could ever ask for.

“I’ve been in 300 professional fight corners over the years and this is by far the worst prep I have seen.

“Paulo’s trainer suffering a heart attack has been a massive blow.

“That really affected Paulo. He hasn’t had a trainer. I’m his manager and I’ll be taking over as his trainer for this fight.”

Despite the shocking preparation, Tukel is adamant Aokuso will dispose of Diaz. He said handing over his title — and an agreed financial penalty — to the Argentine was the “right thing to do”.

“We had to give his opponent some money and that’s fair enough,” Tukel said.

“We don’t want overseas fighters to think they can come to Australia and be f****d over.

Aokuso has lost his IBO Intercontinental light heavyweight title.

“Two weeks ago, I suggested to Paulo that he pull out with what had happened to his trainer.

“I had concerns for a few weeks whether he could make weight, but he said, ‘Please trust me, I can do this’.

“Now Paulo has lost his belt which is disappointing.

“Despite this, he can still win.

“I’m telling you he is a once-in-a-generation fighter and he can overcome all the odds to beat this bloke.”

Aokuso admits the loss of his trainer has been a blow.

“I haven‘t trained with Lincoln for three weeks now, so it’s not easy not having him there,” he said.

“He has been with me for every fight and every camp, but I was never going to pull out.

“Even in my last fight (against Quinlan) I was sick but I don’t want that reputation for pulling out of fights.

“I’ll be OK. I just can’t wait to get out there and put on a good performance.”

Originally published as Boxing news: Aussie world-title prospect Paulo Aokuso stripped of his title after failing to make weight for NRL’s gala fight night