Jackson England enlists Olympic heavyweight medallist in quest for massive boilover

Jackson England is leaving no stone unturned in his quest for massive upset on Friday, enlisting a help of an Olympic medallist and part-time model.

Jackson England is preparing to cause one of the biggest upsets in Australian boxing this year. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

Jackson England has enlisted Kiwi heavyweight Olympic medallist – and fellow part-time model – David Nyika to help him upset Liam Wilson on Friday.

Already tipped as contender for fight of the night, the super-featherweight grudge match has been billed as the next step on Wilson’s path back to world title contention after his controversial loss to Emanuel Navarrete in February.

But the 15-2 England, who has been in some of the most entertaining domestic bouts over the past two years, believes he can upset those plans.

England earned a shot at Wilson with an entertaining win over Nathaniel May in October. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

And with Nyika joining his corner, England said he had everything in place to make it happen.

“Dave’s my boy,” England said after the weigh-ins on Thursday. “He trains with my uncle Noel Thornberry and I’ve been in his corner for a few of his fights.

“I love him being in mine, too. He’ll be in the corner with my coach and my uncles, Noel and Ricky.

“We have a good little bromance going on.”

While forging an 8-0 professional record, Nyika became the first New Zealand boxer to win a medal at the Olympics since the great David Tua in 1992 when he claimed heavyweight bronze in Tokyo.

Other than boxing, Nyika and England have movie-star good looks and the Kiwi cruiserweight is a popular social media personality in his own right.

England has also spent the past week with former lightweight kingpin George Kambosos at his gym in Sydney applying the finishing touches to his preparations.

“Having that friendship and relationship with George is amazing,” England said.

“He has me over for sparring but just to be around him, he’s an unbelievable person, a professional and an amazing fighter.”

Nyika won heavyweight bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Ou Dongqu/Xinhua via Getty Images

A win over Wilson would rate as one of the biggest upsets in Australian boxing this year and England gained more confidence following the weigh-ins.

After hitting the scales, Wilson left without speaking to any media. It parked fears he that his tough weight cut could be telling on fight night.

“He’s had a hard weight cut,” England said. “I don’t struggle with the weight, I do it very comfortably.

“I do the right thing. I’m very professional in and out of the ring with how I conduct myself in the sport.

“I can see it (Wilson’s hard weight cut) being a big toll when it comes to fight day. It’s up to him how he handles it.”

England was paying $8.25 head-to-head on Thursday and $15 to win by decision as he sets his sights on replacing Wilson on the path towards a world title.

“I back myself and I know how hard I work,” he said. “This is for my two little boys back home in Perth. I don’t want to win a world title just for me, it’s to set their futures up as well.

Liam Wilson (L) and England (R) face off ahead of their high-stakes grudge match. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

“Wilson’s fought some decent guys and he’s been over to the US and been on these big platforms.

“People are overlooking me because I haven’t had that same privilege.

“He’s had his opportunity and it didn’t go his way. This is his second shot but it’s my first shot. It’s just the start for me.”

Elsewhere, headliners Sam Goodman and Zhong Liu went head-to-head in a heated weigh-in face-off.

In his first headline fight, Goodman is glad to finally have an opponent with a bit of mongrel.

“There was a bit of feeling, he’s fired up and there’s a bit of venom in it,” Goodman said. “I’ve been lacking that.

“I have fought a few Americans lately and always thought they would come down and we would have a bit of back and forth but they turned out to be the nicest blokes ever.

“I like a bit of animosity.”

Originally published as Jackson England enlists Olympic heavyweight medallist in quest for massive boilover