Tevita Pangai Jr calls out former NRL star after devastating TKO
Tongan torpedo Tevita Pangai Jr has called out a fellow former NRL star after he chalked up his fourth consecutive win as a pro, producing a brutal third-round stoppage.
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Tevita Pangai Jr has called out fellow former NRL star Curtis Scott after making a savage statement as a professional boxer on Saturday night.
The Tongan torpedo (4-0, 3KO) chalked up his fourth consecutive win as a pro, producing a brutal third-round stoppage of tough-as-nails Kiwi rival Raphael Sa’u (1-1-1) at Ipswich Basketball Arena.
With his former Broncos teammates Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Tom Flegler and Anthony Milford watching from close range, Pangai Jr showed he is no mug in the fight game by slicing and dicing Sa’u.
Just six months after quitting the Bulldogs to become a professional boxer, TPJ added a crunching TKO to his sporting portfolio as he made a ferocious statement in the heavyweight division.
IT’S OVER! This is a war. Tevita Pangai Jr unloads and gets the stoppage. Sa’u doesn’t come out of his corner at end of round 3. pic.twitter.com/EyEkWytNRE
— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) March 23, 2024
Former Melbourne centre Scott thumped ex-Canberra star BJ Leilua in his professional boxing debut at Wollongong a fortnight ago, then duly called for a showdown with Pangai Jr.
He should be careful what he wishes for, because on this performance, the 117kg Pangai Jr could bash the much-smaller 97kg Scott from pillar to post.
“Curtis come to daddy baby,” an elated Pangai Jr said moments after stopping Sa’u.
“I’m really happy.
“I felt more patient, I wanted to box like the pros in my gym, so I’m pleased with that performance.
“I have a Tongan chin of granite. Our ancestors were warriors who were made out of stone.
“I would love to fight Curtis. If Matt Rose at No Limit wants to call my manager, we will get it on and get something happening.
“BJ Leilua is my mate so I want to get revenge for BJ and put Curtis Scott away.”
After winning a six-round war against Frank Amato last October in Townsville, Pangai Jr started with confidence, taking the first round with some nice jabs and a powerful left hand which stunned Sa’u.
The second round quickly turned into a slugfest, with Sa’u tagging Pangai Jr on several occasions, prompting the former Broncos star to unleash a series of vicious volleys on the previously unbeaten New Zealander.
Tevita Pangai Jr ready to rumble in his fourth professional fight tonight in Ipswich pic.twitter.com/fXjPt0hLiO
— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) March 23, 2024
Pangai Jr dropped Sa’u late in the second round with a crunching left hook, but the Kiwi was saved by the bell.
Tevita the Terminator got the job done in the third round, continuing his ruthless assault on Sa’u, who showed incredible toughness to stagger back to his corner, only for his team to call it quits.
“The left hand is my power hand but I’m working on my technique. Hard work plus technique and power equals unstoppable,” Pangai Jr said.
“This is just the start, I will get better. I’ve only been doing this for six months and I’ve had a baby, but now that I’m back in Brisbane full-time with my trainer, I have so much improvement.”
Pangai Jr’s trainer Chris McCullen said TPJ can be the real deal as a boxer and would beat Scott.
“I thought he did a really good job,” he said.
“He worked behind the jab which he was supposed to do and once we worked out the style of fight in the first round, the key was to use his left hook which he did well.
“He looked like a boxer.
“His defence was a bit off, he got caught a few times, but when you look at it for what it is - he has been a rugby league player all his life and he went out there with a professional fighter and he looked the part.
“I thought Curtis did a good job in his fight, he has a good fast jab and he is still learning the game as well. Tevita is a little bit in front of him in terms of development, so I’d back Tevita, but it’s a great fight and a great attraction.
“Tevita is a real student of boxing and he is learning the art of it.
“Tevita is a proper puncher. He can box okay too, he is not a guy who comes out and throws reckless punches, he showed he has a good job and he set up some punches.
“For a guy who has done six months of serious boxing, he is only going to get better and better.”
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