NRL 2022: Tevita Pangai Jnr returns to boxing on Sonny Bill-Mark Hunt card

Tevita Pangai Jnr produced a TKO in his boxing debut and now the former Broncos NRL star will unveil a lean-and-mean look for his second fight on the Sonny Bill Williams-Mark Hunt card.

Tevita Pangai Jr punches Gerico Cecil during the Heavyweight bout at Fortitude Music Hall on December 04, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Tevita Pangai Jnr has shed 12kg and is in the best shape of his sporting life as the Bulldogs enforcer prepares to return to the boxing ring.

News Corp can reveal that almost a year after making his professional debut, ‘Tevita the Terminator’ is back for the second fight of his boxing career on the undercard of the Sonny Bill Williams-Mark Hunt main event in Sydney next Saturday night.

Canterbury management have given Pangai Jnr the green light to fight knowing that he is in the process of reconditioning his body, which prompted the former Broncos and Panthers forward’s decision to withdraw from representing Tonga at the World Cup.

The 26-year-old will fight next Saturday before reporting for the Dogs’ first day of pre-season training 48 hours later on November 7.

Tevita Pangai Jr is back for the second fight of his boxing career. Picture: Getty Images

Pangai Jnr stopped Gerico Cecil in his fight debut and now the Bulldogs firebrand will face 117kg monster Jeremiah Tupai in a heavyweight clash at Darling Harbour’s Aware Super Theatre.

Tupai shapes as a dangerous opponent. He trains out of the same Brisbane gym as Australian middleweight knockout star Issac Hardman and produced a savage first-round TKO of Daniel Joyce in his professional debut in September.

But Pangai Jnr will enter the ring in supreme condition with the Tongan torpedo having trimmed down from 123kg to a lean-and-mean 111kg as he looks to make a knockout statement on the Sonny Bill card.

The back-row wrecking ball has been training in Brisbane under the tutelage of former Australian super lightweight champion Chris McCullen, who says Pangai Jnr has the talent to be a bona fide boxer.

“Physically, Tevita is in brilliant shape,” McCullen said.

Bulldogs wrecking ball Tevita Pangai Jnr has fancied himself as a boxer since his days at the Broncos.

“He is down to about 111kg which is the first time I have ever seen him at that weight.

“He has worked his butt off.

“Tevita came up here at 120kg-plus. His best playing weight at the Broncos was about 113kg, so this is the best I’ve seen him which is a credit to the effort he has put in.

“People will be surprised at Tevita’s boxing ability and skill set, if he does what he has been doing in training.”

World-title hopeful Hardman has put Pangai Jnr on notice, saying his stablemate Tupai moves and hits like the legendary ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

The big boppers will slug it out over four, three-minute rounds and while Tupai is entitled to start favourite because of his amateur background, McCullen believes TPJ can punch his way to victory.

“I rate Tevita big time as a fighter,” his trainer said.

“Tevita made the call for three-minute rounds. He could have gone two-minute rounds like most footballers, but Tevita wanted the longer rounds which is a credit to his work ethic.

Canterbury star Tevita Pangai Junior will fight against Jerry Tupai (second from left) next Saturday night.

“Jerry is a genuine fighter. He is from a very strong gym at Nitro Boxing, he is trained by Blair Studley, who also trains Issac Hardman, so it‘s a very good test for Tevita.

“Tevita can get up on points. He will have the power and size difference. Jerry is more experienced than Tevita, so a stoppage would be a big ask, but Tevita can go out and win it with his jab.

“Jerry’s overhand right is his dangerous punch and his experience as a fighter is an advantage, but Tevita’s advantage is he is a professional sportsman who is used to the big occasion.”

With Paul Gallen one fight away from retirement, McCullen believes Pangai Jnr can become the NRL’s next boxing kingpin.

“Tevita lives and breathes it which is the difference to the other footballers who dabble in boxing,” McCullen said.

The Bulldogs have given Pangai Jnr permission to fight on the Sonny Bill-Mark Hunt undercard.

“If I say to Tevita, ‘You need to work on this’, he will go away and be up all night shadow boxing and practising and he will turn up the next day and do it.

“He is very dedicated to boxing — he is genuinely trying to be a good boxer.

“I honestly believe if Tevita put his mind to it, he would be a good professional fighter.

“He has no amateur background, but his improvement is through the roof.

“His dedication and willingness to learn is second-to-none and he could be a decent heavyweight at Australian level if that is the way he wanted to go.

“Obviously he is a footballer and making good money in the NRL, but he could be a pretty special talent in the boxing game as well.”

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