TKO settles fierce Goodman-Schleibs rivalry, Scott KO's Leilua
A TKO has settled the simmering rivalry between Sam Goodman and Mark Schleibs - and a world title could be next in the line. SUBSCRIBE to relive the action inside.
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After all the talk in the build-up, Sam Goodman silenced Mark Schleibs with a one-sided fourth-round TKO victory to lock in a possible world title fight with Naoya Inoue.
Goodman dominated every moment of the fight, while a brave Schleibs showed incredible toughness to make the bout last as long as it did.
In one of the most complete performances of his career in front of a raucous crowd, the win could see local hero Goodman finally secure a super-bantamweight world title fight against Inoue.
“World titles, that’s the next stop. We want world titles and we want them here,” Goodman said.
“Let’s get it. Whoever it is, any of them. I’ve been waiting for a world title for a long time, I know I’m up to the level.”
There was an ugly tension between the pair in the build-up, and the Wollongong crowd booed Schleibs mercilessly all night.
“Mark, I give him his credit, he came out firing with a few wild left hooks,” Goodman said after the fight. “It took me a few left hooks to get my distance.
“He’s a showman, but I’m number one for a reason. He made it fun. It was different. Give Mark Schleibs a cheer for making the event what it was.”
Known as the Mad Bunch, Goodman’s fans didn’t listen to their man, instead raining down more boos.
Schleibs started aggressively to open the fight, throwing big hooks and looking to time Goodman on the way in.
The first serious jab Goodman landed set the tone of the fight though. Schleibs backed up immediately and was on his heels for the rest of the first round.
Fighting heavier than his customary bantamweight, a left hook had Schleibs hurt again in the second, before the game Melbournian fought back gamely.
But it was all Goodman.
He’s nicknamed The Ghost, but he could change that to The Hunter considering the way he went in for the kill.
He stalked Schleibs down, ran across the ring at one point and had the Magic Man injured over his left eye at the end of the second.
A relentless Goodman pummeled the will out of Schleibs in the third as his corner prepared to throw in the towel.
The ringside doctor and referee Will Soulos warned Schleibs’ corner the fight would be stopped if he copped the same level of punishment in the fourth round.
That’s exactly what happened, with Soulos saving Schleibs 75 seconds into the fourth.
HARDMAN FELLED BY DEVASTATING SAAVEDRA KO
Issac Hardman has suffered a devastating knockout loss to underdog Venezuelan Endry Saavedra in the co-main event.
After seven sensational back-and-forth rounds, Saavedra – who looked gassed out just moments earlier – came from nowhere with a finishing flurry to send Hardman reeling backwards into the ropes near the end of the eighth.
Hardman attempted to fight back, but a few follow up shots saw him unable to defend himself and referee Les Fear stopped the bout with just second left in the eighth round.
Hardman had been looking to build towards a world title fight against Jermall Charlo, but still has a host of intriguing domestic fights against the likes of Brock Jarvis, Mateo Tapia and Andrei Mikhailovic.
It’s a stunning result for Saavedra, who trains with former world champion Jaime Munguia in Mexico.
Saavedra will return to Mexico to help Munguia prepare for his blockbuster showdown with Canelo Alvarez in May.
SCOTT KOs LEILUA, CALLS OUT HALL
Curtis Scott has called out Barry Hall after winning his professional boxing debut with a brutal second round knockout of Joey Leilua.
A big left hand over Leilua’s shoulder early in the second sent Leilua crumpling to the canvas.
Leilua appeared to injure his leg as he fell and needed to be assisted to his corner as blood dripped from his nose.
The former Dally M centre of the year remained sitting on his stool for two minutes as Scott celebrated with his team in the opposite corner.
Scott, who had previously mentioned winning the Australian cruiserweight title, instead called out heavyweight Hall.
“A little birdy told me Big Bad Barry Hall wants to step back in and dip the toe into boxing again,” he said. “If that old bugger wants to step back in, I can send him into retirement.”
Hall told this masthead last week that he was considering a boxing comeback with rematches against Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams.
“If they give me either rematch I will take it straight away,” said Hall, who was in undercard fighter Troy Pilcher’s corner on Wednesday.
“I know I have ability, I just have to get everything else right. I fancy myself with my hands, but boxing’s not all about hitting pads, you get hit back as well.
“Last time I fought I got hit back and it didn’t end well. It’s put a little thing in me that says I need to show I am better than that.
“That’s certainly not what I’m about.”
Scott had some good moments in the first round, and rattled Leilua midway through the frame. Although he was giving up 30 kilograms on Leilua, Scott was fitter and faster and landed the thunderous knockout 30 seconds into the second round.
“I watched some footage of him and noticed he changed from southpaw to orthodox,” Scott said. “I just had to wait until he made that change and fired the right down the middle.”
‘Let’s get it on’: Tszyu called out after dominant win
Koen Mazoudier might have just won the Nikita Tszyu sweepstakes, with a fifth round TKO win over Travis Druce.
Tszyu is set to defend his Australian super-welterweight title in a pay-per-view headline fight in April, but is still looking for an opponent.
Kiwi fighter Viliami Liavaa could have locked in a shot at Tszyu with a win over Anton Markovic last Wednesday, but “The Axe Murderer” upset those plans with a stunning second round body shot knockout.
Seven days on, Mazouider was in the same position against Druce, but made no mistakes, in a dominant performance.
“Nikita Tszyu, you know I respect you brother, but, let’s go to war, I reckon we have fun in there,” he said afterwards. “I’ll take on anyone, but Mazoudier-Tszyu has a nice ring to it.”
Mazoudier said he’d be ready to fight again next month.
“I’ll fight three times before then,” he said. “That’s ages away.
“I put on good fights, and I’ve envisioned that fight. I’ve known Nikita since we were kids. I’ve known Tim since we were kids.
“People like my style, people like his. I come to bang, he comes to bang.
“He gets hit, I get hit. I think I’m a crisper boxer, he’s probably stronger on the inside. He probably has more power, he’s very explosive and a tricky southpaw.”
“Let’s get it on.”
Druce started fast, but Mazoudier’s experience showed out by the end of the first round.
Mazoudier jabbed Druce’s mouth guard out of his mouth and out of the ring in the second round.
A left hook rattled Druce moments later as the power behind Mazoudier’s right hand began to take full effect.
Druce tried to turn it into a dogfight, but was getting caught on the way in. He was warned for holding in the fifth, and, in just his sixth professional fight, Druce’s corner threw in the towel halfway through the round.
8.20PM: GALLEN SHARES HIS WISDOM
At the same venue he scored his most memorable boxing victory, Paul Gallen has met with Sam Goodman in Goodman’s dressing room ahead of the main event.
Gallen wasn’t going to make an appearance tonight, but was convinced to attend at the last minute, nearly three years after he knocked out former heavyweight champion Lucas Browne in one round.
The former Sharks captain gave local hero Goodman a few words of encouragement.
“He just told Sam to enjoy the moment, to do what he’s always done,” Goodman’s manager Peter Mitrevski told this masthead.
“He’s done all the hard work, now it’s just time to fight.”
Goodman was a picture of calm as he lounged with his hands wrapped on a black leather couch backstage.
He watched the heavyweight clash between Kiki Leutele and Arsene Fosso on an iPhone connected to a Bluetooth speaker while teammate Koen Mazoudier warmed up.
‘The Ghost’ had his hands wrapped, but didn’t have his fight trunks on yet – just his jockeys – when he was called upon to do an interview on the broadcast.
Sam Goodman chills out while Koen Mazoudier warms up. #GoodmanSchleibspic.twitter.com/gFBfWAffRX
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) March 13, 2024
He didn’t have a pair of shorts handy, so grabbed the nearest pair, which happened to be Mazoudier’s. He also slipped on a pair of Mazoudier’s sandals, and went on TV.
There should have been fireworks in the Leutele-Fosso bout, but it failed to live up to the hype, Leutele winning a six-round decision.
CAMPS CLASH IN PRE-FIGHT DRAMA
It wouldn’t be Australian boxing without a good old fashion pre-fight glove drama.
In the same arena that Paul Gallen’s heavyweight clash with Lucas Browne nearly came undone, it’s happened again.
Watch Goodman v Schleibs & Hardman v Saavedra | WED 13 MAR | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Sam Goodman and Mark Schleibs’ teams had a heated backstage argument about the gloves their fighters will wear for tonight’s main event.
Goodman has a pair of horse hair Salvadore gloves. Schleibs has foam Everlast Elites, and is adamant Goodman shouldn’t be allowed to wear horse hair gloves.
Horse hair padded gloves have been at the centre of numerous pre-fight dramas and are known in boxing circles as knockout gloves.
“He’s scared shitless,” Goodman’s manager, Peter Mitrevski, told this masthead of Schleibs. “Rocky Ogden knocked him out last year wearing those same gloves and he’s just scared mate.”
Just when it looked like the drama was over, backstage a rampaging member of Joey Leilua’s team threatened that the former rugby league player wouldn’t make the walk to the ring after finding out he was scheduled to make his entrance first.
A member of Leilua’s team approached No Limit officials just minutes before the main card started after hearing reports the 3-0 boxer was scheduled to walk first.
“He’s not fighting unless he is coming out second.” Leilua’s teammate yelled in the hallways of Wollongong Entertainment Centre.
Scott arrived moments later entering his changing room to prepare for his first professional fight.
‘Makes me sick’ - Leilua laughs off Scott’s bold claims
Joey Leilua has laughed off Curtis Scott’s bold ambition of winning a national boxing title.
Leilua, who weighed 30kg more than Scott at Tuesday’s weigh-ins, has been super-focused all week, but finally cracked when asked about Scott’s ambitions of winning a cruiserweight title.
“Wow … really? From what I’ve seen of him in the ring, I have to laugh at that,” Leilua told this masthead.
“I’ve seen guys at our gym who are 10 times better than him and move way better.
“He’s too stiff. To become Australian champion … that makes me laugh. That makes me sick just thinking about it.
“We’ve got some good guys in the gym, guys that hit hard and if I can take a punch off those guys, I can take a punch off this guy.”
Leilua also brushed off Scott’s comment that he “doesn’t know which chin to punch” in relation to Leilua’s weight.
“He said I had a double chin?” he asked.
“Look, I’m happy, he can say whatever he wants.
“He can talk all the shit, but we’ll see come Wednesday.
“I’ll be talking to him when I’m hitting him on Wednesday. I’ll be talking trash to him. I know exactly what I’m gonna say to him.”
6PM: Hardman not fussed about world title challenger
Issac Hardman and Venezuelan Endry Saavedra engaged in a heated weigh-in face-off despite the language barrier between them.
A win will propel Hardman into the top five with the WBO and within touching distance of a world title. But Saavedra is supremely confident after spending years as former world champion Jaime Munguia’s main sparring partner.
And he plans on returning to Mexico a winner next week to help Munguia train for his upcoming world title blockbuster against Canelo Alvarez in May.
“He’s such a strong, high-level boxer and we’ve had very good sparring,” Saavedra told this masthead. “He’s passionate and committed and I’ve learned a lot from him.
“The people that know his (Munguia’s) fights, know what to expect from me, and I’m ready to ruin (Hardman’s) party of Wednesday.”
Hardman isn’t concerned about Saavedra’s prediction though. He’s had his own high-level sparring against a former Canelo opponent in Caleb Plant.
“I was in camp with Plant, big whoop,” he told this masthead. “Munguia, Canelo, David Benavidez, is doesn’t matter who is Mexican mates are, he’s gonna eat some Vegemite toast come Wednesday night.
“Jamie Munguia can’t fight for him and hold his hand. He’s just a medium-sized burrito. I’m an extra-large burrito and I’m coming to knock his head in.”
5.15PM: Fenech’s remarkable selfless act despite health scare
Our thoughts are with Aussie boxing great Jeff Fenech, who has been hospitalised today with an infection.
Fenech rushed to hospital with a temperature of nearly 40, telling this masthead “I’m sick as a dog. I have a mystery infection.”
Fenech underwent life-saving heart surgery in Thailand in 2019, and those closest to him are now worried about his current situation.
This masthead caught up with Fenech at his home in Five Dock last Wednesday, a day after he’d been at the hospital to have his hernia checked out.
The boxing legend was worried then about his health and showed off his nasty hernia. It was the size of a cricket ball bulging out of his skin just below his stomach.
Despite his poor health, the ever-generous Fenech brushed off his own worries last week and signed several pieces of memorabilia for a local fundraiser.
He was subdued, but became animated when speaking about the current state of Australian boxing, and revealed he regularly speaks with former protégé Brock Jarvis.
After 22 fights together, Jarvis left Fenech last year, but the pair are now on good terms and speak regularly.
When this masthead caught up with Jarvis this week, he spoke with genuine fondness about some of their time together.
Jarvis has been dealing with a series of ongoing injuries, but plans on returning at super-welterweight, and is forever grateful for everything Fenech did for him.
4.45PM: Mark Schleibs hits out at “scumbags”
Mark Schleibs has hit back at some of Sam Goodman’s rowdy supporters, taking exception to some low-blow heckling from Goodman’s camp on Tuesday.
Schleibs, who has never met his dad, eyeballed members of Goodman’s team who made comments about the ‘Magic Man’s’ past and family.
Visibly worked up, he said it crossed the line.
“F**k his team,” Schelibs said. “F**k his whole team, I don’t give a f**k.
“They’re all little jealous little f**ks and they know their boy’s gonna get f**ed up.
“They’re bringing up that I’ve never met my father, low blows like that. Those are the kinds of people he hangs around with.
“Just scumbags and I can’t wait to put him on the canvas.
“Have a look at Wollongong, it doesn’t surprise me at all. They have to lower themselves to do that to try and get to me mentally, but I’m here, I’m ready to fight.”
4.00PM: Team Campbell has a crack at Goodman’s camp
Schleibs wasn’t the only person getting stuck into Goodman’s team on Tuesday.
Zeke Campbell, who opens the pay-per-view with a super-welterweight clash against Laban Stringer, earned a unanimous decision win over Goodman’s teammate Jason Fawcett in October.
Campbell won with scores of 78-76, 79-75 and 79-73 to claim the New South Wales welterweight belt, but Fawcett’s team are adamant their man was robbed.
Campbell’s dad, Adrian – who is a retired boxer who fought Michael Zerafa, Jack Brubaker and Wade Ryan – gave Goodman’s team a decent serve about the fallout from the fight when he ran into them at the weigh-ins.
There were plenty of strong words hurled, but Goodman’s team ignored Campbell and focused on the action on the stage.
How to watch Goodman-Schleibs and Leilua-Scott
The fights are being shown on Main Event pay-per-view on Fox Sports and Kayo.
What time is the fight?
Expect Joey Leilua and Curtis Scott to fight at around 8:30pm AEDT.
Goodman and Schleibs are expected to be in the ring at around 9:30pm-10pm
What time does the PPV start?
The PPV starts at 7pm
Before that, there will be three prelim fights aired on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Goodman-Schleibs undercard
Sam Goodman 55.30kg vs. Mark Schleibs 54.58kg – (Goodman’s WBO Oriental Super Bantamweight Title — 10 Rounds)
Issac Hardaman 72.52kg vs. Endry Saavedra 72.42kg – (WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Title — 10 Rounds)
Curtis Scott 93.92kg vs. Joey Leilua 122.04kg (Heavyweight – 4 Rounds)
Koen Mazoudier 69.66kg vs. Travis Druce 69.68kg (Super welterweight – 8 Rounds)
Kiki Leutele 110.18kg vs. Arsene Fosso 118.44kg (Heavyweight – 8 rounds)
Zeke Campbell 68.28kg vs. Laban Stringer 68.92kg (Super Welterweight – 8 Rounds)
Chloe Grech 51.02kg vs. Connie Brown 50.54kg (Super Flyweight – 6 Rounds)
Charlie Kazzi 61.14kg vs. Roy Gavera 60.56kg (Super Lightweight – 4 Rounds)
Campbell Sommerville 72.52kg vs. Sandeep Kumar 72.7kg (Middleweight – 6 Rounds)
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Originally published as TKO settles fierce Goodman-Schleibs rivalry, Scott KO's Leilua
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