Gold Coast-trained boxer Demsey McKean out to overcome first professional loss on Fury-Usyk undercard

Demsey McKean is about to feature on an undercard of an event where Tyson Fury will pocket $150m. Discover how he plans to use a bout with Moses Itauma to re-join boxing’s top echelon and put himself on a path to his own world title shot.

British Slovakian Boxer Moses Itauma (L) and Australian boxer Demsey McKean challenge each other during a press conference, in central London, on October 23, 2024, ahead of their heavyweight undercard fight, taking place on December 21, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Demsey McKean is hoping to use a bout with Moses Itauma to re-join boxing’s top echelon in a move that would also put him on a path to his own world title fight.

The Gold Coast heavyweight will feature on the undercard of the Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk showdown in Saudi Arabia in December.

Itauma is currently ranked sixth in the WBO division and after a period of being inactive a win by McKean would open the door to more major fights where he could join fellow Australian Justis Huni, ranked fifth in the same division, in the top 10 in the world.

Fury is understood to be earning around $150m for the upcoming fight and continued success by McKean would put him in the frame for his own world title chance and a life-changing payday.

“A win here would open some big doors, but all eyes are on Moses Itauma, you’ve got to get through him first to be able to open up bigger doors,” said McKean, who has been training under Fidel Tukel at Burleigh gym Fite Klub on the Gold Coast.

“It’s a tough fight, brings new challenges, I’ve got to get through him to be able to take his world ranking and then open up some bigger doors against some more ranked opponents.

Moses Itauma and Demsey McKean pose for a photo ahead of their Heavyweight fight during the Usyk v Fury 2 Press Conference. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

“The money’s good, most of the money goes to the main event (in the upcoming Saudi Arabia fight) … they’re probably making 50 million pounds each or something ridiculous like that. Until you’re at the top echelon of those kinds of fighters then you’re making that money, but the money is good in Saudi,” McKean said.

“These are the opportunities we wait for, we train so hard for everyday. I’ve fought on some big cards in the UK at the O2 centre … but never in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, which is now the capital of boxing.”

Training out of the Gold Coast, McKean has a 23-1 professional record after suffering his first loss to Filip Hrgovic at the O2 Arena last year.

He has fought at the O2 Arena, trained alongside the likes of Anthony Joshua, and sparred UFC champion Alex Pereira.

Demsey McKean is seen during the weigh in ahead of the fight between Demsey McKean and Patrick Korte, at Treasury Casino in 2022. (Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images)

The 34-year-old moved back to Australia a year ago after two years training in the United Kingdom.

“We got invited into Anthony Joshua’s training camp, who’s the biggest name in boxing, so that was an opportunity I cherished and I was happy to sacrifice living in Australia to move over there for that,” he said.

“It was time well spent over there. I went over during Covid and we had to get government grants to be able to leave the country, it was quite strict.

“We couldn’t fight here so I had to make the move over there to fight and keep my world rankings and keep my career alive.

“I’ve done a lot of sparring with Daniel Dubois who’s the current IBF world champion, a couple of Anthony Joshua camps as well as Dillian Whyte … I’ve learnt a lot and done some recent sparring with the UFC double champ Alex Pereira as well, I’ve managed to get in some good rounds with a lot of top fighters.”

His biggest takeaway from the UK stint was the opportunity to spar such high calibre opponents.

Former NRL Titan Alex Leapai Jr and top Australian heavyweight boxer Demsey McKean after sparring together at Fite Klub in Burleigh on the Gold Coast, October 29, 2024. Picture: Supplied.

“We’ve got a good crop of fighters, heavyweights here in Australia but nothing compared to the UK, world champions, high level guys, it’s a completely different ball game over there,” McKean said.

“(It was a) good confidence-booster to get in and spar these guys and know you can mix it up on that level.”

In a tune up for his Itauma fight, McKean sparred former Gold Coast Titan Alex Leapai Jr at Fite Klub on Tuesday. Leapai Jr has 3-0 professional record since he officially walked away from the NRL in January.

“It’s good, he’s a big unit, he comes forward, he’s done a lot of sparring with his father Alex Leapai, he’s just like him,” McKean said.

“He’s a tough big banger so it’s good to get in there with another big guy and feel the weight of those shots and that pressure, it’s good, hard conditioning rounds.”