‘Freakish athlete’: Teremoana Teremoana Jnr can create history in Paris says Olympic teammate Harry Garside

Standing nearly two metres tall, Teremoana Teremoana Jnr is a mountain of a man who packs a punch. And recent form would suggest he is every chance of cementing “his family’s name on the world stage” at the Paris Olympic Games, Harry Garside believes.

He is the 120kg super heavyweight that has shocked the boxing world with a savage 81-second knockout and is ready to lead Australia’s stampede at the Paris Olympics.

Sydney-born behemoth Teremoana Teremoana Jnr has put the world on notice after claiming gold on Tuesday as Australia’s Olympic boxing team embarked on a medal-winning rampage at the Eindhoven Cup in the Netherlands.

The Eindhoven Cup is billed as Holland’s biggest Olympic boxing event and the Teremoana-inspired Australian team produced a record haul in the perfect preamble to the Paris Games.

Monstrous super heavyweight Teremoana was one of five Aussies to win gold, with Monique Suraci, Callum Peters, Shannan Davey and Olympics captain Caitlin Parker also taking out top spot.

Australia’s record 12-strong Olympic team left the Netherlands yesterday with a total of nine medals, finishing second out of 15 nations to suggest they will be a force in France.

No Australian in 100 years of Olympic boxing competition has won a gold medal – but the 198cm, 264-pound Teremoana heads to Paris in the form of his life.

Teremoana could create history in Paris. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images for AOC

Tokyo Bronze medallist Harry Garside, recovering from hand surgery, watched Teremoana’s performance at the Eindhoven Cup and says the 26-year-old man mountain has the skill set to conquer the world.

“Teremoana is a freakish athlete,” said Garside, who won Australia’s first boxing medal in 33 years at the 2021 Games.

“He is a giant of a man and just an amazing boxer.

“For such a big man, he has the speed of a lightweight and his hitting power is frightening.

“Seeing how much he has evolved as a boxer over the last year, Teremoana is certainly a chance for gold.

“He has a massive opportunity to cement his family’s name on the world stage.”

Garside (C) and Teremoana have each booked their tickets to Paris. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images for AOC

Now living in Brisbane, Teremoana destroyed his opponent in the semi-final, needing just 81 seconds to stop Algeria’s Mourad Kadi, who was left slumped against the ropes after a savage left hook from the Australian.

Teremoana won the final by walkover after his Brazilian rival Abner Junior suffered injury in the semi-final.

Towering Teremoana headlined a brilliant campaign by the Australian team, who lost just four of 20 bouts across the four-day event.

Indigenous female boxer Marissa Williamson-Pohlman and Charlie Senior both claimed silver, while Tiana Echegaray and Tina Rahimi took home bronze in a fine showing ahead of the 2024 Games.

Speaking before heading to the Netherlands, Garside predicts Australia’s Paris team will set a new boxing benchmark.

“I’m so excited about this Australian team,” he said.

“I honestly think this will be our most successful Olympics boxing team ever – we are going to win multiple medals at this Olympics.

“I’m calling it now – I think we can win four medals and it will be our most successful campaign for a long time.

“We have 12 athletes and look, you need a lot of luck with the draw, but there is potential for us to win four medals.

“One of them can certainly be gold and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Teremoana.”

Originally published as ‘Freakish athlete’: Teremoana Teremoana Jnr can create history in Paris says Olympic teammate Harry Garside