We rank the Gold Coast's top 12 Pound 4 Pound boxers
Boxing almost came to a complete shutdown in 2020 due to COVID, but promoters are now falling over themselves to get programs locked in. With boxers back in the ring, we drop the first official Gold Coast Pound 4 Pound Top 12 fighters from the Glitter Strip.
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Boxing almost came to a complete shutdown in 2020 due to COVID, but promoters are now falling over themselves to get programs locked in. With boxers back in the ring, we drop the first official Gold Coast Pound 4 Pound Top 12 fighters from the Glitter Strip.
The Gold Coast and Tweed region punches well above its weight as a producer and training centre for a host of world, Australian and Queensland rated champions and 2021 will be a big year. Boxing weight division rankings are always a spark for debate, but it’s nothing compared to when the discussion shifts to the pound-for-pound rankings – basically who are the top boxers regardless of weight. Tim Brimblecombe sharpens the pencil and drops the first and thereby official Gold Coast Pound 4 Pound Top 12.
1. Andrew Moloney
Trainer: Angelo Hyder/Tony Nobbs (Chinderah)
Weight division: Super Flyweight
Record: 21 (14ko) wins, 1 loss, 0 draw
Stance: Orthodox
Ranking: 8 Ring Magazine, 5 WBC, 2 WBA
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Andrew was at the centre of 2020’s biggest boxing controversy after the ridiculous draw decision in his rematch against Texan Joshua Franco in Las Vegas in November for the World super flyweight title.
Moloney, 29, should have been declared the winner when the referee stopped the fight because of damage to one of Franco’s eyes, but instead it was declared a draw much to bemusement of everyone apart from officials and the Franco team.
Even Dame Helen Mirren joined the celebrity pile-on of the bizarre decisio
n. Joshua won their earlier bout by UD in June, but Moloney was doing more than enough to be declared the winner in the rematch.
While lawyers battle it out with the tone-deaf Nevada State Athletic Commission to reverse the decision, Moloney remains supremely confident of completing the job, hopefully in Australia, after the WBA demanded an immediate rematch.Next fight: Joshua Franco, most probably May.
2. Jason Moloney
Trainer: Angelo Hyder/Tony Nobbs (Chinderah).
Weight division: Bantamweight
Record: 21 (18ko), 2 (1ko), 0
Stance: Orthodox
Ranked: 7 Ring Magazine, 7 WBC, 9 WBA 12 IBF
Andrew’s twin brother Jason took on one of the biggest challenges in world boxing when he fought Japanese powerhouse Naoya Inoue for the WBA bantamweight title in October.
Inoue is regarded as one of the top three pound for pound fighters in the world scoring knockouts in 16 of this previous 19 fights and Jason survived seven rounds before the fight was stopped.
Earlier in June he defeated Leonardo Baez in Las Vegas to earn his world title shot against Inoue.
World ranked in three organisations, there is not much on the domestic scene so Jason is likely to again look at international opponents as he rebuilds his bid for a world title, possibly against WBA champion John Riel Casimero from the Philippines.Next Fight: TBA, most probably May.
(Splitting Andrew and Jason was a difficult task. Several far more knowledgeable on boxing than the writer were split, so it was decided to go to the one person who knows them better than anyone… their mum, Mrs Moloney.
But like all Mums, Mrs Moloney sat on the fence saying she was very proud and both were such lovely boys.
They tended to egg each other on, as young siblings do, and more often than not were told to go outside and don’t come back until it’s sorted. In the end it was a sympathy vote that got Andrew over the line as No.1 after copping the biggest boxing shafting in 2020.)
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3. Jacob Ng
Trainer: Stephen Ng (Matrix)
Weight division: Lightweight 14 (11ko), 0, 0
Stance: Orthodox
Rank: 9 IBF, 10 WBO
The pink-boa wearing, dancing juggernaut put a scare through his fans when he was almost cartwheeled into the canvas by a Hunter Ioane right in the first round of their bout in November.
But the man known as The Flamingo, bounced back just as quickly to see out the round, put Ioane on the deck in the second and end the bout in the fifth. It was a spectacular bout and rightly judged the Australian Fight of the Year.
Ng’s fights are always spectacular, from his dance walkout to his penchant for knockdowns – both his but mostly his opponents.
He currently holds the International Boxing Federation International Lightweight and World Boxing Organisation Oriental Lightweight titles and is world ranked by two organisations.
He potentially has one more fight in front of home crowds before looking overseas.Next fight: March 27, versus Blake Minto, Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane.
4. Bruno Tarimo
Trainer: Angelo Hyder/Tony Nobbs (Chinderah)
Weight division: Super Featherweight
Record: 25 (5ko), 2, 2
Stance: Orthodox
Rank: 10 (super featherweight) IBF, 10 (super bantamweight) WBA
The 25-year-old has not seen his family in almost three years since moving to Australia to chase his world title dream plus attain a distinguished athlete visa and permanent residency so his family can join him.
He’s ticking all the boxes but had a small setback when his fight against undefeated former Olympian Paul Fleming in Sydney in December was judged a draw as a result of an accidental head knock.
Tarimo was ahead on points in the fight, which was the co-feature of the Tim Tszyu versus Bowyn Morgan card.Next fight: Most probably March 31 as part of the undercard of the Tim Tszyu v Dennis Hogan undercard.
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5. Demsey McKean
Trainer: Stephen Ng (Matrix)
Weight division: Heavyweight
Record: 18 (12ko), 0, 0
Stance: Southpaw
Ranking: 13 IBF, 13 WBO
No other boxer in Australia has had more false starts than the 198cm giant with multiple opponents withdrawing from scheduled bouts.
McKean has not fought since March, 2020 and has had a series of cancelled fights since then.
There was a bout on the Tim Tszyu undercard in December when his opponent withdrew citing poor preparation while the big-promising Lucas Bowne is proving more elusive than The Phantom despite pleading twice for a fight with McKean only to withdraw.
McKean was scheduled to fight Kiwi Kiki Toa-Leautele on March 27 but that to was cancelled and he again finds himself chasing an opponent.
An interesting match-up ahead for a potential opponent for McKean is the bout between Kiwi heavyweights Joseph Parker and Junior Fa in Auckland on February 27Next fight: TBA.
6. Billel Dib
Trainer: Billy Hussein (Sydney)
Super Featherweight
Record: 24 (1ko), 3, 0
Stance: Orthodox
Ranking: 15 WBA
The Gold Coast accountant has not fought since September 14, 2019, when he defeated Carlo Magali for the World Boxing Association Oceania Super Featherweight title, but has started a training camp in Sydney.
Dib has his own accountancy firm and is able to travel to Sydney for camp with trainer Billy Hussein.
Dib was firmly in the WBA top 10 at the start of 2020, so needs to get in the ring to maintain his rankings but also needs a fight late March or early April as Ramadan then shuts the fight window for another month.
He and Brisbane’s Liam Wilson have already opened proceedings on social media so the logical step is to take it to the ring.Next fight: April 9 versus opponent TBA, Entertainment Centre, Hurstville.
7. Rohan Murdock
Weight division: Super Middleweight
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 24 (17ko), 2(1ko), 0
The former world rated contender is another victim of inactivity.
The former staple of the world rankings did not fight in 2019 and there have been few opportunities to recover after a TKO loss to Brit Zach Parker in Manchester on March 7 last year for the vacant World Boxing Organisation Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Title.
It was only Murdock’s second loss in 26 bouts and his first since 2011.Next fight: TBA
8. Ben Mahoney
Weight division: Super welterweight
Record: 10 (6ko), 0, 0
Stance: Orthodox
On the night Olympic hopeful Justis Huni made a spectacular heavyweight debut in Brisbane last October, Mahoney was been just as explosive breaking the jaw of Ben Hussain 19 seconds in the first round of their bout.
Much of the focus post-fight around Hussain’s corner failing to stop the fight was a distraction from Mahoney’s performance that has confirmed his status as one to be reckoned with in the Australian super welterweight ranks.
The former MMA fighter moved to 10 and 0 with six knockouts and is ranked No.4 by the Australian National Boxing Federation after just two years of professional boxing.
A prodigious trainer, Mahoney is poised for a breakout year in 2021.Next fight: April 10 versus Kris George at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
9. Tysinn Best
Trainer: Stephen Ng (Matrix)
Weight division: Welterweght
Record 12 (3ko), 2 (1ko), 0
Stance: Orthodox
The former Australian welterweight champion lost his title to Brisbane’s Ben Kite in September and has not fought since.
Best knocked Kite down early but the Gold Coat fighter couldn’t capitalise and was outboxed by Kite for a unanimous loss. Next fight: Unlikely to be until midyear
10. Josh Frederiksen
Trainer: Angelo Hyder/Tony Nobbs (Chinderah)
Weight division: Super Middleweight
Stance: Orthodox9 (7ko), 2, 2
Having not fought since 2018 the former Australian light heavyweight champion had a busy end to 2020 fighting twice in October and December for a win and a loss. He is currently ranked No.13 super middleweight in Australia.Next fight: TBA
Honourable Mention
Casey Caswell
Trainer: Stephen Ng (Matrix)
Weight divsion: Cruiserweight
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 6 (4ko), 0, 0
Liam Callanan
Trainer: Angelo Hyder/Tony Nobbs (Chinderah)
Weight: Cruiserweight
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 10 (2ko), 0, 0
It’s difficult to split these two. Caswell sits 13 in the national cruiserweight rankings, while Callanan is 15.
Both are undefeated with unanimous victories to see out 2020. Maybe they should have a fight.
Next fight: Caswell, March 5 versus Lomi Tusi for the Queensland Cruiserweight Title at Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane. Callanan, March 12 opponent TBA, Gold Coast Croatian Sports Centre, Carrara
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