Rocca brutally KOs McKernan, Brown dominates Cornes in footy fights

AFL great Anthony Rocca caught Corey McKernan napping and put him down, before Nathan Brown taught Kane Cornes a lesson.

AFL great Anthony Rocca earned plenty of praise after a brilliant act of sportsmanship after knocking out Corey McKernan in The Gathering in Adelaide.

In the unofficial launch of the AFL’s Gather Round as it was not sanctioned by the league, eight AFL greats took to the boxing ring, most for the first time.

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While it was clear the talent level wasn’t quite at professional standard — particularly when compared to the full-time professional boxers who fought in between on the card — there was plenty of action.

The first of the AFL fights ended up being the most eventful as the 46-year-old Collingwood great Rocca rocked the 50-year-old McKernan with a big left hand with the first punch that landed in the opening round.

McKernan needed a standing eight count and Barry Michael said it should have been waved off there and then.

“He’s in a lot of trouble — I don't think he’s any good,” Michael said. “He’s going to get hurt.”

McKernan was in a world of hurt from the first punch. Photo: Channel 9

Although he did beat the count and continue, McKernan didn’t look well going into the end of the first round.

While McKernan landed a few more punches in the second round, Rocca was more than willing, eventually landing a short left that dropped McKernan.

Although the referee began the count, it was clear that McKernan was done.

“I really don’t think Corey McKernan recovered from the first round,” Barry Michael said in commentary.

Rocca held up McKernan after the knockout, a moment that earned Rocca plenty of praise after the fight.

“I know I’ve done a lot of work, I’ve done a s**t tonne of work into this lead up,” Rocca said.

“I hit him flush with it and I knew he went down from it.

“We don’t want to hurt anyone. We’re not boxers, we get in here and we try our best. The professionals that come out here, they work so bloody hard.”

The punch that ended the fight. Photo: Stan Sport

Rocca held up McKernan after the punch. Photo: Channel 9

Aussie boxing legend Danny Green called it a “classy” act of sportsmanship from Rocca to hold McKernan up.

“He hurt him in the first round with a shot and Corey, he knows he’s not a boxer and was out of his depth, but I’m so proud of this bloke by showing such class and grace — he knew he hurt him,”

“Classy act by Anthony Rocca, as you’d expect, he’s a classy dude.”

McKernan echoed Mike Tyson’s words of “everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the face”.

While the rest of the fights between AFL greats went the distance, there were impressive performance from the winners Dane Swan, Nathan Brown and Mitch Robinson.

Swan, the 2011 Brownlow Medallist, was all over 2010 Collingwood premiership teammate Daisy Thomas, even impressing Aussie boxing legend Danny Green with his technical ability.

Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond star Brown then fought Port Adelaide 300-gamer turned pundit Kane Cornes.

In one of the most anticipated fights of the evening with Cornes called “public enemy No. 1” and booed by the crowd despite being in his backyard, Brown was dominant, peppering Cornes with strong punches that marked up his Channel 9 stablemate's face.

After the fight, Brown was asked how it felt to shut Cornes’ mouth, but paid tribute to his 41-year-old colleague.

“It’s a good effort to get out here,” Brown said.

“We haven’t done a lot of boxing, but the courage for Kane to get out here … The thing about Kane is, he’ll give it in the media but he takes it as well. There are a lot of guys in the media who don’t like to give it like he does it, they’re afraid to give it. I take my hat off too him.”

Cornes said he’d “never been more nervous about anything in my whole life”.

The card finished with former Carlton and Lions star Mitch Robinson handing former Tiger Kayne Pettifer his first professional boxing loss.

Pettifer had fought three times professionally after finishing his AFL career, winning all three.

But Robinson dominated, landing big shots and looking like he might finish the fight early.

In the professional fights, Jackson England won the WBO Global Super Featherweight title in a slog-fest with Jamel Herring, claiming a split decision to likely move into the WBO’s top 10.

Aussie journeyman Jack Brubaker claimed an absolute war against In Duck Seo, having claimed the victory only after dropping his Korean rival with a liver shot in the final round.

Joel Camilleri landed a decisive win over Joel Pavlides, Alex Leapai Jr. followed in his heavyweight world title challenging father’s footsteps with a tight win on debut and Sergei Vorobev and Wes Capper fought out an entertaining draw.

The Gathering — full card results

Jackson England defeated Jamel Herring via split decision (96-94x2, 93-97) for WBO Global Super Featherweight title

Mitch Robinson defeated Kayne Pettifer via unanimous decision

Jack Brubaker defeated In Duck Seo via unanimous decision (77-74, 76-75x2)

Nathan Brown defeated Kane Cornes via unanimous decision

Joel Camilleri defeated Joel Pavlides via TKO (round 4)

Dane Swan defeated Dale Thomas via unanimous decision

Alex Leapai Jr. defeated Joe Ageli via majority decision (38-38, 39-37)

Anthony Rocca defeated Corey McKernan via TKO (round 2)

Sergei Vorobev drew with Wes Capper in majority draw (76-76x2, 79-73)

11.40pm — Jackson England downs ex-world champ

Jackson England has shown he belongs at the higher levels of the sport, breaking into the top 10 of the sport with a thrilling win over Jamel Herring.

Herring won the WBO super featherweight title in 2019 and held the belt for three defences before losing to Shakur Stevenson in 2021.

But after losing against Jamaine Ortiz in his next fight, Herring was on the comeback trail.

However, the Aussie dynamo stunned the former world champion in a high-level showdown that had the commentators unsure of who would come out on top.

In a fight for boxing purists, both men defended brilliantly, which made landing punches difficult.

But after 10 rounds of high-quality boxing, England claimed the victory via split decision, winning two cards 96-94, while Herring claimed the other 97-93.

10.45pm — Mitch Robinson stuns Kayne Pettifer

Former Carlton and Lions star Mitch Robinson has handed Kayne Pettifer his first professional boxing loss with a brutal display in Adelaide.

Pettifer played eight seasons for Richmond but had also fought, and won, three times as a professional boxer.

Mitch Robinson was the surprise packet of the evening. Photo: Stan Sport

Although the last time was seven years ago, Pettifer was bringing all the experience.

But it was Robinson who looked every part the pro, dismantling Pettifer in a brilliant performance.

Robinson looked to have his opponent on the verge of having his lights turned out but Pettifer was able to stay on his feet.

It was an impressive performance and afterwards he called out any NRL star for cross-code showdown.

“I don’t know who’s in my weight division for the NRL, but AFL vs NRL, I’d make a good decision I think,” Robinson said.

“I know I’d love to take on those boys, I know they’d probably gas a little bit earlier than us but they can pack a punch.

“We’ll see. We’ll have a few beers. I haven’t had a drink for eight weeks so I’m keen for a beer, for sure.”

10.20pm — Brubaker wins absolute war

Aussie journeyman Jack Brubaker has bounced back from his last fight loss to Nikita Tszyu with a brilliant fight against Korea’s In Duck Seo.

The war was an absolute thriller that was ultimately decided in the final round, when a left rip dropped Seo with a liver shot.

It made it a 10-8 round which was ultimately decisive as he won a unanimous decision 76-75 on two of the cards — without the extra point, it would have been a majority draw.

9.40pm — Brown shuts Cornes’ mouth

Western Bulldogs great Nathan Brown has made the most of an opportunity that many others would like — landing some heavy punches in the opening two rounds of his fight against former Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes.

Nathan Brown brought the pain for Kane Cornes. Photo: Stan Sport

Even though it was in Adelaide, Cornes was booed by the crowd when he was announced.

And the Channel 9 stablemates didn’t hold back, landing plenty of punches.

But it was Brown who claimed the victory in a unanimous points win.

Asked about how it felt to shut Cornes’ mouth, Brown was magnanimous.

“It’s a good effort to get out here,” Brown said.

“We haven’t done a lot of boxing, but the courage for Kane to get out here … The thing about Kane is, he’ll give it in the media but he takes it as well. There are a lot of guys in the media who don’t like to give it like he does it, they’re afraid to give it. I take my hat off too him.”

Cornes said he’d “never been more nervous about anything in my whole life”.

He praised Brown’s power and gave him respect for his performance for getting in shape after his career ended with a horror groin injury.

9.10pm — Joel Camilleri brutally KO's Pavlides

Joel Camilleri was at his brutal best. Photo: Stan Sport

Joel Camilleri has retained the WBA Oceania middleweight title belt with a brutal win over Joel Pavlides, knocking out the young gun in a tremendous display.

Fresh off a three fight winning streak, Pavlides was schooled by the 33-year-old Camilleri.

The veteran knocked down Pavlides in the first round, leaving the commentators believing the fight was as good as done.

But Pavlides fought hard to stay in the fight, trading punches with Camilleri until the final seconds of the fourth round when the veteran landed a huge right hook to floor the Queenslander again.

After one final punch from Camilleri before the bell, Pavlides’ corner called the fight off from the stool.

8.35pm — Dane Swan impresses, cleans up Thomas

Swan was praised for his ring craft. Photo: Stan Sport

Swan looked easily the better boxer, despite giving away four years to the 36-year-old Thomas.

Swan talked up his boxing prowess before the fight and he justified his confidence landing some strong punches, knocking Thomas’ head back.

Thomas could do little more than smile as he was gassed out by the end of the third round as Swan marked up his 2010 premiership teammate’s face.

But somehow, Thomas made it to the bell, surviving the four rounds.

The difference after the fight. Photo: Stan Sport

It was an impressive performance from Swan who impressed the likes of Danny Green with his technical ability.

“I feel pretty good. I’ve done a fair bit of work. It’s one side of training I enjoy after footy,” said Swan.

“I enjoyed it and I’m pretty relaxed by nature, so I was fine.

“I might get back on the Vegas diet a little bit later,” he joked.

“It was fun. Obviously, we’re really good mates so I’m not super aggressive by nature, so it’s hard to walk in there and try and punch a mate’s head off.

“We had good fun.”

8.10pm — Son of world title challenger given scare in debut

Alex Leapai Jr., the son of former world heavyweight title challenger Alex Leapai, has had a brutal introduction to the sport with a four-round war with Joe Ageli.

Ageli put in a hell of an effort as the 18-year-old Leapai Jr. was given a run for his money in his debut.

Barry Michael said before the decision that “Leapai hadn’t won”, believing it would be a draw.

“I think he was a trifle lucky there, but that’s boxing, that’s the way the judges saw it,” Michael said on commentary.

But the judges had a surprise, with two giving the result to Leapai, giving the youngster a majority decision and a winning start to his career.

7.35pm — ‘Classy’ act after AFL legend brutally KO'ed

Anthony Rocca has landed the first punch of AFL clashes, rocking Corey McKernan with a big left hand in the first round.

46-year-old Rocca was the much busier of the pair and landed a huge left that left the 50-year-old McKernan stunned early in the first round.

McKernan needed a standing eight count and Barry Michael said it should have been waved off there and then.

“He’s in a lot of trouble — I don't think he’s any good,” Michael said. “He’s going to get hurt.”

McKernan was in a world of hurt from the first punch. Photo: Channel 9

Although he did beat the count and continue, McKernan didn’t look well going into the end of the first round.

While he landed a few more punches in the second round, Rocca was more than willing, eventually landing a short left that dropped McKernan.

Rocca held up McKernan after the knockout.

Although the referee began the count, it was clear that McKernan was done.

“I really don’t think Corey McKernan recovered from the first round,” Barry Michael said in commentary.

Rocca said he’d done a lot of work, losing 20kg coming into the fight night, and clearly had some power in his left hand.

“I know I’ve done a lot of work, I’ve done a s**t tonne of work into this lead up,” Rocca said.

“I hit him flush with it and I knew he went down from it.

“We don’t want to hurt anyone. We’re not boxers, we get in here and we try our best. The professionals that come out here, they work so bloody hard.”

The punch that ended the fight. Photo: Stan Sport

Rocca held up McKernan after the punch. Photo: Channel 9

Aussie boxing legend Danny Green called it a “classy” act of sportsmanship from Rocca to hold McKernan up.

“He hurt him in the first round with a shot and Corey, he knows he’s not a boxer and was out of his depth, but I’m so proud of this bloke by showing such class and grace — he knew he hurt him,”

“Classy act by Anthony Rocca, as you’d expect, he’s a classy dude.”

McKernan echoed Mike Tyson’s words of “everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the face”.

7.20pm — Judge’s card raises eyebrows in draw

Sergei Vorobev and Wes Capper have fought out a brilliant eight-round draw to kick the night off.

Both fighters landed some bombs and the commentators definitely thought it was close.

One of the commentators said the cards could be all over the place and two had the fight at 76-76, the third had it 79-73.

While it was an eye-opening result, it was ultimately a majority draw.

6pm — ‘Got to pay’: Swan’s threat for Pies defector

The boys are ready to go. Photo: Stan Sports

The pair may be friends and 2010 premiership teammates, but 2011 Brownlow medallist Dane Swan has vowed to make Dale Thomas “pay for his sins” after the latter finished his career at Carlton.

It’s just one of four fights between former AFL stars in Stan Sports’ The Gathering fight night on Wednesday.

Thomas’ departure from Collingwood was seen as a betrayal by Pies fans at the time, leaving the club he’d won a premiership win under free agency.

Thomas played 101 games for the Blues between 2014 and 2019 for 258-games all up.

Swan, who coincidentally also played 258 games but all for the Pies between 2002 and 2016, said his ex-teammate, who is affectionately known as “Daisy”, shouldn’t have left the side.

“I’m not a hateful person, I’m not an angry person but he’s got to pay for his sins for going to Carlton,” Swan told Wide World of Sports.

“We’re mates and we’ll have quite a few beers after the fight, but once the bell goes I’m looking forward to punching him in the head.”

All four of the AFL fights are four two-minute rounds, which suits Swan well.

He admitted he “can’t run that well but I can bounce around for eight minutes”.

Swan also revealed he lost 5kg when he went to Vegas for his 40th birthday, which interrupted his training.

The boys facing off. Photo: Channel 9

But he added he’s boxed for a long time, saying he hates running, hasn’t lifted weights since he finished playing in the AFL and “swimming bores me”.

“I can do four rounds comfortably, its just how many times I get hit. But I’m ready to go,” Swan told The Daily Mail.

“I lost five kilograms in Vegas … I played at 95kg, I’m at 88-89kg now. I’m as lean as I’ve been since I got out of the jungle (on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2017).”

Originally published as Rocca brutally KOs McKernan, Brown dominates Cornes in footy fights