‘I’d love to’: Inside the AFL race to find Australian boxing’s next Paul Gallen, Barry Hall
Ex-AFL stars Cam Mooney and Tom Bellchambers will square off this week and have the opportunity to become boxing’s next cross code star.
The race to find Australia’s next cross-code boxing star is on.
Retired AFL stars Cameron Mooney and Tom Bellchambers will square off at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena this Wednesday in Melbourne, and there’s plenty on the line for the winner.
Since Paul Gallen retired from boxing last year, Australian boxing promoters have been desperate to unearth the next cross-code star who can hold their own in the ring.
Watch heavyweights Joseph Parker v Faiga Opelu, the return of Nikita Tszyu plus former AFL stars Cameron Mooney and Tom Bellchambers in a pro-boxing debut. LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Wednesday 24 May 7PM AEST. ORDER NOW >
Footballers are the biggest boxing drawcard other than Tim Tszyu’s fights, and are the pay-per-view golden goose that draw in eyeballs like few other bouts can.
Barry Hall’s boxing career only lasted two fights, while the Sonny Bill Williams hype train was brutally stopped by UFC legend Mark Hunt last year.
Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant looked off the pace against Gallen, and while Canterbury Bulldogs star Tevita Pangai Jr has shown he packs a punch, his foray into boxing is limited by his NRL career.
Mooney, a three-time AFL premiership winner, will fight former Essendon ruckman Bellchambers in a heavyweight bout lasting three two-minute rounds.
The fight appears on a card undercard featuring Nikita Tszyu’s sixth professional fight and Joseph Parker’s blockbuster main event bout against Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu.
George Kambosos lost two world title fights to Devin Haney in Melbourne last year, but the southern city has been a largely untapped market for Australian boxing, with blockbuster fights preferred in Sydney, Newcastle and Queensland.
But promoters No Limit clearly see potential to discover the next cross-code boxing star, and it just might come from AFL heartland.
Bellchambers, 33, is well aware of the opportunity he has to put his name up in lights and become the successor to Hall and Gallen.
“Since Barry Hall fought Paul Gallen a while ago, there haven’t been too many AFL boys step in the ring,” Bellchambers told news.com.au.
“So to have the opportunity on the No Limit boxing card to put my name forward and step in the ring against someone who rates himself as a boxer.
“That’s the great thing about this opportunity for Moons and myself.
“I’ve loved the opportunity and I’ve loved the last three weeks getting ready for this. I am confident.”
Asked if he would like to become Australian boxing’s next cross code star, Bellchambers said: “The short answer is yes. I’d love to. I think there is an opportunity for someone to step up.
“The NRL boys have been doing it for a long time and always put on good shows.
“Now it’s up to us boys to put on a good show first and foremost, and if there’s an opportunity for a cross-code athlete to step into the shoes of Barry Hall, who did it a few years ago now.”
The 202cm former Bomber said if he beats Mooney, he would definitely entertain the idea of contesting an AFL vs NRL-style fight next.
“I’d love nothing more than to get in that ring and knock him out and get an opportunity against an NRL player or an ex-NRL player,” Bellchambers said. “That’d be great.”
Mooney, 43, is ten years older than Bellchambers and is giving up a height and weight advantage to his opponent.
But the ex-Geelong champion has done plenty of sparring over the years and fancies his chances in the fight, even if it is just a one-off venture into boxing.
“He hasn’t got much experience boxing,” Mooney told news.com.au.
“Hopefully the experience sparring over the years, hopefully my movement will keep me out of that reach until I’m ready to come in and do what I need to do.
Mooney is no spring chicken anymore but is relishing the opportunity, regardless of if he wins.
“I’m literally just taking it as this fight — Wednesday night we’ll see what happens, then we’ll reassess if there’s anything to reassess,” he said.
“If I’m no good and the fight’s no good and I don’t feel comfortable in there, it’s probably a one-off.
“But if things go well and I feel great and I have a lot of fun, then who knows, there might be another one down the track.”
No Limit is dipping their toe into the AFL market, and if Mooney and Bellchambers both flop, there could be some other AFL stars waiting in the wings ready to take the mantle.
Mooney said: “I think what they’re looking for is when they bring it down to Melbourne, AFL players are happy to jump on the undercard — get out there and show their boxing skills.
“A lot of players do a lot of boxing through their career. Now there’s a chance they can jump in the ring and see how they go.
“I know Dane Swan’s pretty good. Jake Melksham’s pretty handy as well. I’m sure if you go around to most clubs there’d be someone who can hold the gloves pretty well.”
Asked if he can win, Mooney said: “It’s going to be Mooney. If it’s not TKO it will be points.
“As long as we put on a show for other AFL players in the future who might want to jump in the ring.”
Bellchambers said: “I see myself winning the fight. Absolutely, that’s the whole idea of a heavyweight fight.
“I feel comfortable and confident I can step in the ring and make a real impact.”
Full Fight Card
Joseph Parker vs Faiga Opelu
Nikita Tszyu vs Ben Bommber
Cameron Mooney vs Tom Bellchambers
Joel Taylor vs Ben Horn
David Nyika vs Louis Marsters
Kayne Clarke vs Rikki Natio
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