Ingham boxer Caden Russo to fight Ken Aitken for Queensland title
An Ingham boxer known affectionately as the “Raging Bull” by his North Queensland trainer is fighting for his first professional Queensland title in Brisbane next month.
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Respected North Queensland boxing trainer Dean Poppi didn’t think much of Caden Russo’s potential as a fighter when he first laid eyes on the then 19-year old in mid-2019.
Fast forward two years and Poppi is as proud as punch of his now professional boxer who is fighting for the Queensland title in a televised fight in Brisbane on October 12.
“He probably didn’t start that good; he walked in the gym and I keep telling him, he was flat-footed, off-balance, not the prettiest but he had a whack and he was tough.”
Poppi said his fellow cane-farming protégé was also immediately fiercely dedicated to fitness, gaining muscle and studying the fine art of boxing.
“He reminded me of the old throwback Italian fighters like (Rocky) Marciano, (Jake) LaMotta and (Rocky) Graziano, they were all the same, they weren’t pretty to watch but they were brutal … honest hardworking sluggers,” he said.
“I saw it in him when he came in … so I’ve given him the name Raging Bull, and he’s Italian so it’s history sort of repeating itself.”
Russo, managed by renowned boxing industry figure Brendon Smith, is currently 73 kilograms but will drop to 66 for his fight against Queensland champion Ken Aitken, who has eight wins and one loss, in the Premiere Boxing Series at the Mansfield Tavern on October 12.
The welterweight, who has won four and lost just once since turning pro in march this year, said that even in the comparatively short time he had been involved in the sport, the career pathways in the combat sport had flourished.
Poppi, founder of Kingdom Gym, said the series offered Russo, who won a number of amateur titles, the “chance to dance on the big stage”.
“Give us a stage so the Bull can rage.”
Included among Russo’s scalps is respected and experienced Thai fighter Uten Chanavon in his professional debut in Toowoomba in March and a rematch in the first ever professional boxing fight in Ingham.
Both fights went the distance and were awarded on points.
Poppi said they weren’t changing up anything ahead of the fight against Aitken, training six days a week amid the chaotic Hinchinbrook sugarcane crush.
“We’re meticulous with our prep, we don’t change strategies and panic, we stick to our routine … we know that we are going to be fit enough, we know we are going to be strong enough and we know we are going to be competitive enough.”
He said his slugger, managed by renowned boxing industry figure Brendon Smith, had remained grounded, despite his rapid rise.
“Some people set their goals way out in the starts, we sort of have that in the background but our goal this year has always been to fight for a Queensland title because many people said it was impossible because it was our first year of fighting,” he said.
“After we get our state title, we’ll keep setting goals till he reaches his full potential and if that is world champion, so be it.”
Poppi thanked Angelo Di Carlo and ACE boxing for promoting the upcoming event that was “showcasing Australia’s boxing talent to the nation”.
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Originally published as Ingham boxer Caden Russo to fight Ken Aitken for Queensland title
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