Boxing chaos as rising Aussie Paulo Aokuso misses weight, vows to ‘retire’ veteran

Paulo Aokuso failed a crucial test before his next fight, but that hasn’t stopped declarations the rising Aussie star’s potential is “limitless”.

Rising Australian boxing star Paulo Aokuso put his first Australian headliner into jeopardy after weighing in 260 grams too heavy on Tuesday.

Aokuso (4-0, 3KOs) is set to face Renold Quinlan at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter on Wednesday night as he chases his fifth professional win.

The fight headlines the first of three cards put on by promoters No Limit, which will also feature AFLW star Tayla Harris and Nikita Tszyu.

LINEAR BOXING JULY 19: Undefeated rising star Paulo Aokuso takes on former world champion Renold Quinlan LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Aokuso is the heavy favourite to defeat Quinlan, but he didn’t help his chances by failing to make weight, hitting the scales at 79.66kg.

The official light heavyweight limit is 79.4kg. Quinlan tipped the scales at 79.24kg.

The fight is likely to go ahead given Quinlan said he didn’t have an issue with Aokuso missing weight.

“He can lose it, keep it, doesn’t matter to me,” he said.

Aokuso has sledged Quinlan for partying in Bali, but the 34-year-old veteran made weight and threatened he would pull off an upset win in a repeat of his shock win over Jack Bowen last year.

Aokuso wasn’t fussed by just missing weight, saying he’d “make sure it doesn’t happen again”.

Paulo Aokuso misses weight ahead of his fight with Renold Quinlan. Photo: Fox Sports.

Quinlan’s camp want Aokuso to weigh in again and if he doesn’t make weight, they are demanding a cut of his fight purse.

Aokuso told news.com.au he wants to knock Quinlan out and send him into retirement.

“This fight I’m definitely stopping and knocking him out,” Aokuso said.

“I’m looking to finish him and retire him. It’s going to be a good one. All I know is he’s going to be punished.”

Asked what his goals are, Aokuso said: “For me, getting belts, getting more fights, staying undefeated. But also just keeping a roof over my mum’s head. That’s about it.”

Aokuso competed as an amateur at the Tokyo Olympics but has emerged as one of Australia’s top boxing prospects after making a strong start to his pro career.

The 26-year-old is looking to soon join the ranks of Australia’s world champions and title contenders including Jai Opetaia, Tim Tszyu, Stevie Spark and the Moloney brothers as fighters who can beat international opponents on the world stage.

“I’m different to every Aussie boxer,” he said.

“I’m sharp, I look good in the ring, have an American style.”

Speaking to news.com.au, No Limit boss George Rose said Aokuso has the talent and swagger to succeed in professional boxing.

“I feel like his potential’s limitless,” Rose said.

“The fights that he’s been taking are fights you’d usually take 10-15 fights into your career and he’s doing them from day one.

The sky is the limit for Paulo Aokuso. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“He’s so comfortable walking into the ring. He loves the hype, loves the crowds, loves everything that comes with the pressure of being a professional boxer. He delivers again and again. His potential is limitless.”

The transition from amateur to professional boxing is not always a smooth one, as seen with Harry Garside, who has returned to amateur competition targeting the Paris Olympics.

But Rose believes it won’t be long before Aokuso “cleans out the backyard” of Australian opponents and sets his sights on fighting for a world title.

“I remember people had questions when he came from amateur boxing ‘Is he going to have the power?’,” Rose said.

“When you the see the power that he’s got, he’s dropped guys who have never been dropped or have very solid chins on them.

“It shows he’s got the power and he’s got the slick moves to go with it. He moves fast. He’s got the feet, the hands. He’s got the speed and the power to make him a very dangerous guy in the division.

Paulo Aokuso could be Australia’s next boxing star. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“He’s gone straight to international opponents when guys would usually look in their backyard and focus on winning Australian title and regional belts. He’s got one goal and that’s for the world title. He wants the fast track to that.

“He’s taken the hardest opponents that he can to get there. Now he’s fighting a local talent in Renold Quinlan, a guy who’s been at the top of the tree, who’s beaten a lot of the top guys in Australia.

“It’s a really good chance for him to say, ‘I’ve cleaned up the backyard now I’m ready to go for that world title’.”

Elsewhere on the No Limit on Fox card, Jack Brubaker will take on Troy O’Meley in his first fight in two years. Both fighters have declared they want to fight Nikita Tszyu if they win.

The card gets underway at 8pm, with the main event set for around 9.15pm.

No Limit on Fox (Watch on Fox Sports 503 via Kayo or Foxtel)

Paulo Aokuso vs Renold Quinlan — Light-heavyweight

Youssef Dib vs Miles Zalewski — Lightweight

Jack Brubaker vs Troy O’Meley — Super-welterweight

Isaias Sette vs Ankush Hooda — Super-welterweight

Originally published as Boxing chaos as rising Aussie Paulo Aokuso misses weight, vows to ‘retire’ veteran