‘Towelled him up’: Rising Aussie star Callum Peters looking for breakout performance after Vegas sparring stint

He has travelled the world boxing as an amateur, but rising star Callum Peters is turning heads on both sides of the world in a hot start to his professional career.

He has travelled the world boxing as an amateur, but rising star Callum Peters (3-0) turned a few heads in Las Vegas two weeks ago.

That’s when the 22-year-old Paris Olympian went toe-to-toe in sparring with highly regarded American super-middleweight Elijah Garcia.

From South Australia, the charismatic Peters was in Sin City to watch Tim Tszyu and Manny Pacquiao, but more than held his own against the much more experienced Garcia.

“He put it on him,” said one witness. “He towelled him up”.

Callum Peters (L) lost a controversial decision to Nurbek Oralbay in Paris in a fight that was later ruled the best of the Olympics. Picture: Jiang Wenyao/Xinhua via Getty Images

After one session, Garcia refused to do any more rounds with ‘50 Cal’.

Which is a fair effort when you consider Peters only has three professional fights to his name, with a fourth, against rugged Kiwi Marcus Heywood (9-8-2), coming up on Wednesday night in Brisbane.

While Peters was losing a controversial decision to eventual gold medallist Nurbek Oralbay in Paris last year, Garcia had just finished up a three fight run appearing on two Gervonta Davis undercards and one Canelo Alvarez blockbuster at venues including T-Mobile Arena and the MGM Grand.

In his most recent bout, Garcia battled back from a knockdown to defeat one-time Tim Tszyu opponent Terrell Gausha by decision.

Peters shrugged off the sparring showdown when asked about it in Vegas as he prepares for his second fight in five weeks.

His main goal is to showcase his talents on another televised card on Wednesday.

But the ironic thing is that those same talents – which include an abnormally high punch output, and some deft footwork courtesy of his now trademarked indoor football shoes – mean he hasn’t actually had the opportunity to display his skills.

None of his three opponents to date have made it out of the first round.

Callum Peters and his indoor football shoes up now. #ParoNavarropic.twitter.com/S6ijMLoGzH

— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) June 25, 2025

“Marcus looks like a hard boy, he’s fought some hard opponents and he’ll bring a good show,” he said. “He should make it past the first round.

“Hopefully people get to see more of me.

“I like to throw a lot of volume, there’s always punches going.”

There were questions raised when Peters was spotted in Vegas just a week and a half before his fight with Heywood.

But the amateur star is no stranger to disrupted fight prep.

Peters stopped Luca Lanigan inside one round. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty Images for No Limit Boxing

His first scheduled opponent in Cairns in June pulled out with Covid, and a Kiwi replacement was forced out just three days before the fight when he wasn’t allowed in the country.

Another replacement was found just two days before the bout, with local Muay Thai fighter Luca Lanigan copping three heavy knockdowns before the referee mercifully waved it off.

“I’ve just got back from Vegas, I’m prepped and I’m ready to go,” Peters said. “Watching Tim and Manny Pacquiao got me thinking it could be me one day fighting in front of all those people and showing everyone all the hard work I’ve been doing in the gym.”

Elijah Garcia (R) on the Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia undercard. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

Peters has called out a who’s who of domestic fighters from middleweight to light-heavyweight, but after this week’s fight will turn his attention to the amateur world championships in September.

Meanwhile, a win in Wednesday’s main event will propel Aussie-based Kiwi Floyd Masson (15-2) into world title contention.

Peters gets his hand raised in Cairns last month. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty Images for No Limit Boxing

Masson takes on John Parker (11-1) – the younger brother of former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker – and the 33-year-old year-old has his sights on the very elite of the cruiserweight division.

And that could mean a potential domestic world title blockbuster.

“Jai (Opetaia) is the best cruiserweight in the world,” Masson said. “At the end of the day, you’re here to fight the best and prove yourself against the best.

“Those are the opportunities I’m chasing.

“As a fighter, you back yourself against anyone, and I believe I can beat anyone.

“We’re ready to chase down another world title.”