Paris 2024: Australia’s biggest ever Olympic boxer Teremoana Jnr has been likened to Tyson Fury as he eyes gold in Paris
He is the biggest man in Australia’s 100-year boxing history at the Olympics. Now Teremoana Teremoana Jnr is primed to gun down his rivals in Paris with a skill set compared to Tyson Fury.
Terrifying Teremoana Teremoana Jnr has been hailed as Australia’s version of British heavyweight king Tyson Fury as the 120kg “beast” vowed to shock the world by winning gold in Paris.
The biggest man in Australia’s 100-year Olympic boxing history, towering Teremoana will launch his gold-medal assault on Monday when he fights on day one of the 2024 program at North Paris Arena.
Australia has won just five boxing medals in a century of Olympic competition and none have been gold, nor has any green-and-gold super heavyweight stood on the podium.
But good judges, including Tokyo bronze medallist Harry Garside, believe Teremoana Jnr has the size, skill, technical smarts and brutal power to destroy all-comers and make history in Paris.
“Teremoana can absolutely win gold, he is the total package,” said Gold Coast-based boxing trainer Fidel Tukel, who has worked with Tokyo Olympian Paulo Aokuso.
“I have been around this sport in Australia since 2007 and Teremoana is one of the most exciting heavyweights I have ever seen.
“I don’t believe we’ve ever had a genuine medal chance in the heavyweights at the Olympics, but this time, Teremoana is one of our best medal chances.
“He’s basically as big as Tyson Fury and just like Fury, Teremoana has great boxing IQ and great skill, so when you have the power and the moves, that makes him dangerous.
“If Teremona can bring home the gold, he will become a superstar in Australia.”
There is one major impediment in the form of 201cm giant Bakhodir Jalolov, the Uzbekistan champion who is 14-0 as a professional and claimed gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Due to the quirks of the draw, Jalolov has been seeded fourth instead of first, while Teremoana is ranked fifth, with the pair on an explosive collision course for a meeting in the second round.
That scenario would mean one of the pair will go home without a medal and the 198cm powerhouse, born in Campbelltown in Sydney’s southwest, is relishing the prospect of Jalolov going home empty-handed.
Jalolov has the edge after beating Teremoana at last year’s world championships, but the Australian is gunning for revenge when it matters most on the Olympic stage.
“That was my last loss and since then it has been my goal to avenge that loss,” Teremoana said.
“I am really here for a rematch (with Jalolov) and the gold medal is a secondary goal for me.
“When I fought him last time, yeah he punches hard, but he doesn’t punch that hard. I reckon I punch a bit harder and he knows that, too.
“If anyone is to be worried it will be him, not me, and I am so glad I will be fighting him (in the second round).
“That’s even better. If I beat him, then he gets no medal and if he wins the gold medal, that’s pretty stink isn’t it?
“It was a bit controversial in my opinion with him winning last time, but I can’t take it from him.
“I allowed those opportunities for the ref to stop the fight, but this time I’m going to take it into my hands and prove that I am the best in the world.
“I don’t fear him. Everyone is just a piece of flesh with a heart.
“There is nothing special about him. He is pretty good but I don’t see anything too great that I can’t handle.”
More Coverage
Paralympics’ spectacular end shows Brisbane what’s possible
Australia’s Paralympians have been partying like there’s no tomorrow after the curtain came down on a spectacular Paris Games that have given a rude wake-up call to Brisbane’s 2032 organisers.
‘Not the send-off I wanted’: Star misses medal in Paralympics shock
Curtis McGrath was unable to complete his golden double heroics of four years ago when he surprisingly missed out on a medal in his final race at the Paris Paralympics.