Aussie heavyweight sensation Teremoana Jr’s boxing career on hold after Brisbane Supreme Court defeat

He produced a devastating knockout win at the Paris Olympics, but now Australian super heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana Jr is fighting for his career after a Supreme Court injunction over a contract dispute.

Teremoana Teremoana Jr’s career is in limbo. Picture: Adam Head

Australia’s most successful Olympic super heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana Jr’s career is in limbo after a knockout loss in Brisbane’s Supreme Court on Wednesday.

A Supreme Court magistrate has delivered a savage uppercut to Australian boxing’s rising star Teremoana Jr after his local promoter Mick Francis won an injunction verdict over the 120kg Paris Olympian.

Teremoana Jr dropped a bombshell on Francis when he sought a release from his contract on the eve of the Paris Olympics in July to sign with British promotional giant Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable.

But in a David-versus-Goliath battle, Francis emerged victorious over Hearn, with the injunction meaning Teremoana Jr is banned from heading to the UK and fighting on Matchroom’s cards.

Teremoana made history last month when he became the first super heavyweight in Australia’s boxing history to win an Olympic amateur bout with a brutal knockout victory in his green and gold debut.

Teremoana Jr fought for Australia at the Paris Olympics. Picture: Adam Head.

But his career as a professional is now under a cloud after Brisbane’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of Francis, who slammed Hearn and appealed for Teremoana Jr to honour his Australian fight contract.

Francis successfully argued “tortious interference” over a contract he holds with the fighter until January 1, 2025, which is set to be rolled over until January 1, 2027.

It means Teremoana Jr could face more than two years on the sidelines should he refuse to smoke the peace pipe with Francis and feature on the promoter’s Tasman Fighters cards.

“I won the verdict but to be honest it’s not a satisfying feeling,” Francis said.

“I like Teremoana, he is a good guy and I don’t blame him to be honest.

“If I was him after this verdict, I would be pissed off and try to come to a resolution.”

The NSW-born Teremoana Jr, now living in Brisbane, attended the Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday with his trainers.

The 26-year-old was hoping to take his professional career to another level by operating under Hearn, whose Matchroom stable has some of the biggest fighters in the world including heavyweight sensation Anthony Joshua.

But after being slapped with an injunction, Teremoana Jr remains tied to Francis, who insists he can work again with the promising pugilist.

Teremoana Jr won his first-round bout in Paris by knockout.

“We won on every point,” he said.

“I don’t sign other boxers when they are under contract.

“I don’t want to be greedy. I want to build fighters up in Australia and help them reach their potential.

“Teremoana wouldn’t even look at me in court, so it’s unlikely he would want to fight under me for whatever reason.

“But I will pick up the phone with Eddie Hearn and I hope we can work out a resolution.

“Teremoana would be crazy to sit out two years, that would be completely dumb.

“No athlete at their peak would want to waste two years of their career, especially in boxing.

British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has tried to sign Teremoana Jr to his Matchroom empire.

“I’m willing to work with Teremoana, because the injunction means my contract is back on-foot and he can only fight under my banner.”

Teremoana Jr did not return calls to this masthead.

Teremoana Jr’s legal team argued the original deal was void because Francis had not held up his end by delivering four professional fights for the Campbelltown man mountain.

But Francis says he was prevented from meeting the four-fight arrangement after Teremoana Jr requested time out to box as an amateur at the Paris Olympics.

“I couldn’t give him the number of fights because he wanted to go to the Olympics, which meant he couldn’t fight as a pro,” Francis said.

“I wasn’t going to allow another promoter to walk over me and do whatever he wants.

“That’s why we have contracts in place.”

Originally published as Aussie heavyweight sensation Teremoana Jr’s boxing career on hold after Brisbane Supreme Court defeat