Why a Tassie pro boxer has turned to a Hobart teen to help him prepare for ‘life changing’ bout

Undefeated Tasmanian pro boxer Bo Belbin has turned to a Hobart teenager for help in preparation for his ‘life changing fight’ against the son of a boxing legend. Find out why

Tasmanian pro boxer Bo Belbin has turned to a Hobart teenager to help him prepare for the biggest fight of his career. Picture: Chris Kidd

UNDEFEATED Tasmanian pro boxer Bo Belbin has turned to a Hobart teenager for help in preparation for his ‘life changing’ fight against the son of a boxing legend.

Belbin (7-0) will look to continue his rapid rise through the professional ranks in under two weeks’ time under the bright lights of Sydney’s Quodos Bank Arena when he squares off with the youngest son of former Aussie world champion Kostya Tszyu, Nikita Tszyu (4-0).

But while he says the upcoming bout is the biggest of his career, the 31-year old pro revealed it was a 19-year-old Glenorchy amateur that had been the secret weapon in preparing for the southpaw Tszyu.

“The past month [training in Melbourne] has been really full on with southpaw specific work and we’ve brought over a young Australian amateur champion from Tassie, Liam McKenzie, who for the past three weeks or so of camp has given me some really hard and good quality southpaw sparring,” Belbin said.

Bo Belbin has been sparring with 19-year-old Hobart amateur Liam McKenzie in preparation for his fight with Nikita Tszyu on March 12 in Sydney. Photo supplied.

“He’s dangerous and he’s got good power and good speed and he’s exactly what we want as he boxes quite similar to Nikita.

“He’s on the rise as an amateur and he’s really, really strong and a really good southpaw so we’ve been doing a lot of southpaw specific training throughout this entire camp.

“He’s got that amateur pedigree and comes from a fighting family and so our last spars have been really competitive and really beneficial.”

Having faced only one other southpaw in his seven professional fights, Belbin said the southpaw- specific training had been crucial in his preparation.

“There’s definitely a lot of different things you’ve got to train and get into a pattern of in order to be successful against a southpaw and that’s why all I’ve been doing is left handed specific training.

“It [facing a southpaw] definitely shapes your camp 100 per cent in a different way and it’s definitely awkward fighting a southpaw,” he said.

Bo Belbin has been sparring with 19-year-old Hobart amateur Liam McKenzie in preparation for his fight with Nikita Tszyu on March 12 in Sydney. Photo supplied.

“One in 10 fights for an orthodox right-hander is going to be against a southpaw whereas nine out of 10 fights for a southpaw is going to be against an orthodox so they are used to us but we aren’t used to them.

“With a southpaw you’ve got to focus on the fact you’re basically a mirror image of each other when you’re standing across from each other.”

Belbin said there were obvious nerves ahead of the Tszyu fight but that they often helped him perform at his best.

“This right now so far in my career is the biggest fight for sure,” he said.

“A win in this fight would definitely skyrocket me in the pros so that’s what we are looking for.

“I’m always nervous coming into a fight and there’d be something wrong with you if you weren’t.

“But I try and ride with the nerves and the whole experience and usually it makes me sharp and makes me cautious and careful and actually lifts me up a little on the night and being more aware.

“I’m confident I’m going to go forward and perform the best I’ve performed,” he said.

Tasmanian pro boxer Bo Belbin in Hobart ahead of the biggest fight of his career against Nikita Tszyu on March 12 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena. Picture: Chris Kidd

Belbin’s coach, Grant “Tassie’ Brown, said his fighter was ready to make national headlines.

“This fight could change his whole life overnight,” Brown said.

“A win for Bo would pretty much make him one of the biggest names in Aussie boxing overnight given the name and popularity of Nikita.

“Bo’s had a great training camp and done everything I’ve asked him to do and he’s gone to another level.

“It’s a great opportunity and something we are taking with both hands and we are going there to win.”

Belbin and Tszyu will face off on March 12.