Barry Hall’s beefed up physique hasn’t won over the majority of Australian boxing fans, with almost 80 per cent of all TAB wagers favouring rival Curtis Scott — including one bet of $6000.
The revelation comes as NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell also took to social media this morning to throw his support behind Scott – who earlier this week was sledged for being, during his own playing days, nowhere near the level of South Sydney’s No.1.
Elsewhere, breakout Australian star Sam Goodman has also laughed off suggestions he is taking a “$100 million gamble” in his own headliner against undefeated Thai contender Chainoi ‘Rock Man’ Worawut.
Despite already being mandatory for Japanese megastar Naoya Inoue, Goodman is rolling the dice and taking one more fight against a former Muay Thai fighter who has gone undefeated through six years and 26 fights.
BOXING: GOODMAN V WORAWUT | WBC Super Bantamweight World Title Eliminator | WED 10 JULY 7PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Baz’s final clip to ‘full of shit’ Scott | 03:10
The bout tops a stacked No Limit Pay-Per-View event in Wollongong that also includes Liam Wilson’s move to lightweight, the return of KO King Brandon Grach and the hyped debut of prospect Billy Polkinghorn.
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BIZARRE SCENES IN EPIC FIRST FIGHT
The evening began in bizarre fashion as professional debutant Alessandro Grippa claimed victory against John Weetra – despite oddly losing his mouthguard four times in as many rounds.
Grippa, a street fighter, fought in regular Aasics joggers rather than specialised boxing boots. And he was clearly also unfamiliar with another crucial piece of boxing equipment, with the talented rookie losing his mouthguard repeatedly – including twice in the fourth and final round.
After the third such occasion, the referee said: “If you don’t bite down on that sucker and you lose it again, it’s going to be a point taken off. You got me?”
Australian boxing great Barry Michael declared in commentary: “Honest to god, they should change the rules! Three times losing the mouthguard, you get an extra minute (of rest).”
After Grippa lost the mouthguard for a fourth time, the referee did indeed penalise him a point.
But it wasn’t enough to stop Grippa winning a unanimous 38-37×3 victory, showing plenty of power and good technique – and cementing himself as one to watch in the future.
In the second fight of the night, 35-year-old mother of three Connie Brown (2-0-1) fell to her first defeat after her remarkable start to boxing in the super bantamweight division.
26-year-old Amber Amelia, who has shown impressive resilience in her career given she has struggled with chronic fatigue, moved to 5-3 with a 59-55×3 unanimous decision win.
Amelia said: “I usually come in and brawl, I’m not very smart. I like to fight!”
But she added that she attempted to fight smarter this time around – and the battle was an all-action, high quality bout with Amelia’s precise power punching making the difference.
SCOTT BACKED TO WIN CODE WAR
In the co-main, exiled NRL star Scott will also look to continue his own shock boxing rise.
Still only four months into his professional career, the 26-year-old will be looking for a third straight win against Hall – who is fighter for the first time since being iced by Sonny Bill Williams two years ago.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Scott vowed to again knock Hall out cold while his trainer Brain Doyle said his charge would “shock” the former Sydney Swans star with his power — despite hitting the scales 12kg lighter.
A host of current NRL players have also rallied around the former Melbourne Storm centre, with Rabbitohs pair Mitchell and Jack Wighton both backing him on social media.
Earlier this week, Hall took aim at Scott during the fight week press to conference to declare his rival was “no Latrell Mitchell” – a dig at the former centre’s recent claim that he would go close to making the current NSW Origin side.
Several NRL players are also expected to be in the Wollongong Entertainment Centre crowd tonight to cheer on the fighter who also stopped Joey Leilua during his hyped debut in March.
Big boys fire up in tense exchange | 02:28
TAB spokesman Rohan Welsh also confirmed almost 80 per cent of all money being wagered is currently for Scott, the $1.48 favourite, including a bet of six grand.
Hall, meanwhile, is significantly wider at $2.65.
“We’ve seen a lot of Barry Hall in the media this week,” Welsh said, referencing the storylines about Hall now being 10kg heavier than when he fought SBW.
“But punters aren’t taking the bait.
“Right now 76 per cent of the market is for Curtis Scott.”
Elsewhere, Doyle also tipped his fighter to be too powerful, despite the weight difference.
“I just feel Barry is going to struggle with Curtis’s speed,” said the man who doubles as the striking coach for UFC superstar Robert Whittaker.
“Curtis is a fast guy, athletic and powerful.
“That’s what shocks everyone.
“How fast he is and how hard he hits.”
Earlier this week, Scott declared himself the only crossover fighter capable of drawing Paul Gallen out of retirement, and revealed the Cronulla premiership hero had been assisting him during this camp.
Scott said Gallen “wrote the book” when it comes to crossover boxing success and “made a motza from the sport”.
“And the feedback I’m getting now is that I’m doing the right things,” he said.
“I’m speaking the truth and trying to entertain because that’s what this sport is, it’s all about putting bums on seats – entertaining.
“I just want to keep taking out the biggest names possible.”
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GOODMAN SHUTS DOWN ‘$100M GAMBLE’ CLAIMS
Elsewhere, a relaxed Goodman also said he had no problem taking this fight, despite knowing that it meant risking his mandatory shot at Inoue, which is expected to come in December.
“I think most people know I like a bet with the boys,” he grinned.
“But honestly, I’m not looking any further ahead than this fight.
“Everyone wants to talk to me about what’s next but, really, that’s all irrelevant until I win this fight.”
Reports this week have suggested Goodman is risking anywhere up to a guaranteed $3 million purse against Worawut, however No Limit CEO George Rose has suggested the figure is much higher.
Asked by Fox Sports Australia exactly how much the Albion Park product was risking, Rose replied: “In the big scheme of things, it’s $100 million.
“When he beats Inoue, he becomes the million-dollar man.
“He becomes the big fighter who can draw those big crowds and big purses.
“It’s more than one, two or three million … there’s a hell of a lot more than that, and it’s all going on the line in this fight.”
HOW TO WATCH
The Prelims will be on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo from 5pm AEST, before the action switches to pay-per-view at 7pm.
Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
LIVE BLOG
We’ll have all the action from the entire card covered in a live blog below from 5pm. If you can’t see the blog, click here.
FULL FIGHT CARD
MAIN CARD (7pm AEST)
Sam Goodman (55.26kg) v Chainoi Worawut (55.08kg) — super bantamweight world title eliminator
Barry Hall (106.20kg) v Curtis Scott (94.04kg) — heavyweight
Liam Wilson (61.18kg) v Youssef Dib (61.62kg) — lightweight
Mounir Fathi (69.92kg) v Anton Markovic (69.70kg) — super welterweight
Brandon Grach (113.04kg) v John Maila (110.78kg) — heavyweight
Billy Polkinghorn (63.40kg) v Jordan Kasilieris (64.02kg) — super lightweight
PRELIMS (5pm AEST)
Liam Talivaa (103.58kg) v Johan Linde (103.86kg) — heavyweight
Shanell Dargan (54.36kg) v Pannaporn Kaewpawong (55.02kg) — super bantamweight
Amber Amelia def. Connie Brown via UD (59-55 x3)
Alessandro Grippa def. John Weetra via UD (38-37 x3)