Hyped Australian heavyweight Teremoana Jnr has delivered a surprise KO warning for Paul Gallen’s upcoming farewell fight — while also outing plans for his own “WWE moment”.
Already being touted as a future world champion by UK promoter Eddie Hearn, Teremoana has also revealed he is still eyeing off a spot on the blockbuster December card featuring Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, and is also keen to spar with at least one of the English megastars.
Currently riding an unbeaten tear of 12 straight KOs, Teremoana is right now in Thailand preparing for his impending Matchroom headliner against New Zealand heavyweight Hemi Ahio (25-1) on November 18 in Melbourne.
Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | Friday November 6 from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
Apart from having flown several European sparring partners in to help with preparations, the man now ranked No.15 among IBF heavyweights had also invited Gallen to be part of preparations.
The hulking heavyweight has long been a fan of the former NSW Origin skipper and, as a result, was more than happy to give Fox Sports Australia his prediction for Gal’s impending showdown against Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Speaking from Thailand, Teremoana also opened up on the challenges presented by Ahio, potentially training with Fury, and finally earning himself a “WWE moment” against whoever wins a mooted Australian title fight between Stevan Ivic and Brandon Grach.
While Teremoana has spent months calling for a domestic title shot, he was asked if given his ranking – and the fact his next fight is a Trans Tasman showdown – he may have effectively gone past the moment now anyway?
“For me, I want to fight anyone,” the 28-year-old replied. “So it all depends on whatever is seen as the smartest thing to get me to the next step.
“And whether that means the winner of the Australian title … but, like, I’ve been asking for it how many times? We’re only gonna ask so many times.
“But it’s all up to my team, to my generals. And maybe they have something else planned.
“I do know we wanna get overseas and start fighting boys there.
“Obviously first though, Hemi is a very experienced international opponent, and he’s going to bring a tough fight.
“But with Uysk gone, the heavyweight division has really opened up for the taking.
“We’ve got all these new champions now which means more opportunities.
“When only one champion holds all the belts, it’s very hard for challengers to come through. But now that it’s all open, this is a great time.”
‘Cos he’s a flog’ – Gallen roasts NAS | 03:07
Teremoana also pointed to the fact his team, led by UK promoter Eddie Hearn, have got him world ranked without winning an Australian title first.
“And how cool,” he grinned. “But I really want a belt. I haven’t got one yet and I really want to put one around my waist … [lift it up] like they do in the WWE.
“But until then, I’ll fight whoever steps in front of me until I become world champion.
“That’s all I really want, to put my grandfather’s name into history books. And until that day, I’ll keep going hard and just keep beating everyone. That’s the plan.”
And as for having invited Gallen to be part of his camp in Thailand?
“Yeah, so the invitation was sent out by myself, by my team, and they were organising it all,” he confirmed. “My team mentioned Gal was gonna come and I was super excited. I wanted him involved in this camp.
“We spoke a few weeks before his fight was announced, [laughs] and I told him ‘make sure you bring a jersey for me’.
“That’s what I wanted, a jersey to put on the wall because he’s the man.
“And Gal’s also got a tough challenge in front of him.
“I do think he’ll get the job done. But obviously it’s the heavyweight division and if a punch lands, yeah, you’re gonna go down.
“But I do expect Gallen to have a good work rate and just put it on him.”
Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | Friday November 6 from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
Nikita Tszyu locked in for 1st US fight | 03:33
Do you think, given how much Gal will be conceding in age, height and weight, this is one he wins on points?
“Well, he finished Lucas Browne,” Teremoana replied. “And he’s a former world champion.
“This is boxing. Anything can happen in that ring.
“You can be the best prepared, and then you get put down. It’s just how it is. But I think Gal is gunna win the fight. That’s my opinion, anyway … [laughs] up the Blues.”
Asked about his own training camp, the man already being touted as a future world champion by Hearn continued: “It’s great to be here in Thailand, getting some international sparring in.
“This is what I really need.
“In Australia, we’ve only got a small pool and most of us have mixed it with each other already.
“So we know what the other is going to do.
“Moving forward I want to [take camps] to the UK, the US, work with the big boys over there.
“Last time I was in America we trained down at Delray Beach.
“I know Tyson Fury has worked out of there and it would be good to mix it with him, learn from the experienced fighters who’ve been there, done that.”
And as for the Ahio challenge?
“He’s a great fighter, very tough,” Teremoana continued. “Had 26 fights and only the one loss.
“But he hasn’t been in the ring with anyone like myself. I’m a different kettle of fish. I don’t think Hemi will be able to deal with me.
“I don’t think he will be able to deal with my size, my speed. And if a punch lands, he’s going down.”
Speaking on The Punch Podcast late last week, Teremoana also revealed he is still keen to fight on the undercard of Fury/AJ, despite the massive UK event taking place little more than three weeks after his own Melbourne event.
“I want to be world champion and what greater way [to start] than fighting on that undercard,” he said.