JACKSON ACTION

Tassie champ circles deal on world title crack

LUKE Jackson’s promoter Adam Wilcox has labelled the Tasmanian the most popular commodity in Australian boxing as the pair wait to hear their world title fight fate.

The unbeaten WBO Oriental featherweight champion has long had Oscar Valdez — the WBO world featherweight champ — in his sights and earlier this week the Mexican announced his next bout would be on March 10 in Los Angeles.

Wilcox, in Hobart yesterday, said talks with the Valdez camp were progressing quickly and he expects to know whether Jackson, ranked eighth in the world, will get the nod as soon as next week. If Valdez decides to take on another challenger the wheels are already in motion for Jackson to fight a top 15 ranked boxer at Wrest Point next March.

LUKE Jackson’s promoter Adam Wilcox has labelled the star Tasmanian the most popular commodity in Australian boxing as they await news of a world title bid.

The unbeaten WBO Oriental featherweight champion has long had Oscar Valdez — the WBO world featherweight champ — in his sights.

The Mexican this week said his next bout would be on March 10 in Los Angeles.

Wilcox said in Hobart yesterday that talks with the Valdez camp were progressing quickly and he expected to know whether Jackson, ranked eight in the world, would get the nod as soon as next week.

If Valdez decides to take on another challenger the wheels are already in motion for Jackson to fight a top 15 ranked boxer at Wrest Point in March, with third ranked Sakaria Lukas (Namibia) and Mexican Josue Veraza (15) both interested in venturing to Hobart.

Regardless of the outcome, Wilcox declared 2018 as the year for Jackson to strike.

“We have two different streams of talks happening at the same time,” he said.

“It is my aim … that he fights for a world title in 2018 and we will be doing everything we possibly can to make that happen.

“Boxing is a strange game. There are 15 ranked fighters, we are not the only team who wants to fight Oscar Valdez.

“Those talks are progress- ing, they are advancing on a pretty quick basis day to day.

“If we can’t secure that fight, Luke will fight hopefully in Tasmania, but it may yet be in Melbourne because there is a lot of support interstate.

“He is the most popular commodity in Australian boxing ... Jeff Horn is a world champion but you only need to look at the popularity Luke has. We get support all over the country . . . Luke’s time is the next 12 months.”

Wilcox said the move to the casino from City Hall — where Jackson has taken down most of his opponents on his way to a 15-0 record — would only increase the chances of luring a big name to the state.

“It was important for us to take it to the next half a level. The shows at City Hall have been professionally run . . . the roof comes off when Luke walks out.

“But taking it to the next level, Wrest Point has extra capacity . . . we can give people a better view.”