Leapai warns of an early barrage
ALEX Leapai is a massive outsider for his battle with former world heavyweight champ Joseph Parker in Providence, Rhode Island this afternoon (Australian time) but says he has the huge punch to spring a monumental upset.
Leapai, who in 2014 became the first Australian in more than a century to fight for the unified world heavyweight title, took the Parker fight on just two weeks’ notice and is planning on an early bomb barrage.
The former Brisbane truck driver has had just three fights against modest opposition in the past four years while in the same time Parker has battled the best of the best, beating new world champ Andy Ruiz and going the distance in tough battles with Olympic champ Anthony Joshua and top contender Dillian Whyte.
“I have to get in Joe’s face early and shake him,’’ said Leapai, who scaled a career heavy 115kg at yesterday’s weigh-in, 6kg more than the Las Vegasbased Kiwi who held the WBO heavyweight title between 2016-18.
“I’ve knocked out a lot of guys with the big right uppercut and the Samoan bolo (overhand right). I would have liked more time to get ready but at 39 I have to take every chance that comes my way and I’ll be throwing everything I have at Joe.’’
Leapai lost in the fifth round of his world heavyweight title challenge against Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in 2014 and subsequently lost back-to-back decisions against world-class Malik Scott in Brisbane and Manuel Charr in Moscow.
Leapai’s trainer Noel Thornberry says he is inspired by the Rhode Island venue where heavyweight great Rocky Marciano won more than half of his 49 pro fights.
“This is Alex’s Rocky moment,’’ Thornberry said, “he’s got the chance to shock the world and it only takes one big shot to do it.’’
Also on today’s card to be televised on Fox Sports Channel 505, Britain’s Kal Yafai defends his WBA super-flyweight title against Norbelto Jimenez of the Dominican Republic, with the winner to fight Commonwealth Games gold medallist Andrew Moloney.