Rohan edging to fight for title
GO FOR THE GAMES TOMORROW’S GOLD COAST BULLETIN
THE search is on for Rohan Murdock’s next opponent in what is likely to be the final prelude to a crack at the WBO super middleweight world title.
The fighter nicknamed “No Mercy” easily accounted for American Frankie Filippone on Saturday night (Sunday QLD time) in Corpus Christi, Texas, to all but guarantee his spot on the undercard of a Mexican event in May.
The feature fight there again will involve current world champ Gilberto Ramirez, with the venue to be in his hometown of Mazatlan on the west coast.
Ramirez holds an enviable 37-0 record and poses a major challenge as a lanky leftie.
Murdock’s camp were unsure – or at least tight-lipped – about who the Gold Coaster will face in the ring in Mexico but it almost certainly will be another southpaw with all eyes fixed on being best prepared to not only challenge Ramirez in September but beat him.
Filippone was only the second southpaw Murdock had faced in 23 professional fights.
“It was awkward fighting a southpaw because I have only had four or five weeks’ training for a southpaw,” the 25-year-old admitted.
“So give me another 12 weeks of training for that, we’ll improve more and get a more quality opposition as well so that will help us get more rounds out and be ready for LOCAL boxing promoter and former light heavyweight campaigner Jamie Myer believes a world title fight on the sand at Surfers Paradise would be fantastic for the Coast.
And Myer believes the tourist strip’s great hope Rohan Murdock is the man to feature Ramirez.”
His trainer Chris Carden said it was a “tough adjustment” to switch from facing an orthodox opponent to a southpaw but felt his athlete did a reasonable job.
“He showed the crowd that he is here for a fight and doesn’t mind the hard stuff,” Carden said.
While little has been said about candidates for his next opponent, talk has already begun of Murdock heading to the US for a pre-Mexico camp to get some quality southpaw sparring under his belt.
Alternatively, his team and promoter Duco Events may seek to bring a sparring partner to the Coast to assist with preparations.
With Ramirez showing no signs of slowing down after a third successful title defence, this time over Ghana’s Habib Ahmed on the same card in Corpus Christi, Murdock is determined to keep upping his game.
Victory in Mexico should set up a RamirezMurdock spectacle on the Gold Coast in September. in a punch-up in Paradise – and that he can bring glory to the Coast by winning a super middleweight world belt.
“It’s a real positive for the Coast because it has never been done before,” Myer said.
“It might be hard logistically – having alcohol on the beach, the seating arrangements and how do you set up the ring so it’s stable.
“But it can be done and if they can pull it off it’d be fantastic. It’s a great idea.”
The possibility of Murdock fighting Gilberto Ramirez for the world super middleweight belt improved when the Varsity Lakes resident beat American Frankie Filippino in the US on Sunday night.
Murdock now has another fight in Mexico, again on the undercard to Ramirez, in May and if he wins that the Coast surfside stoush could be on.
Myer featured heavily in Murdock’s early career and promoted the fighter in half a dozen fights.
“I think Rohan is one of our best prospects and I think he’ll win a world title – and I’ve always thought that,” Myer said.
“I first promoted him in 2010 in a fight at the Convention Centre.”
Myer, who runs Jamie Myer Productions out of the Corporate Fight Club at West Burleigh, has been in the industry for a long time.
He said another option for a Coast world title bout could be at an open-air stadium set up beside the Seaway on the northern end of The Spit.