Unbeaten Benny’s buzz
Coast boxer rapt to get Suncorp shot
BENNY Mahoney hopes to be savouring the highly anticipated showdown between Jeff Horn and Anthony Mundine soon after winning his own bout at Suncorp Stadium.
The Burleigh young gun is taking on Adrian Rodriguez in a five-round super welterweight clash on the HornMundine undercard tonight.
Mahoney, 23, is undefeated in five starts, while fellow Queenslander Rodriguez has 11 wins, a loss and two draws.
“I know he tries to be a bit of a bully. I know he is tough and has got a good chin and likes to come forward and try to bully you but I’m not too fazed,” he said of Rodriguez.
“I’ve studied a lot and done a lot of training and countering … I have been focusing on my game plan and I think we have got it all down pat.”
He labelled it an “unreal” feeling to be competing at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
“I’m getting pretty excited now, it has been a really good lead-up. I have always trained hard but I have put everything into this,” he said. “I’m three from the top (on the card) so hopefully it will be a pretty packed house by the time I get out there.
“The biggest I have fought on I think is 5000 people but they’re looking to get about 30,000 at this event so it will be buzzing.”
Mahoney was a top-level Muay Thai fighter but has now committed full-time to boxing.
“I’ve always liked boxing. All my knockouts have come from my hands when I was doing Muay Thai and I see a bigger future for myself in it,” the Boonchu Gym athlete said.
As for the main event tonight, Mahoney says he’ll be cheering on Horn.
“They have contradicting styles,” he said. “I’ll sit back, I’ll watch and enjoy the fight.”