Baby, Fleming’s feeling just fine as bout nears
IF the old maxim that a happy fighter is a dangerous one rings true, undefeated Tully bruiser Paul Fleming may be the deadliest man in world boxing.
The 2008 Olympian will welcome his fourth child into the world next year and is coming off the “knockout of the year” against Tanzanian pugilist Sadiki Momba in Bankstown in October.
But speaking to the Cairns Post following a punishing workout with trainer Billy Hussein, Fleming was on the hunt in suburban Sydney for a doppler, so he could listen to his child’s heartbeat during his wife’s pregnancy.
“My home life is just so good, mate,” the 29-year-old southpaw gushed.
“Having more kids just means there is more love to share around.
“All they want to do is have 100 per cent of your attention all the time. It’s great.”
Next week the full-time scaffolder gets the biggest shot of his professional career when he takes on Filipino Vergil Puton as part of the undercard for Jeff Horn’s world title fight against challenger Gary Corcoran.
The hope is the fight will give Fleming, 24-0 with 16 knockouts to his name, a shot at a world super featherweight title in 2018.
“I’m just playing the waiting game now,” the proud indigenous fighter said. “But I’m confident it will happen.”
Trainer Mike Foley said his former pupil deserved a shot after a tough journey to the top.
“He’s building up a family now and I think deep down Paul knows the time is now and I reckon he’s up for it,” Foley said.
“He’s just got to get another good win.
“He’s an awkward southpaw with a fair bit of power, so the world’s his oyster.
“Big punches can change fights and I hear he’s looking pretty sharp. I can’t wait to be cheering him on ringside.”
Unlike other fighters, Fleming spends little time studying his opponents, instead focus- ing almost exclusively on his own preparation.
“I never watch video,” he said. “I leave that to Billy. He’s got a game plan in place and I just stick to what he wants.
“This guy (Puton) has never been stopped ... so I won’t be going out there looking for a knockout. I’m smart enough to make adjustments during the fight but I think anyone who jumps in the ring with me knows that if I catch them reaching, I’ll put ’em to sleep.”
BIG PUNCHES CAN CHANGE FIGHTS AND I HEAR HE’S LOOKING PRETTY SHARP MIKE FOLEY ON HIS FORMER PUPIL, BOXER PAUL FLEMING
JEFF Horn says he’s primed to dislodge all of Gary Corcoran’s teeth after the Englishman’s threat to bite him in Wednesday’s world title fight at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
Watched on by his heavily pregnant wife Jo and his father Jeff, Horn powered through eight fast rounds in his final strength and conditioning session with fitness guru Dundee Kim yesterday and declared he was ready to rattle the chops of the tough-talking Englishman.
“I’ve been training to knock him out so I’ll just make it quicker if he tries to bite me,’’ the normally mild-mannered Horn said.
“He reckons I’m a rough fighter but this is boxing, not a tickling contest.
“I fight a rough up-close kind of style and I hope Gary’s ready for it.’’
Complaining that Horn headbutted Manny Pacquiao in their July 2 fight at Suncorp Stadium, Corcoran declared on Thursday that if Horn headbutted him, “I won’t headbutt Jeff back, I’ll bite him’’.
Yesterday, Horn’s furious promoter Dean Lonergan said he would meet New York referee Benjy Esteves Jr and the three international judges to inform them of Corcoran’s threat.
He said any attempt by Corcoran to channel Mike Tyson’s “dog act’’ when he chewed off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear in Las Vegas would not be tolerated.
“This is a cowardly type of behaviour,’’ Lonergan said.
“Biting opponents might be acceptable in the Traveller community in the UK but it will not be acceptable in the WBO world welterweight contest.
“A major part of Jeff Horn’s appeal to the global boxing audience is his toughness and his extreme good looks; the last thing Horn or boxing needs is an overzealous and jealous UK Traveller biting half his ear off or, God forbid, biting off his nose.
“This simply won’t be tolerated and I have a duty to protect my fighter; I am now questioning the wisdom of bringing to Australia a man with such barbaric intentions.’’