Knockout assured
PABLO “The Scorpion” Magrini says he will knock out Townsville’s Mark Flanagan tonight, but Flanagan’s Brisbane- based trainer says it’s the South American who will have an early finish.
John Bastable, who has worked with Flanagan since he shifted from Townsville to Brisbane in 2015, says Flanagan will return to his usual big- hitting self when he and Magrini go toe- totoe at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.
Flanagan ( 22 wins, 5 losses) and Magrini ( 19- 2- 1) have scored 15 knockouts each during their respective professional careers, and Magrini issued a confident warning to Flanagan’s camp on Thursday that he would send “Bam Bam” to the canvas in Round 5.
Magrini’s prediction comes after Flanagan lost his WBA world cruiserweight title shot by unanimous decision against Russia’s Denis Lebedev in July.
“Mark’s going to let his hands go, I know that,” Bastable said.
“It’s a situation where we’ve come back from that ( Lebedev) fight and we know what we have to do now.
“This is our platform, this is our first fight to get us back into the rankings.
“That’s no disrespect to our opponent, I know how good he is and he’s here to fight, but I know what my boy can do. What he normally does is knock people out, that’s what we’re going to see.”
Flanagan and Magrini will headline one of the biggest nights of Townsville boxing in recent years, with tonight’s “Homecoming” event featuring 10 bouts.
Former Upper Ross Hawks fighter Liam Paro ( 10- 0) will clash with Thailand’s KomKit Chanawong in his first Townsville bout, and for many local boxing fans the chance to see Paro show his much- hyped talents will be just as enthralling as watching Flanagan.
Paro comes with huge wraps, with Jeff Horn and Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech praising the North Queensland product’s high work rate and strike power.
“It leaves me speechless when that calibre of people say such good words about me,” Paro said. “It’s unreal really. “Fighting here is something I’ve wanted to do for ages, and to get this opportunity now — I can’t explain the excitement.
“I can’t wait to put on a good show.”
Paro forms part of a large NQ contingent fighting on the big stage, with other local talents, including Jordan Gee Hoy, Chris Khan, Zorran Cassady, Aimee Addis and Todd Sweeney on the undercard.
“Boxing was big here when I was a kid and I want to see it stay big in Townsville and North Queensland,” Flanagan said.
Doors open tonight at 6.15pm and fights start at 7pm. For tickets, go to tecc. net. au