Haumono called out
Demsey keen for shot at former league star
DEMSEY McKean’s coach has laid down the challenge to NRL player-turned-boxer Solomon Haumono following his heavyweight’s brutal performance last weekend.
McKean wasted little time in flooring Czech fighter Dominik Musil at The Star Gold Coast, knocking him out in the second round with a massive left hook to advance his professional record to 15-0.
“(Musil) had over 100 amateur fights, which is a lot since Demsey has never had an amateur fight in his life,” coach Steve Ng said.
“Demsey basically had a handful of MMA and Muay Thai fights and then turned to boxing.
“It was quite a good win, the guy was very experienced – you could tell by the way he was trying to set things up and he was a big boy too.”
McKean only ended up fighting Musil after Haumono pulled out with a calf injury and then American Curtis Harper was cut down by visa issues.
The 28-year-old southpaw might yet get another crack at Haumono – if the latter is up to it.
“We’re looking to hopefully match him at some later stage maybe. After this fight I’m not sure that he will want to take the fight,” Ng said.
“Demsey will definitely be fighting for a title next fight.”
Fellow Gold Coaster Jacob Ng also took plenty forward from his 10-round points decision over Mexican lightweight Ricardo Lara.
“It really was a learning fight for him,” Steve Ng said.
“He had to box – it’s not his usual exciting style and at the end of the fight, to be honest, he was disappointed with his performance but I said, ‘no, you listened to what you had to do and you won every round and you won the belt and hopefully a top 15 ranking now’.
“When he gets into that midrange and short-range (from boxing long), just that transition is what he needs to get comfortable with at the moment.”