Big clash for Dunedin pugilist
DUNEDIN’S Chase Haley will fight the Russian villain from
Rocky IV.
Well actually, it is Ivan Drago’s Kiwi lookalike — a blond, spikyheaded 21yearold from Auckland going by the name of Andrei Mikhailovich.
Mikhailovich has been dubbed the ‘‘next big thing’’, according to a One News story.
Supposedly noone wants to fight the heavyhitting engineering student, who boasts a record of eight wins from eight fights.
But Haley does. The super middleweight is dead keen to get back in the ring after a frustrating period of inactivity.
He has had a few fights axed recently. But the good news is it put him on course for a fight against a quality opponent in Auckland tomorrow.
They are fighting on the undercard of the bout between David Light and Mark Flanagan for the WBO Oriental Cruiserweight Title at ABA Stadium.
It is televised, so it is a big occasion. And Haley, who has a professional record of six wins and a draw from 10 bouts, has got himself in the best shape of his life.
He also has a background in kickboxing. When you add that to his amateur and pro boxing career, he has had close to 100 fights.
Haley has more experience than his Russianborn opponent, and reckons he has the game plan to upset his rival.
‘‘He is dangerous. He is meant to be the man around New Zealand,’’ Haley said.
‘‘And that’s who I’ve got to beat.
‘‘He has a bit of a different style to other people. He loops his overhand right but he tires quite quick.
‘‘I’ve watched him in fourrounders and he gets pretty gassed. I’m used to fighting 10 rounds, so . . .’’ Haley said, trailing off.
The bout is set for six rounds, and Haley plans to pounce in the second half of the fight.
Haley, who is from Dunedin, spent seven years living in Melbourne, but returned home last year. He was keen to continue his boxing career but struck a few obstacles.
‘‘I’ve had two fights fall over this year so I’m itching to go. It has been like a long training camp and I’m peaking at the right time.’’
Haley likes to fight on the inside but considers himself an allrounder.
‘‘For this fight, if he wants to fight on the outside, I’ll fight him on the inside. If he wants to fight on the inside, I’ll stay on the inside and bang him there.’’
Haley has had an interesting professional career. He fought Malaysian Muhammad Meeraj for the vacant International Boxing Organisation Oceania Light Heavyweight Title and the Universal Boxing Organisation InterContinental Light Heavyweight Title in Singapore in May 2017, and won by majority decision.
The rematch in October that year was a draw, so they fought again in April last year. This time Meeraj won by unanimous decision.
Haley’s most recent fight was a win by unanimous decision against Indonesian Ramadhan Weriuw in Singapore in September.
He actually has not fought professionally in New Zealand since his debut in 2014.