The last time Paulo Aokuso fought on a Tim Tszyu undercard at Afterpay Arena (formerly Qudos Bank Arena), he was walked to the ring by members of Sydney rap group OneFour.
When he makes the same walk for his fight with Luis Tejeda on the Tszyu vs Errol Spence megacard on July 26, Aokuso will remember “one of the boys” who walked with him three years ago, but is no longer here to do it again.
Alai Ahio, also known as Urcher, was a former OneFour associate who was shot and killed last month after he and a group of mates were ambushed by at least two attackers in the garage of a home in Canley Heights.
The former star footy player, who won an A Grade premiership with Doonside last year, went to Liverpool Hospital after the late-night attack in May.
He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and underwent surgery, but died in the hospital.
Ahio, 28, was part of the crew — which included OneFour members Spencer ‘Spenny’ Magalogo and Jerome ‘J-Emz’ Misa — who walked Aokuso to the ring for his bout on the Tszyu vs Tony Harrison undercard in March 2023.
“Urcher — he was one of the boys,” Aokuso tells Code Sports as his spot on the Tszyu-Spence blockbuster was confirmed this week.
“He was there that day.
“I was actually watching footage of my fight back from that day — it was very emotional.
“That was the most excited I’ve ever been for a fight.
“I was fighting a top, world-ranked opponent, and Tim Tszyu was fighting Tony Harrison.
“And Urcher, he was there for it. He was in the locker room as well.”
Aokuso and Ahio go way back.
“We grew up together,” he says.
“We didn’t go to the same school, but we were always at athletics carnivals – we were the only Islanders there.
“I was born and raised in Mounty, but moved out of Sydney to Brisbane pretty early.
“Time flies.”
Aokuso was shocked when he heard what happened to his old athletics rival.
“I ended up seeing it on the news,” he says.
“I moved out of the area, but was seeing on all the socials.
“Man … it’s crazy what can happen on just a normal day. Things happen.
“There’s nothing else we can do about it.
“He’ll always be there in spirit – he was a good person.”
Aokuso said he wanted OneFour to complete a full circle moment by walking him to the ring again next month, but after the drama it caused back in 2023, it won’t be happening again.
Members of the controversial group were scheduled to perform a song – Commas – while Aokuso walked to the ring for his bout with Yunieski Gonzalez on the Tszyu undercard.
But just hours before they were scheduled to do it – and with the fight card well underway – police officers from the anti-gang Raptor Squad searched OneFour members and told them they couldn’t perform, fearing a violent confrontation with rival gangs.
No one in OneFour was arrested or changed with anything, and they still accompanied Aokuso on his ringwalk, but didn’t actually perform live on the day.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by OneFour or Aokuso, including in relation to Ahio’s shooting.
Meanwhile, Aokuso has fought on the undercard of Tszyu’s two most recent fights, in Sydney and Wollongong, most recently scoring a first round stoppage of Kittipon Jian Hao Ho.
The 29-year-old says next month’s return to Afterpay Arena feels similar to the build-up to the Tszyu-Harrison fight.
“That feeling is coming back again,” he says. “I just want to put on a show, get in there and show everyone what I’ve got.
“I just want to get the best fights in Australia.
“I’m confident in my skills – I feel like I have it – I have the X-factor.
“I just need the right opponent to bring out everything in my bag.”