\nHeavyweight prospect Teremoana Teremoana appears in the co-main event against DeAndre Savage of Flint, Michigan.
\nCritics believe it\u2019s time for Teremoana to up his game and face tougher opposition.
\nThe card airs on DAZN Boxing early in the U.S. at 5 a.m. ET\/2 a.m. PT<\/a>.<\/p>\n
During a quiet week on the boxing schedule, one of the two major cards taking place comes to fans from the Gold Coast of Australia in Queensland, where fans believe they have a heavyweight star in the making in Teremoana Teremoana Jr.<\/p>\n
But are they getting to see what the big undefeated Olympian can really do in the ring? Critics say it\u2019s past time for him to be matched against tougher opponents.<\/p>\n
Fans can watch this fight card early on Wednesday, August 12 in the U.S. on DAZN Boxing<\/a>, with a start time of 5 a.m. ET\/2 a.m. PT. The weigh-in goes down Monday night at 11 p.m. ET\/8 p.m. PT.<\/p>\n At the final pre-fight news conference on Monday (see in the U.S. late Sunday night), Teremoana (11-0, 11 KOs) promised he would \u201clet his fists do the talking\u201d against opponent DeAndre Savage of Flint, Michigan (11-1, 11 KOs) and promised he would stop him, as he has knocked out all of his opponents to date.<\/p>\n Teremoana Needs To Be Tested \u2013 And Pass<\/p>\n So far, Teremoana, age 29, has done more dancing with his traditional Haka celebration after his victories than actual boxing. He has only gone past the second round twice, and fought a total of 13 rounds as a pro. He took out Aleem Whitfield in one round, who managed to survive three incredibly bad rounds with Dainier Pero this past Saturday, and he drilled the infamous journeyman Curtis Harper in a round, perhaps his best fight to date.<\/p>\n Teremoana turned pro after his appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He was an early medal favorite, with time spent as a sparring partner working with top pros including Frazier Clarke, Joseph Parker, and Tyson Fury. But he ran up against eventual gold medalist Baklovir Jalolov in the quarterfinals, losing a decision and ending up fifth overall in the super heavyweight division<\/a>.<\/p>\n Savage, age 35, started his pro career fighting in Tijuana just five years ago. He\u2019s also blitzed most of his opponents in a round or two. His only loss is a decision to Brandon Moore, who will face veteran Bryant Jennings later this month in Detroit.<\/p>\n Tony Harrison Speaks the Hard Truth<\/p>\n Pushback came from Savage\u2019s trainer, former world super welterweight champion Tony Harrison of Detroit to point out what\u2019s apparent to everyone but not being acknowledged.<\/p>\n Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn does what he does so well to promote the fight. He had plenty to say. For his full remarks, watch the video of the full news conference.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI think there is legitimately a chance for you to have a long reign as a heavyweight world champion,\u201d said Hearn to Teremoana. \u201cHe has got the size, got the power, got the personality. And this is the first big step up really on Wednesday night against DeAndre Savage, a very very good American heavyweight with a very good boxing brain in the corner, Tony Harrison.\u201d<\/p>\n But Harrison said there are just too many questions about an opponent who hasn\u2019t gone past two rounds. With this, he turned to Hearn.<\/p>\n \u201cEddie, has anyone ever told you (that) you should have been a car salesman?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA car salesman? I\u2019ll tell you what, I\u2019ll be the best car salesman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn\u2019t a joke. I\u2019m patting you on the back. You could sell water to a fucking whale \u2026 You made Teremoana sound like he\u2019s fighting Hercules. You make Mike Z sound like he\u2019s Michael Jordan. You\u2019re the man. You do a good amazing job. That\u2019s why they call you the best promoter, because you do a good job selling bullshit,\u201d said Harrison, as everyone on stage and in the audience laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for the kind words, Tony,\u201d said Hearn.<\/p>\n Heavyweights Have Their Say<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to lay him [Teremoana] down,\u201d declared Savage. \u201cI\u2019m here to take care of business, man. Come a long way from Flint, Michigan, and you know it don\u2019t stop here. I\u2019m here to do what I do.<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t been passed the second round. You know, he got experience, but we got ten-ounce gloves on. You know, it\u2019s a different ballgame. And I\u2019m going to touch him. I\u2019m here to touch his chin, man. I\u2019m going to go test him. Down goes Frazier,\u201d said the stoic Savage.<\/p>\n Teremoana wasn\u2019t having it.<\/p>\n \u201cI just come here to do a job. I trained six days a week, twice a day to fight. So, when we come to like this, I\u2019m ready to go. Ready to rumble. And Savage is going to find out this Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a bit more energy coming from his coach. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the Americans, I think they really like their voice. They just talk too much, to be honest. Let your fists do the talking,\u201d said Teremoana.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if he\u2019s pretty solid like Tony was saying. I think I\u2019m pretty solid. I think I\u2019m about 260 pounds. Pure muscle. Pure prettiness. But yeah, I\u2019m just here to do a job basically. And yeah, I\u2019m just so proud and so happy for everyone to be here today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think Teremoana is not going past two rounds, not even probably getting hit. I think all the questions are for him,\u201d said Harrison.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think the question is for Dre. I think Dre has everything. Dre is 300 pounds solid, and I mean, if he hits you, it\u2019s not a baby hitting you. Dre has been around, man. He\u2019s been around for a long time \u2026 It\u2019s just not taking the fight to get a check. I think we take the fights to win them.\u201d<\/p>\n Harrison said heavyweights are all one fight away from vaulting to the top of the division with a single punch. \u201cYou are one fight away from being a millionaire. You want to find a way to make life-changing money,\u201d adding that Teremoana is getting too comfortable.<\/p>\n Harrison has a point. Plenty of skilled Olympians with extensive experience have stepped up quickly as pros: Vasiliy Lomachenko, Andy Cruz, David Morrell. It\u2019s true that Cruz and Morell have both suffered losses<\/a>, but they are fighting in front of big audiences in meaningful fights \u2013 with meaningful purses. And they are gaining valuable lessons.<\/p>\n One young heavyweight lacking high-level amateur experience is already fighting for a world title, Moses Itauma.<\/p>\n Women with Olympic boxing experience are moving even more quickly. Tamm Thibeault of Canada, an accomplished amateur world champion, won the unified middleweight championship on Saturday<\/a> against Australian Desley Robinson in just her fifth professional fight.<\/p>\n![\"Teremoana](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/teremoana-fraser-clarke.jpg\")
Teremoana of Australia (right) with British Olympic medalist and heavyweight prospect Frazer Clarke in July 2024.<\/p>\n
![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Zerafa-Arms-Win.jpg\")
Michael Zerafa wants back in the mix. Photo: No Limit Boxing<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GLF-Vargas-WBC-Belt-LR.jpg\")
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