Tszyu v Mahoney | Wednesday August 26 from 7pm AEST | The only thing standing between Nikita and an IBF world title shot is Ben Mahoney. The stage is set for an All-Australian blockbuster with the winner securing a direct shot at IBF champion, Josh Kelly. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n A lot.<\/p>\n And the former world champion isn\u2019t alone.<\/p>\n Former Aussie world champs Lucas Browne and Billy Dib have also been left seriously impressed by the 28-year-old knockout machine, with all three expecting big things as Teremoana begins his charge towards the top of boxing\u2019s glamour division.<\/p>\n McGuigan, one of the most respected voices in British boxing, dedicated his latest column for the Mirror <\/a>to the 6-foot-6 Aussie after watching him iron out American DeAndre Savage in just two rounds on the Gold Coast last week.<\/p>\n And while McGuigan wants to see Teremoana properly tested before making any grand predictions, he believes Australia has a seriously exciting heavyweight on its hands.<\/p>\n Teremoana Teremoana and Barry McGuiganSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n \u201cTeremoana has the power to take out anyone and looks really organised behind the jab,\u201d McGuigan wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fundamentals are excellent.<\/p>\n \u201cI particularly like the way he follows through after landing a big shot. He stays on top of his opponent and throws great combinations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have seen excellent Polynesian fighters before but I\u2019m not sure we have witnessed a heavyweight from the south seas as exciting as this.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph Parker, a former world champion, of course, has all the tools but never looked as explosive as Teremoana appears.<\/p>\n \u201cDavid Tua had a decent career, yet he was eight inches shorter and stocky, the opposite of this guy, who stands 6ft 6ins and weighs 19 stones.<\/p>\n \u201cThough there are some terrific athletes from the region, most look to rugby to forge a professional sports career. Teremoana could put a serious dent in that tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n Not bad praise for a bloke only 12 fights into his professional career.<\/p>\n More importantly, it is another sign the noise surrounding Teremoana is starting to travel.<\/p>\n Teremoana improved to 12-0 with 12 knockouts against Savage last week, needing just 82 seconds of the second round to stop an opponent who arrived in Australia with 11 knockouts from his 11 professional wins.<\/p>\n It was one of the few times Teremoana had even been forced into a second round as a pro.<\/p>\n Promoter Hearn certainly believes the rest of the heavyweight world is already paying attention.<\/p>\n The Matchroom boss declared again after the Savage demolition that Teremoana has the potential to become a heavyweight superstar and has already predicted his fighter could be challenging for a world title by the end of next year.<\/p>\n Aussie boxing sensation Teremoana TeremoanaSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n Back home, some local boxing greats have been watching closely, too.<\/p>\n Browne, the first Australian to win a version of the heavyweight world title, has been a fan of Teremoana for some time and previously told <\/a>Fox Sports Australia<\/a> he believes the former Olympian already possesses the tools to \u201ceasily\u201d win the Australian heavyweight crown.<\/p>\n And nothing he has seen since has changed his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cI love what I have seen so far,\u201d Big Daddy told Fox Sports Australia this week.<\/p>\n \u201cBut he needs to be challenged and almost lose.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething that will make him show character and make him dig deep.<\/p>\n \u201cThat next fight will do it.\u201d<\/p>\n And it is perhaps the biggest question still hanging over Teremoana.<\/p>\n The towering Aussie has spent his pro career flattening everyone put in front of him, meaning we still have little idea how he responds when things don\u2019t go his way.<\/p>\n Savage was supposed to provide some of those answers.<\/p>\n Instead, he was backstage with an icepack in less than five minutes.<\/p>\n Former world champ Dib is similarly convinced Australia has something special on its hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had some good heavyweights but I definitely think that Teremoana is the one,\u201d Dib told Raw Sports Media.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the uno.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the one who can do it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got dynamite in his gloves \u2026 and he\u2019s only a few fights away from an opportunity and I think he could spring something special for Australian boxing.\u201d<\/p>\n Dib believes Teremoana\u2019s career still needs to be handled carefully as the level of opposition increases, but says the heavyweight possesses the type of power capable of changing any fight in an instant.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he hits any of those heavyweights it could be goodnight Irene.\u201d<\/p>\n Dib was equally bullish about Teremoana\u2019s chances on home soil, particularly given the big man has made no secret of his desire to win the Australian heavyweight title.<\/p>\n While Dib believes the national crown may not carry quite the same prestige it once did, he has little doubt about how Teremoana would go against the country\u2019s best.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is I don\u2019t think anybody in Australian boxing at heavyweight can mix it with Teremoana,\u201d Dib said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just too big and too strong.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a giant.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE BOXING:<\/p>\n \u2018Belongs to me\u2019: Aussie\u2019s world title heartbreak as GWOAT sends ominous warning in brutal finish<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n