Australia’s Callum Peters has declared himself ready to create national boxing history in England this month before then going straight into another professional showdown – and all of it broadcast live.
In a huge win for Australian fight fans, Fox Sports Australia can reveal the World Boxing Championships – in which Peters is strong a gold medal hope – will be broadcast across both Kayo and Main Event.
Starting on September 4 and running across 11 days, the Main Event broadcast won’t be pay-per-view, and therefore allowing great access to rising domestic stars like Peters, Omar Izaz, Jacob Cassar and Tash Flint.
Every day of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, UK will be broadcast live on Kayo and non-PPV on Main Event, from Thursday September 4
Speaking from his base in Liverpool, England, Peters said he was “stoked” to know there will now be coverage of his push to become the first Australian fighter ever to win gold at the world amateur championships.
The fighter’s team also confirmed to Fox Sports Australia that the 22-year-old No Limit prospect has also offered, when the tournament finishes, to fight just days later on the undercard of Liam Paro’s September 18 world title eliminator in Brisbane.
“Absolutely Cal has said he’ll fight on September 18,” his father and trainer Brad said overnight from their training base in Liverpool, England.
“We told the Rose boys a few days before flying out.
“We only arrive back into Australia on September 16 so they were looking at us like ‘would you really?’
“And I’ve said ‘absolutely, put his name down’.
“If anyone pulls out, if you need someone, Cal will be there …”
And the reaction?
“Well,” the trainer laughed, “Matty Rose said imagine Cal walking out to the ring with a gold medal around his neck … that would be absolutely crazy.”
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While no Aussie has ever won gold at the world amateur tournament, there are high hopes Peter will be the first – with the Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist currently ranked No.1 in the world on Boxrec.
Elsewhere, the hyped South Australian prospect is also unbeaten in four fights as a professional, and finished off preparations over the past week in Sydney sparring Paulo Aokuso and Mounir Fathi.
As part of his history-making tilt, Peters has dropped from the 80kg category, where he competed at the Olympics, to 75kg.
He will be one of a dozen Aussies competing in an event that will now be shown on Kayo and Main Event.
Asked about having his gold medal push beamed around the nation, Peters said: “This is awesome and definitely not something I was expecting.
“Obviously it opens me up to a lot more fans and is a great chance to really put myself on the map.
“I’m just so grateful to be representing my country, representing my mob, and just showing young people that if you work hard then anything really is possible.”
Peters’ father agreed, adding: “Imagine if Cal wins golds, makes history, and Main Event and Kayo are there, everyone watching on … it’s awesome”.
Elsewhere, Peters said having already fought four times as a professional sees him head into the tournament with a new belief in the power his hands carry.
“I have a much better understanding of my body, my power now,” he said.
“I can really feel it in my gloves, the connection.
“Initially in the amateurs, I never really really looked for knockouts.
“But now, I am.
“I know I can trust my hands.
“I’m really evolving as a fighter which is exciting.”
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Already being tipped by No Limit CEO George Rose to win a professional world title within the year, the rising star dubbed ’50 Cal’ is also now looking to break a hoodoo that has seen no Australian boxer ever win gold at the world amateur tournament.
Previously, five males including Brisbane heavyweight Justis Huni have won bronze, while Caitlin Parker and Kaye Scott have also won silver, with the latter doing so twice.
Other fighters to have won bronze include Jamie Nicolson, Justin Rowsell, Stefan Scriggins and Joe Goodall.
Among Aussie females, Skye Nicolson, Jessica Bagley and Emma Sue Greentree have also won bronze.
Peters is one of 12 Aussies in action, with the tournament beginning the night of September 4 and finals underway from September 12.
Those competing are …
Male
50kg Omer Izaz (VIC)
55kg Jye Dixon (QLD)
60kg Jacob Cassar (VIC)
75kg Callum Peters (SA)
80kg Marlon Sevehon (NSW)
85kg Lachlan Lawson (NSW)
Female
51kg Monique Suraci (ACT)
57kg Julie Ramadan (VIC)
65kg Marissa Williamson Pohlman (VIC)
70kg Lekeisha Pergoliti (WA)
75kg Emma Sue Greentree (NSW)
80kg Tash Flint (NSW)