He is the former Brisbane Broncos NRL hopeful now rated the scariest puncher in Australian boxing.
Luke Modini was once a teammate to Broncos Academy aces Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs, but the Brisbane banger has carved out a new career in his quest to become a world champion.
This masthead can reveal Modini has formally signed a six-fight deal with Australia’s No.1 promoters No Limit.
Such is his talent, Modini was chased by three promoters, including Matchroom supremo Eddie Hearn, but opted to join the Tim and Nikita Tszyu stable in his bid to rule the world.
Modini has menacing one-punch knockout power and has twice beaten Australia’s rising heavyweight sensation, Olympian Teremoana Teremoana, in their two bouts as teenage amateurs.
A classy cruiserweight boasting an unbeaten 12-0 record with 10 knockouts, Modini is in the same division as Jai Opetaia and is eventually gunning for Australia’s pound-for-pound king.
For now, Modini is biding his time, poised to fight on the undercard of Liam Paro’s world-title bout against Lewis Crocker on June 24 at Pat Rafter Arena, and make a savage statement.
“I know I can be a world champion, 100 per cent,” said Modini, who says it’s only a matter of time before he fights Opetaia.
“I will fight anyone who can get me a title, some rankings or some pay days to help set up my family.
“In the last few years I have been thinking about a fight with Jai Opetaia.
“I believe I can beat him. I want to take out all the big names. One day me and Jai will cross paths and make it a super fight for Australian boxing.”
Hearn was keen to turn Modini into a global star – he was also being targeted by Dana White’s Zuffa boxing – but the Queenslander backed No Limit’s strategy to make him a pay-per-view smash hit.
“Signing with No Limit is the opportunity I have been waiting for,” he said.
“I appreciated the other promoters who made me offers, but No Limit are local and I want to build my name in Australian first and then get the big world title shots.
“No Limit showed with guys like Tim Tszyu, Sam Goodman and Liam Wilson they can give me that opportunity.”
Growing up, Modini played for Wynnum Manly, the club once captained by Wally ‘The King’ Lewis, and had a pre-season with the Broncos’ star-studded NYC squad in 2017.
“I hoped to play NRL for the Broncos back then,” Modini said.
“I was 19 and our under-20s team had Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs, Patty Carrigan, Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth.
“It was a gun squad. It’s amazing how many of them have gone on to great things in rugby league.
“I still stay in touch with Payne Haas, he is a real inspiration for me with the way he looks after his family and how consistent he is for the Broncos. He is the man.”
His trainer, Gold Coast-based Fidel Tukel, and manager, Angelo di Carlo, insist no boxer in the country hits harder than Modini.
“My hands are sore for days when I hold pads for Luke,” Tukel says. “I struggle to get sparring for him. The power he has is scary.”
di Carlo believes Modini could be the domestic destroyer to hand the unbeaten Opetaia (30-0) his first career loss.
“Luke has the most power of any cruiserweight in Australia,” di Carlo said.
“I believe he has the power to knock Jai Opetaia out.
“Give him a few more fights and we would love to fight Jai.”