Boxing
Teremoana Teremoana talks going from plumber to trying to put Australian heavyweight boxing on the map at Hitchins-Kambosos card
Hitchins vs Kambosos Jr - Saturday live on DAZN
Leaning forward during a recent Zoom conference, Teremoana Teremoana has a moment of wonder dash across his face.
“To be honest, if you were to ask me a few years ago when I was plumbing that I’d be here in two years or three years,” he tells DAZN News, “I’d say ‘you’re dreaming, man.’”
Here is The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where the Australian heavyweight will be featured on the Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr. undercard Saturday night, and live worldwide on DAZN.
Australian boxing is currently riding a wave of talent with IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia and former world titleholders such as Tim Tszyu, Kambosos, and Skye Nicolson.
The 27-year-old Teremoana (7-0, 7 knockouts) hopes to add to that rolling roar against Aleem Whitfield (9-0, 6 KOs), taking full advantage of fighting in the media capital of the world.
“I’m looking forward to putting on a good boxing display for everyone,” Teremoana says. “With Australian boxing now, we’re in a new era. A lot of the fighters, George Kambosos, Jai Opetaia, Skye Nicolson, Tim Tszyu and me myself, we’ve all got the amateur pedigree behind us now whereas back in the day not so much.”
He adds: “I believe that’s the reason we’re starting to show in The Land Down Under, we’ve got some grit, we’re working class man.”
That is not just talk from the heavyweight, either, for Teremoana’s journey into boxing began with him wrenching his hands in another way — plumbing.
After graduating at 17, Teremoana delved straight into learning the trade, completing a four-year apprenticeship before becoming a qualified plumber at 21 years of age.
That’s when he says a moment of clarity hit him.
“I had a big shift in my mind where I wanted to represent my family,” he reveals. “That’s where Teremoana comes from. That’s my first and last name. Ever since then, I want to put my name out there.”
The Aussie decided boxing was the best avenue for him to push his family’s name to the forefront. Plus, he did not want to live life with the regret of not giving the sweet science a shot. For the two years that followed, Teremoana worked as a plumber full-time to pay the bills during the day, while boxing mornings and nights around it.
After building himself up in the Australian amateur circuit, which he credits for the Aussie boxing growth, Teremoana turned pro in December 2020.
After a few bouts, he returned to the amateurs and qualified for the 2024 Olympics, where he went 1-1.
Later that year, he signed with Matchroom Boxing where promoter Eddie Hearn has high hopes for the hulking 6-foot-6, 265-pound heavyweight with the long black hair.
In March, Teremoana gave the division a sample size of his skills in trouncing James Singh via first-round TKO.
He aims to produce another dazzling display Saturday night.
“I know how to box, but I like to fight,” Teremoana offers. “I tend to pick and choose.
“If I just use my boxing skills, I don’t have to get hit,” he continues. “I can save my brain cells for when I get older.”
That said, he vows to be “aggressive” and for his opponents to “feel the pain" every time he steps into the ring.
During Thursday’s press conference, Hearn referred to Teremoana as a “future world champion.”
It is plenty to live up to and strive toward, considering Hearn has guided the career of Anthony Joshua to unified heavyweight championship glory. Yet, Teremoana is game.
"I really believe that I’ve got what it takes to be the best fighter in the world,” he touts with confidence. “Australia has always been known for we’ve got heart and we’ll come forward. I would just say now with this generation, we’ve got the pedigree and amateur background.
“We want to prove we’re the best.”
Watch Usyk vs Dubois 2 exclusively live on DAZN PPV, Saturday, July 19. Buy the PPV now here.
