Mark Schleibs is vowing to score one of Australian boxing’s greatest ever upsets via left hook after working closely with the Filipino legend famed for them.
While he may be a heavy underdog in Wednesday night’s showdown against undefeated Australian star Sam Goodman, Schleibs insists he will KO the world’s No.1 ranked super bantamweight at Wollongong Entertainment Centre.
BOXING: Goodman v Schleibs & Hardman v Saavedra | WED 13 MAR | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
The fighter dubbed Magic Man’s confidence comes from not only his own last fight — a 2023 Knockout of the Year contender — but two recent training sessions in Melbourne with former four-division world champion Nonito Donaire.
In a unique twist to his Goodman showdown, Schleibs says the ‘Filipino Flash’ has helped him draw up a plan to finish Goodman via the same left hook that not only made the now 41-year-old famous, but for a time was dubbed the most dangerous punch anywhere in world boxing.
Told of the revelation after Monday’s press conference however, Goodman grinned and stressed he was now improving at such a rate even Donaire himself wouldn’t beat him.
“What do I think about all that?” Goodman shrugged when initially asked about Donaire plotting his downfall.
“It’s paper talk.
“That’s all it is.
“Mark Schleibs is delusional. He really is.
“And the closer this fight gets, the more he is starting to s*** himself.
“Everything is getting real for the guy now.
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“He knows all the talking is finally done, and the time has come where he has to fight.
“He knows that … and he’s sh … ing himself.”
So not even the Filipino Flash’s plan can help him?
“No way,” Goodman grinned.
“For a start, Donaire can’t get in there and fight for him.
“And even if he could, I think I’d win that fight too.
“I think I’d beat Donaire.
“So, no, Mark Schleibs isn’t beating me at all.”
Speaking with Main Event’s Ben Damon last week, Schleibs confirmed the meetings with Donaire and said the pair had spoken specifically about that famed left hook.
Pushed on it again this week, the fighter told Fox Sports Australia he and the former champ had met up twice, during which they drew up a plan to upset Goodman – who is already the mandatory for undefeated Japanese megastar Naoya Inoue.
Ironically, should Schleibs’ prediction come true it will not be the first time Donaire – and that famed left hook – has upset an Australian dream.
Way back in 2007, and as a large underdog himself, the Filipino ended the long undefeated run of adopted Sydneysider Vic Darchinyan with a pulverising left hook.
Apart from earning him the IBF flyweight title, said finish also earned Donaire The Ring magazine’s ‘Knockout of the Year’.
The win was just one of several left hook finishes by the Filipino Flash, whose punch also stopped Fernando Montiel and is said to have broken the jaw of Jeffrey Mathebula.
While still fighting, Donaire also works now as a trainer and was in Australia recently to help Michael Zerafa prepare for his upcoming world title fight in Las Vegas.
Given Schleibs knows Zerafa well, he also spent two sessions with the great.
Born in the Philippines to a single mum, Schleibs migrated to Australia aged four, was a national boxing champion before leaving high school and would then win his first 12 fights after turning pro.
Since then, however, it has been a rollercoaster ride for the cocky 30-year-old who dropped bouts against Brock Jarvis and Rocky Ogden before responding with that No Limit Knockout of the Year contender.
For the record, that devastating finish of Shamal Ram Anuj arrived via devastating left hook.
Asked about the two Donaire meetings, he said: “I showed him the finish from my most recent fight and said ‘I took that out of your playbook’.
“Donaire said I had big power, then showed me a few ways to use it.”
Specifically, against Goodman?
“We spoke about how I could capitalise against Sam, yes,” he continued.
“And obviously I can’t give away too much, but I can tell you he knew Goodman, so we met up twice and he shared some really great things with me.
“(Laughs) I was fan boying a little bit, too.
“But we spoke about his fights, the mindset of a champion, and he gave me a really good insight on what it takes to get to the top in this sport.
“It was amazing to meet him and he’s given me a lot of motivation.”
Elsewhere, Schleibs also warned he would not be afraid to put hands on Goodman and the Tuesday weigh-in if he again tried to a repeat of their initial press conference launch – where the Wollongong native slapped him.
“He’s already f***ed,” the brash Melburnian warned.
“The guy is going to pay for that.
“If I had’ve slapped him, I would’ve knocked him out.
“So if he tries it (at the weigh-ins), he is getting chinned.
“I’ve spent the whole build up selling this fight.
“He’s said f… all.
“It shows you how nervous he is.
“Yes, I’m super confident.
“But there is a reason why. And Goodman is about to find out.”
Boasting multiple world titles in four weight classes, Donaire has been in Australia recently helping Michael Zerafa prepare for his own upcoming tilt at WBA middleweight gold.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia, Zerafa has signed the legend to work his corner for the upcoming title fight against reigning American champ Erislandy Lara on Sunday, March 31.
On the same event inside T Mobile Arena, Tim Tszyu headlines against US superstar Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman – with the winner already being talked up for a blockbuster against Terence Crawford.
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