A teenager from Melbourne’s western suburbs has announced himself as the Next Big Thing of Australian boxing – and a potential rival for no less than undefeated star Nikita Tszyu.
Fighting for only the fourth time as a professional, 19-year-old Lilo Telepe scored a huge upset over fellow undefeated super welterweight Luke Gersbeck on Thursday night’s No Limit on Fox showcase in Melbourne.
Already, Gersbeck was in discussions for a potential headliner against the younger Tszyu sibling, and had been hoping a big win over Telepe could potentially catapult himself up past fellow contender Michael Zerafa.
Instead, and with Zerafa watching on in the crowd, Telepe has announced himself the new breakout star of the division – with the teen dubbed ‘Tank’ dropping Gersbeck in the second round, then fourth before finishing soon after with a flurry of punches.
The win came on a terrific night of fights where Jason ‘Mayham’ Mallia also declared himself ready to become a “household name” after winning the vacant Australian welterweight title against a gutsy Ben Horn.
Despite taking a big punch early that began to close his left eye, Mallia boxed strongly throughout the 10 round headliner to take the win all three scorecards which, at 98-92, 100-90, 99-91, did no justice to what was an incredibly entertaining fight.
The card was also a huge one for rising Aussie lightweight Billy Polkinghorn, who scored a brutal finish of Filipino Wilber Carame within just two rounds.
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Speaking after his win in the main event, Mallia heaped praise on the younger brother of Australian boxing great Jeff Horn, saying: “We know the Horns are tough competitors and my hat is off to them boys.
“You know when that name is mentioned you’re in for a hard fight and we were well prepared for 10 rounds.
“We knew he was going to be there the whole time and credit to Ben, he’s a f***ing champion.”
Mallia added that while it was a “really good shot” that damaged his eye early, he knew he just needed to stay focused and “stick to the plan … lead hand, lead hand”.
“And anyone who knows me knows my story,” he continued.
“I’ve been around the block and always fell short a little bit.
“So this means the world, man.
“Goes back to when I was 13 years old, that little boy inside me.
“I train so hard, never cut corners, so there was no plan B … I was never leaving this ring without (the belt).
“And now we’re moving from here, I’m ready.
“People can now know me as a bit of a household name in Australia.
“I feel this is where I’m meant to be.”
Elsewhere, the night also saw the continuing rise and rise of Polkinghorn.
Apart from taking his undefeated career start to a fourth straight win, the 27-year-old also looked every inch his nickname – The Hammer – when delivering a brutal overhand right on his way to finishing Carame within two rounds.
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The brief, but undeniable, effort also doubled as the perfect celebration for the now Brisbane-based slugger, whose appearance also doubled as his 200th fight overall.
While Carame, a Muay Thai southpaw, looked solid in the opening round of his professional boxing debut, and then started the second solidly, it all quickly came undone.
First, Polkinghorn dropped his rival with a devastating right.
“Nice one Billy,” the fighter said across the ring when, after beating the 10 count, he found his feet.
Moments later however, it was done – with ‘Hammer’ landing a right and left that folded his rival, causing the referee to rush in and save Carame from falling – or suffering any more damage.
After missing all of last year due to hand surgery, Polkinghorn is keen to become the nation’s most active fighter and appear twice more on domestic cards this year.
His first opportunity will come next month, on the same weekend as the NRL grand final, when the Australian promoters host a world title showdown between undefeated IBF middleweight king Janibek Alimkhanuly and New Zealander Andrei Mikhailovich.
The card will be held on Friday, October 4 at The Star.
Speaking afterwards, Polkinghorn praised his rival grinning: “I tell you what, when I put him down the first time, he fooled me.
“He said ‘you got me Bill, you got me’.
“I thought ‘OK, he’s still here. He’s still with us … so I’ve got to try and put him away here.
“And I caught him with some good shots.
“But I just spoke there, he’s all good.
“That’s the main thing, he’s safe and sound.”
So what chance that overhand right becomes a signature punch?
“We call that one the No.9,” he grinned.
“He was a strong boy, tall boy.
“First round we were just assessing, saw a couple of openings and took it in the second.”
Elsewhere on the undercard, popular Melbourne welterweight Joel Taylor survived an early scare, rallying after being rocked in the by Japan’s Kohei Hatanaka to take a gritty decision win.
A kickboxer famed for his punching power, and taking only his second professional boxing appearance, Hatanaka landed a big right hand that momentarily wobbled Taylor in the first.
However the former Australian champ not only recovered, but then proved the busy boxer throughout the ensuing five rounds to eventually take the result on all scorecards 58-56, 58-56, 59-55.
Honourable mention also for Blake Wells and Apai Cook, who produced an incredible middleweight war through chaotic rounds – with Wells, who scored a knockdown, eventually winning a split decision.
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