Light heavyweight contender Conor Wallace returns to action when he takes on Asemahle Wellem in the main event over 10 rounds on December 11 at the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Billed as “Xmas Cracker,” the show will air live on DAZN.
The venue has been a happy hunting ground for 28-year-old Australian Wallace (14-1, 10 knockouts), with the southpaw claiming five victories in his previous appearances there.
Wallace’s opponent Wellem, a 23-year-old South African who goes by the nickname ‘The Predator’, looks set to be a busy opponent to hand him his third blow of the year after his sixth-round knockout of Jack Gipp in March and his impressive 12-round victory over fellow contender Jerome Pampellone by split decision in August.
Wallace, who is ranked IBF No.2, WBO No.5 and WBC No.6 at 175lbs, will look forward to next year’s competition as he has been handed a world title shot.
“Conor is at the tipping point,” promoter Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters told The Courier Mail. “His last fight was outstanding. He ate the biggest punches Jerome could throw and said bring it on.
“Conor truly believes he can win a world title.”
“I’m ready for a world title, but I’m not looking past Wellem,” said Wallace. “He’s dangerous and I don’t see this fight going away.”
A confident Wellem (7-0-1, 3 KOs) says he’s ready to fight fire with fire, predicting an early end to the contest with his hand up.
“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for,” Wellem said. “Conor Wallace will not see the final bell. His team made a big mistake and his world title dreams will be over before they start.”
In the main support bout, fringe heavyweight contender Justis Huni (10-0, 5 KOs) will box Argentine southpaw Leandro ‘La Bestia’ Robutti (11-6, 8 KOs) over eight rounds.
In his last fight against a southpaw in Saudi Arabia in March, the 25-year-old Huni boxed a great fight against South Africa’s Kevin Lerena until the 10th and final round when he wobbled badly and spent much of the spent last three minutes unstable. legs.
He will be looking to improve on that performance against the 38-year-old Robutti, who has boxed abroad three times before, losing each time in the first five rounds by stoppage.
“I’m excited to be back,” Huni said. “I’m ready to build more momentum with every fight.”
Despite his obvious skill, Huni, who is ranked IBF no. 15 and WBO no. 5, is another work in progress in a division where boxers are typically slow to develop.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he can challenge for a world title, but Justis has to keep fighting,” Francis told The Courier Mail.
“A lot of people lost faith in Justis because he rocked Kevin Lerena in that 10th round, but Lerena also dropped Daniel Dubois, who is now a heavyweight world champion.
“It was a frustrating time for Justis. He hasn’t had enough fights lately and inactivity kills fighters… Justis needs to mature a little bit more, but he’s still right up there with the most promising heavyweights in the world.”
The show will also feature an all-round battle between the undefeated Austin ‘Sugar Free’ Aokuso (7-0, 3 KOs) and the scrappy Lucas ‘Thrilla’ Miller (12-7-2, 4 KOs) over eight rounds.
Also on the card, Australian featherweight champion Tyler Blizzard (8-0, 4 KOs) will meet China’s Chengcheng Yang (7-6, 4 KOs). Local fight fans will remember Yang as the man who handed Rocky Ogden his first professional loss in April before losing the rematch three months later.
Other boxers expected to appear in separate bouts on the show are super middleweight Max McIntyre (5-0, 4 KOs), welterweight Danny Keating (8-0, 4 KOs) and middleweight Xavier Fletcher (3-0, 3 KOs).
