PAULO AOKUSO
Age: 26
Hometown: Mount Druitt, Australia
Weight class: gentle heavyweight
Peak: 6-foot-0½ (184 cm)
Novice document: 29-9
Turned professional: 2022
Professional document: 4-0 (3 knockouts)
Coach: Lincoln Hudson
Supervisor: Fidel Tukel
Promoter: No Restrict Boxing
Greatest night time of professional profession and why: Aokuso is most happy with a fifth-round stoppage over Michael Van Nimwegan in April 2022.
“My professional debut could be it,” Aokuso advised The Ring. “The perfect environment and having my household and pals there to assist me do what I do greatest.”
Worst night time of professional profession and why: It’s nonetheless early in Aokuso’s profession, however to date, he’s pleased with how each struggle has gone.
“I haven’t come throughout a foul night time in my professional profession and planning to proceed that,” he stated.
What’s Subsequent: The lately turned 26-year-old will face veteran Renald Quinlan at a personal facility in Sydney on FoxSports on Wednesday.
Quinlan (16-12, 11 KOs) has been knowledgeable since 2008. Throughout that point, he has come up quick in three makes an attempt to win the Australian nationwide title. He has fought internationally shedding to Chris Eubank Jr. (TKO 10) and Joshua Buatsi (TKO 1). The 33-year-old is often pretty sturdy has solely been stopped 4 instances in these 12 defeats.
Aokuso ought to be far too good for Quinlan at this stage of his profession. Nonetheless, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how Aokuso wins and the way he seems to be.
Why he’s a prospect: Aokuso has managed to suit rather a lot into lower than 40 beginner fights. He gained the a number of tournaments in Australia, together with Golden Gloves, South East Queensland, State and nationwide titles.
He represented Australia on the 2020 Olympics, shedding within the Spherical of 16 to Gazi Jalidov 3:2.
“The Olympics is the most effective expertise I’ve had in boxing ever,” he stated proudly. “I do know I didn’t get the entire expertise of the Olympics as a result of it was throughout Covid, however simply being there and representing my nation was superb.”
The highly effective southpaw has sparred with the most effective his nation has to supply together with touted heavyweight prospect Justis Huni, Ring/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, unbeaten tremendous middleweight Mateo Tapia and extremely regarded junior middleweight Tim Tszyu.
Paolo Aokuso (proper) – Picture courtesy of No Restrict Boxing
“I realized to be smarter and changing into far more affected person with my shot choice,” he stated of his expertise towards the aforementioned quartet. “I additionally realized in a short time to grasp the pace distinction from the amateurs. Having far more time within the skilled ranks, meant I needed to deal with it like a sport of chess, not rush it like within the amateurs and take a look at pressure it. That’s what makes the fighters I sparred such nice professionals.”
Aokuso feels three issues mark him out from his rivals: “My greatest attributes are my pace, my footwork and my protection.”
Whereas his most up-to-date opponent, Yunieski Gonzalez, was 37 after they fought, it was nonetheless a worthwhile studying curve for the rising fighter and confirmed his potential.
His supervisor, Fidel Tukel, is enthused by the prospect of what his fighter may do even at this stage of his profession.
“Myself and [trainer] Lincoln Hudson first watched Paulo in 2020 within the amateurs and knew instantly we had the right member to affix our squad,” stated Tukel.
“In all of the years we’ve labored with many world champions and world-rated fighters, Vic Darchinyan, Will Tomlinson, Lenny Zappavigna and so forth. Paulo possesses a package deal like no different we’ve seen earlier than. Velocity, energy, footwork. [It] looks as if there’s nothing he can’t do. An incredible boxing aptitude.
“Paulo makes boxing enjoyable, not simply to the purist boxing fan but in addition on a regular basis observers. The game wants extra fighters like Paulo with aptitude and talent to match. It will assist develop the game immensely.
“His potential is limitless; that is boxing so we by no means look too far forward however this child may do something. He may simply change into Australia’s greatest since Jeff Fenech and actually gentle up the world scene like no different Australian earlier than him. Time will inform. We all know one factor; he’s making it a really enjoyable experience.”
Why he’s a suspect: His staff appear in a rush however clearly imagine of their fighter. Nonetheless, it’s important they don’t push too early and overstep. Fights like Gonzalez and the upcoming one with Quinlan ought to assist him achieve rounds, expertise and permit him to develop as a fighter.
We nonetheless have to see how he handles different proficient fighters, who come to win and the way he is ready to deal with adversity. However these issues are additional down the highway.
From a technical stand level, the southpaw carries his fingers low, notably his lead proper hand. He must watch out of that as he steps by the degrees.
Aokuso is aware of he’s not the completed article and must preserve working onerous within the health club: “To succeed in the subsequent stage I bought to remain constant, work onerous and keep devoted.”
Storylines: Aokuso, who was born in Mt. Druitt, New South Wales, Australia, took his time to search out boxing and didn’t start till he was 18, although had influences round him.
“I began punching pads as a child with my dad,” he stated. “My father was a former Samoan beginner consultant so I grew up round boxing. I by no means actually bought into it till 2014/ 15, once I misplaced my love for Rugby League. I had my first struggle in Might 2015 and saved at it since then.”
When requested who his hero is and what his targets are, he has an attention-grabbing perspective.
“I don’t have a hero myself; my aim is to change into one for everybody else,” he stated confidently. “To set data and go away a legacy.”
Away from boxing, Aokuso is an energetic particular person and lists spending time along with his family and friends, taking part in pool, basketball, bowling and going to the films as issues he enjoys doing.
Combat-by-Combat document
2023
March 12 – Yunieski Gonzalez – UD 10
2022
Nov. 23 – David Zegarra – TKO 2
June 29 – Robert Berridge – TKO 2
April 6 – Michael Van Nimwegan – TKO 5
