The Gippsland Regional Sporting Complex will come alive again on March 23 when Stratford superstar Max Reeves highlights a huge night of boxing as some of Australia’s best go toe-to-toe in Sale.
The night is being put together by former world champion boxer, turned promoter, “Wild” Will Tomlinson, under his Wildfighter banner, with this event labeled “The Champ is Here”.
And the champ will be here with Reeves in the first defence of his Australian super middleweight title which he won last September against Joe Corner at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne.
It will be the quietly spoken, but hard hitting Reeves’ third fight in his home cauldron, a special place for his supporters who go absolutely ballistic when their man gets the job down.
His record at the venue includes victories over hardmen Leo Grant and Mark Smith, the latter in a rematch after their first fight was stopped due to a broken nose.
The unbeaten Reeves is returning to the ring for his 11th professional fight after recently recovering from a broken leg which required surgery.
Happy with the rehabilitation of his injury, the Reeves camp has ramped up training considerably over the past few weeks, including a training camp in in Thailand to get him into peak shape for his bout with Queensland journeyman, Adrian Rodriquez.
A former national titleholder, Rodriquez is tough and relentless, but will have his hands full with the power, poise and precision of Reeves.
Tomlinson is expecting to see something special in a big night for Reeves in front of a home crowd.
“It will be a tough, competitive fight, which it should be when you are defending a title against a former champion, there’s plenty at stake,” Tomlinson said.
Reeves is raring to go, back from Thailand and doing plenty of sparring in gyms around Victoria and New South Wales, determined to be at his very best in front of his faithful fans.
“I’ve come back from training in Thailand in great shape, working out in heat is said to be better for you than working out at altitude. I have ramped up the sparring since I’ve returned,” he said.
Eastcoast Boxing Club coach, Paul Carroll, who looks after Reeves and plenty of other talented East Gippsland boxers, is liking what he sees.
“Maxy is hungry, he’s working hard and ready to go. This is the start of a big year for the team,” Carroll said.
Although not knowing much about his opponent, Reeves is expecting a busy night.
“He has a good record, is tough with a big chin that we will test out on the night,” Reeves said.
The card will also feature Bairnsdale’s Blake Wells fighting as a middleweight for the first time in five years.
Wells trained hard over Christmas, opting not to take a break hoping to put a disappointing 2023 behind him where he tasted defeat for the first time.
Tej Singh, the awkward tough man no one wants to match up with, was Wells’ nemesis twice in points decisions.
Wells will fight Filipino veteran Arnel Tinampay, who has never been stopped in his 55-fight career.
“He’s tough and comes forward, he used to train and spar with Manny Pacquiao, so I’m expecting a tough fight,” Wells said.
The Wells camp is excited with the opportunities fighting at middleweight might bring in 2024 and beyond.
“I’d love to get into the ring with someone like (Michael) Zerafa, a big name who is there for the taking,” Wells said.
The night will also see local football club rivalry intensify between Sale and Maffra when Daniel Bedggood (Maffra) and Jack Johnstone (Sale) slug it out in the ring.
The pair – former teammates – will be competing for the newly instigated Gippsland League Light Heavyweight Title with a trophy struck up for what Wildfighter hopes will become an annual tradition.
The fighters will look to pocket $5000 for their club by securing a win with Tomlinson offering up another $1000 for a knockout.
Both boxers have been working hard, Johnstone at a boxing gym in Sale and Bedggood with Carroll and the crew in Bairnsdale.
Carroll is impressed what he has seen so far from Bedggood.
“Bedgy is a very talented sportsman, cricket and football, and now he’s trying his hand and boxing. He’s very heavy handed and learning all the time,” Carroll said.
Johnstone is liking the training but thinks the theory side might go out the door once the mates get in the ring.
“I’m thinking we will try and box each other early before getting tired of that and just start throwing haymakers at each other looking for a knock out,” Johnstone, the coach of Sale, said.
Wellington Shire Council mayor, councillor Ian Bye, is again looking forward to a great night of quality sports entertainment in an outstanding venue.
“It’s always a great night, well supported by the public with numerous economic benefits for the community. I’m looking forward to the biggest and best on March 23,” Bye said.
Last word, should go to Carroll, the man who gives the vital last minute instructions to the prize fighters, who encourages all Gippslanders to head along and support these dedicated athletes.
“It’s great to get events like this to Gippsland and we are blessed to have these outstanding young men representing our region, hopefully a huge crowd will get along to support them,” Carroll said.
Tickets are on sale now, with the event expected to be a sellout.
