Boxing: Cameron to put 'farce' behind him

Shane Cameron. Photo / NZ Listener

Shane Cameron's comeback to professional boxing effectively starts in Wellington next month after a bout with John Hopoate last night ended in a hasty disqualification for the lumbering former rugby league star.

Cameron, back in the ring for the first since he was knocked out by David Tua in last October's "Fight of the Century", barely had a punch laid on him at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse before referee Malcolm Bulmer disqualified Hopoate for persistent grabbing and holding.

The fight ended 43 seconds into the second round of a scheduled 10 round bout after Bulmer lost patience with Hopoate's wrestling tactics.

Cameron's handlers initially felt Bulmer had ended the fight prematurely but on reflection agreed Hopoate showed no inclination to fight.

"He did look like he wanted to be there," said Cameron's manager Ken Reinsfield.

"We wanted the fight to carry on, but from the referee's position ... Hoppa (Hopoate) wasn't throwing punches and he was trying to wrestle Shane.

"The referee warned him enough times. He was using his head as well."

Although a rematch was mooted in the bout's aftermath, Reinsfield dismissed any prospect of a repeat of last night's farcical scenes, suggesting Hopoate's professional boxing career was over.

"He wasn't even trying to engage Shane, he was diving at him and grabbing him."

Bulmer made no apology for banishing Hopoate: "This is not wrestling, this is boxing," he said.

Cameron fights Australian Michael Kirby in Wellington on April 24 with Reinsfield insisting the 34-year-old would prove a genuine opponent.

"He's a tough Queenslander, he's pretty durable and will come to fight."

Kirby has an uninspiring six-win three-loss and one draw record as a professional.

In his most recent outing last September he went 10 of 12 rounds with another league player-turned boxer Solomon Haumono before the referee stopped the fight.

Cameron has now fought 26 times for 24 wins and two losses.

Hopoate, who played more than 200 National Rugby League games for Manly and Wests Tigers, has 12 wins and five losses.

Sky TV customers paid $24.95 to watch the fight, broadcast from Melbourne. Some were calling sports talkback radio shows this morning asking for "a refund".

- NZPA