Boxing: Hopoate ponders Cameron bout

Shane Cameron. Photo / Getty Images

Shane Cameron could, ironically, be back in the ring before David Tua if plans to fight former rugby league bad boy John Hopoate in Melbourne in March come off.

Hopoate, speaking from Australia, said yesterday that a fight with Cameron had been proposed. He wanted to take the fight "but it is not 100 per cent yet".

He added: "The ball's in their court. The approach came from them - they are the ones who came to us and now they have to agree on financial terms and other things for the fight to take place.

"I really want it. He's a good fighter and it's a big ask for me and it'll be a real challenge."

Cameron's manager Ken Reinsfield did not return calls but it is understood the fight is tentatively set for March 17 in Melbourne.

Tua, who knocked out Cameron in spectacular fashion last year, has not fought since - in spite of efforts to keep him busy - but is due to meet American-based Nigerian fighter Friday Ahunanya on March 25.

Both Cameron and Hopoate have things to prove. Hopoate was knocked out by Australian journeyman Colin Wilson as part of the Tua-Cameron undercard at Mystery Creek - a loss that hit his boxing career harder than when he lost on a TKO to former heavyweight world champion Oliver McCall in Las Vegas in May.

Hopoate was a comfortable favourite against Wilson and looked to have things going according to plan when he knocked the big southpaw down in the third round. However, Wilson got up and then knocked Hopoate down late that round.

Wilson crashed to the canvas early in the fourth, though the referee ruled it a slip, before the 37-year-old New Zealand-born fighter regained his equilibrium.

He ended the fight with a body shot and then a big left hand which left Hopoate out cold.

In the Las Vegas fight, the 44-year-old McCall landed some big rights, including a jolting uppercut, to send the 34-year-old Australian to the floor. A few seconds later, Hopoate was knocked down again and the referee stopped the fight.

So Hopoate, faced with a growing reputation that he cannot take a punch, needs to steady his ship - and Cameron, faced with similar sentiments - is an ideal opponent.

Cameron, so comprehensively knocked out by Tua in the second round of their clash, also needs a credible opponent and performance.

The bout with Hopoate has commercial and fan potential - particularly with Hopoate's punching power and his lingering bad boy status, courtesy of his retirement in 2005 when his club, Manly, sacked him after a high shot on an opposing forward which earned him a 17-week suspension.

Hopoate gained notoriety in 2001 when he was banned for 12 weeks after being found guilty of "interfering" with opponents.

Then playing for Wests Tigers, Hopoate was said to have jammed his fingers up the backsides of three North Queensland players during a match.

Hopoate said he had been administering a wedgie.