In a bid to fight his way into the world title picture, Jerome Pampellone has been searching for an opportunity to prove to the world just how good he is.
Now, his team believe they have found that fight.
Pampellone, who trains at Auckland’s Peach Boxing gym, will return tothe ring on December 2 against Mexican veteran Rogelio Medina (41-9) in Whangārei in a fight that will test the championship credentials of ‘the Panther’ (17-0).
Medina, a former challenger for the IBF super middleweight world title, was one of several options available for the rising Kiwi light heavyweight, but there was one main reason behind Pampellone’s team locking him in.
Medina has fought some of the world’s best boxers with several of his former opponents having held world titles – including former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant, and current WBC interim super middleweight champion David Benavidez.
“Medina is dangerous,” Pampellone’s coach Isaac Peach told the Herald.
“Medina comes forward and knocks guys out. It’s a real test for Jerome, and that’s what I need. I think he’s the perfect opponent for what Jerome needs right now. That’s what it’s about – trying to bring out the best in Jerome and prepare him for that big fight; that world title shot.”
Isaac Peach, Jerome Pampellone and Boaz Peach after Pampellone's win over Luvuyo Sizani. Photo / Photosport
While unbeaten through his professional career, Pampellone has been particularly devastating in his most two recent outings with back-to-back finishes in the first 90sec of the fight.
“Obviously I’m expecting it to go longer,” Peach said of Pampellone’s next assignment. “Medina’s got a chin of granite. He’s seriously tough. I’m expecting Jerome to beat him up and stop him in the middle rounds, show everybody in the world how good he is and call out for those bigger names.”
Following his win over Luvuyo Sizani in August, Pampellone now features as a top-15 ranked fighter in three of the four major organisations in world boxing, including the No 7 ranking with the IBF.
However, Medina was the best option available to them as Peach said other ranked fighters were pricing themselves out of the match up, but added Medina was “as good as a lot of those ranked guys”.
A win over Medina will send Pampellone further down the pathway towards a world title, and Peach said he was hopeful a fight for a mandatory title challenge wasn’t too far away on the horizon.
“It’s a bit of a waiting game, but we’ll keep fighting, keep getting better, and as soon as we get the chance we’ll knock (unified champion Artur) Beterbiev out. That’s the plan.”
The card in Whangārei will be headlined by Pampellone’s Peach Boxing teammate Mea Motu, who will put her IBO super bantamweight world title on the line, while Lani Daniels is also booked for a defence of her IBF world heavyweight championship.
