‘Acting weird’: Why ‘one of biggest upsets in Aussie boxing’ is on cards as cracks exposed

Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech has made a surprise appearance at the weigh-ins of former charge Brock Jarvis — warning the hyped prospect “you’re in trouble” if he sticks with a game plan outlined in interviews this week.

The warning comes as Jarvis has told Fox Sports Australia his overhauled frame — which boasts some 20kg of additional muscle — will prove crucial in Wednesday’s hyped headliner against American superstar Keith Thurman.

Asked how he felt squaring off against Thurman several times throughout what has been a fiery fight week build, the 27-year-old Shire prospect replied: “He feels small to me”.

Thurman vs Jarvis | WED 12 MARCH 7PM AEDT | Australia’s Brock Jarvis will take on former Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman in a blockbuster event at the Hordern Pavillion. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the build-up and action here

Jarvis then doubled down by suggesting that while his rival also boasted an incredible resume – having only ever lost once, to Manny Pacquiao – he was also returning from a three-year layoff, which the Sydneysider insists is now weighing heavy as their fight nears.

Almost a decade after initially being touted as a super flyweight champion – and fighting at just 52kg – it was a jacked Jarvis who hit the scales on Tuesday for his new campaign now eight weight classes heavier.

Officially, the Australian weighed in at 69.74kg.

Thurman, meanwhile, was 69.76kg and, just before the face off, continued his assault on the younger rival, approaching Jarvis with a mocking, robotic walk.

It follows the Florida star branding Jarvis both a Ken Doll and “muscle bound b****”.

“So I wanted to walk up like a brick,” the American grinned after the weigh-ins were complete. “Walk up like a little Tetris piece.

“I know it was the last time I’d get to play with him, so I wanted to play with him one more time.”

Thurman added that, after beating Jarvis, he then wanted an Australian headliner against the local superstar he was initially slated to headline in Las Vegas against last year.

“Why did Keith Thurman come down to Australia?” he grinned. “It’s to hunt down Tim Tszyu.

“To remind him that I haven’t forgot the contract that I signed.”

But first, Jarvis.

That fighter who, while now impressively heavier, is still suddenly missing his longtime trainer Fenech – with the pair having fallen out last April, then briefly reunited for one fight, before splitting again.

While the Hall of Famer has opted to play no part with Team Jarvis for this camp, he still made a surprise appearance at the weigh-ins at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter on Tuesday – admitting his absence from proceedings “is killing me”.

Fenech will also be ringside in the crowd on fight night.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia while watching Tuesday’s weigh-ins from the crowd, Fenech confirmed he had seen a story earlier that morning quoting US great Shawn Porter – who says Jarvis is taking an “alarming” approach to the biggest fight of his career without him in his corner.

Porter, who has jetted into Sydney to join the Main Event broadcast team, warned that after interviewing Jarvis this week, he feared the fighter was set to throw down exactly as Thurman wants him to.

“One thing Brock said to me which is alarming,” Porter started, “he said he’s known for being aggressive and starting fast – but he doesn’t want to do that.

“He wants to, he said, kind of start slower.

“I’m putting words into his mouth but this is what I figured out, (Jarvis) wants to start slower and ride the wave, react to Keith.

“That’s not good.”

Asked his thoughts, Fenech replied: “I agree with Shawn.

“If you’re going to sit back and watch what one of the greatest fighters of the past decade is going to do, you’re in trouble.

“Against Keith Thurman, you have to make him fight your fight.

“You can’t give the guy any time to think.

“Can’t give him any time to do what he wants.

“You can never give the great fighters that chance, you’ve got to turn the fight into whatever you want it to be.

“There’s no use standing there watching him.”

While Fenech said he hated not being in the corner with Jarvis — “it’s killing me” – he insisted that he has not been asked for any input into game planning for the Thurman showdown.

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“Something has gone through Brock’s head,” Fenech shrugged off their falling out. “I can’t tell you what that was but I really hope he can go create one of the biggest upsets in Australian boxing.

“Because that’s what this will be if he beats Thurman.”

So as for what advice the former trainer would give?

“I don’t want to give that,” he said simply.

“I’ve left it up to them.

“Initially, I didn’t even know he was fighting Thurman and then, once I did, it was too late.

“But Brock says he makes his own decisions now.

“I just hope he’s making the right one.

“Because one of the most important parts of any fight is when you sit down between rounds, when somebody tells you what you need to do.

“And I just hope the people in his corner can do that.

“But look, I’ve spoken to Brock’s dad many times and I’ve told him what I think.

“Still, Brock needs to listen.

“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.

“And Brock has told me he’s old enough to make his own decisions … I just hope he’s mature enough to listen to people who know what they’re talking about.”

Thurman vs Jarvis | WED 12 MARCH 7PM AEDT | Australia’s Brock Jarvis will take on former Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman in a blockbuster event at the Hordern Pavillion. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Jarvis, meanwhile, said that while Thurman has done a stack of talking right throughout this build, he feels the superstar dubbed ‘One Time’ is starting to feel the doubts that come with a ring absence of three years.

“There’s a heap of pressure on Keith Thurman,” he stressed. “Coming all the way out here, he’s the big name, the comeback, looking to fight Tim Tszyu after me — and he’s starting to feel it.

“The past few days, the guy has been acting weird, saying things he normally wouldn’t say.

“I actually think he’s doubting himself.

“There’s been a few things with him that have been out of character … and I think that’s because he has doubt there.”

Jarvis added he was excited to be fighting at a weight where he has long felt he belonged.

“And it’s going to make a difference,” the Sydneysider stressed.

“I’m an aggressive fighter.

“I’m younger, hungrier and I’ve got everything to gain.”

Asked how Thurman had felt during their fight week face offs, Jarvis continued: “He feels small to me.

“I don’t pay too much attention to any of that stuff but, yeah, he does feel smaller than me.

“And now I want to make an example of Keith Thurman.”

While Jarvis may have looked imposing on the scales however, Thurman has spent much of his time since arriving Down Under mocking the frame of his much younger rival.

Apart from branding the Aussie a “muscle bound b****” during Monday’s press conference, he also took aim at his frame and “pork neck” during a fiery ‘Face Off’ interview overseen by Main Event’s Ben Damon.

“I know you were a lightweight before,” Thurman shouted at one point, “but you see this boy’s neck now?

“How do you get a pork neck? How does a lightweight get a pork neck?”

Asked about Jarvis’s size by Damon, Thurman continued: “He’s built like a triangle, skinny waist, broad shoulders, thick neck.

“It’s unevenly proportioned, right?

“It’s a good shape though.

“Triangle isn’t the worst shape.

“Almost like a Ken Doll or something.”

It was a theme the former world champion continued during their press conference.

“That little Bondi Beach fellow over there,” he said motioning to Jarvis, “is just a muscle-bound little b**** boy.

“At the end of the day, he ain’t ever seen nothing like this.

“I could be 46 years and I’d still whoop his ass.

“I could be 56 and I’d still whoop his ass.

“It’s going to be a tremendous main event with your man, Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman.”