‘Bro, that’s a weird take’: Australia’s most avoided fighter issues big warning

Callum Peters has put Australia’s best young fighters across three weight classes on notice, declaring: “If you don’t fight me now, I’m only getting better”.

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The warning from Aussie boxing’s Next Big Thing has been delivered during an entertaining fight week press conference that also included barbs over social media “stalking” and a big promise from the brother of New Zealand heavyweight star Joseph Parker.

Already considered the most exciting young prospect in No Limit’s expanding stable, 22-year-old Peters is now promising yet another highlight reel finish on Wednesday’s Fox Sports boxing showcase in Brisbane.

Having opened his professional career with a hattrick of first round KOs, the Olympian is now promising a fourth against experienced Kiwi rival Marcus Heywood.

Fresh off a Las Vegas fight camp, Peters has also declared himself ready to take on anyone from middleweight to light heavyweight, and doubled down on his goal of becoming the first Australian male to win gold at the upcoming world amateurs.

Already, No Limit boss George Rose has branded Peters the country’s most avoided fighter – and likened him to the legendary Dave Sands – while also accusing rivals of “dodging calls” to throw down.

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Asked for his thoughts on Heywood at Monday’s press event in Brisbane, the young fighter replied: “He looks like a hard boy, has fought hard opponents so he’ll bring a good show.

“He knows how to throw down.

“And he’s also the first one who hasn’t pulled out so it should be a cracker.”

But as for a prediction?

“It should be over the first round,” Peters shrugged.

“Hopefully people get to see more of me on the night but I am looking for a stoppage.

“And if you don’t fight me now, I’m only going to get better.

“Every day, every week, every month … I’m only going to become harder to beat.

“So you gotta get me now.”

In the main event, Brisbane cruiserweight Floyd Masson – a former IBO champion – faces off against John Parker, the younger brother of Oleksandr Usyk’s new mandatory.

Asked about forging his own fight career, John described the fight as a “100 per cent must win”.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase my skills, and I’m ready for the challenge,” he said.

“Today, I’m the best version of myself and I will continue to get better.

“But I have to take care of business.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Floyd who has already fought two of my fellow Kiwis and got the ‘w’ on both of them … so three strikes and you’re out.”

Masson, meanwhile, said he was ready to work his way into a top 10 ranking, and potentially a world title eliminator, in a division where Australia’s Jai Opetaia holds the IBF and Ring crowns.

Elsewhere on the undercard, Gold Coast light heavyweight Jack Gregory takes on Brisbane’s Jahzia Puohotaua, with the pair engaging in an entertaining press conference exchange.

Asked what he knew about his rival, Gregory said: “There’s not much on him.

“I like stalking my opponents but there’s not much on him …”

To which Puohotaua shot back: “Weird”.

“I know that he likes to come forward,” Gregory then continued unperturbed, “and that …”

“Strange,” his rival shouted, going again on the stalking claim.

Gregory: “Nah, not like weird. I just like watching the fights.”

Puohotaua: “That’s weird, bro. It’s a weird take.”

At which point the compere then asked if he was concerned by his rival?

Puohotaua: “A little bit. (Laughs) You say you’ve been doing the work but it sounds like you’ve been watching me the whole time.”

Gregory: “That’s a part of the work”

Earlier, Puohotaua had declared himself ready for everything coming Wednesday night.

“I’ve always felt that I was supposed to be here,” he said.

“Even sitting at this table, I’m getting a little bit giddy, like ‘this is cool, I’m with all the big kids’.

“But I’ve worked to get here.

“And I’ll stay here.

“I’m going to win. That’s the bottom line.

“It doesn’t matter what he says after me or what he’s done to prepare.

“It’s not going to matter.

“He’s probably a really nice guy and there is no malice towards him as a person.

“But at the end of the day, I’m punching heads in – that’s it.”

Asked next up how the fight goes down, he declared: “However I decide it goes down”.

Peters, meanwhile, promised to use Wednesday night’s card as another chance to showcase the firepower that’s seen him dubbed ‘50 Cal’.

“With the small gloves, anything is possible,” he grinned.

“Get those combos in, work the body, the head, set the shots up, it should be good for me in there.

“He’s going to have a hard time.

“I throw with volume.

“There’s always punches going.

“Should be fun.”

Peters also spoke about being in Las Vegas recently, where he watched the card involving both Tim Tszyu and Manny Pacquiao.

“And watching Tim in there, Pacquiao,” he said, “you’re having the thought of ‘that could be me one day, fighting in front of all these people’.

“It’s gunna be hectic.”