Powdrill throws hat in the ring
UPDATE: Three months after leaving Australian boxing’s hottest prospect flat on his face, Rob Powdrill is bracing for an entirely different challenge tomorrow night.
Powdrill caused a real stir with his 21-second demolition of London Olympian Damien Hooper, a talent being groomed as a future world champion by UK promoter Ricky Hatton.
Now Powdrill goes to the other end of the spectrum with a revenge shot against 44-year-old David Letizia, who will hang up the gloves for good after their 12-round IBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title bout.
It's a gamble for Powdrill, whose four-round loss to Letizia was six years ago but who knows a second defeat to the outgoing veteran could put the kibosh on any hopes of building on his big night in Brisbane.
"We'd already sort of agreed to this one when it got thrown out to us last year (before the Hooper fight) and I said yes because I wanted to have a crack at getting the win back," the 30-year-old said.
"Having given my word I was never going to change my mind."
Fans who know Powdrill as a Thai boxing star won't be surprised by his uncompromising attitude, even if he did seem to fly under the radar when clobbering Hooper in only his fifth boxing match.
"I took that on four or five days’ notice as a late substitute," he said.
"I knew they brought me over to pretty much bash me but I don’t go down that easy. I think they might have heard I was a tough kickboxer and thought it would look good for him."
Hooper, who is young enough and talented enough to rebuild, returns from his November wipe-out with a six-rounder against Joel Bourke on Surfers Paradise on March 7.
Has Powdrill been approached for a rematch?
"Nah. Nothing yet," he said. "I’ve heard little things through the Facebook scene that he was calling for one but nothing direct."
For now Powdrill is focusing on squaring the ledger with Letizia at the WA Italian Club, and then taking his boxing career "as far as I can".
He plans to operate at light-heavyweight after Friday night, but says there have been teething problems at the Mungkorn Mai Muaythai gym, in Wangara, where he trains.
"We've been trying to get the other boys to concentrate on the boxing but it hasn’t been going entirely to plan. But it’s still new," he said.
"We've had a couple of guys from other gyms who have come in and given me some sparring and I’ve got my (driving) licence back now, so I’ve got another boxing trainer who can help me out as well."
Would he consider moving gym?
"I’m going to try my best not to, because it’s because of Bill (trainer Bill Seth) I’ve got these opportunities coming," he said. "I think I’ll just bring in other trainers to help out at my gym.
"With boxing I have to relearn my movement, that sort of thing. You can’t just stand there and take hits and throw them back, you have to get out the way a bit more, duck and weave and that sort of stuff which I’ve never done before. And s**tloads of cardio!
"It’s been a bit hard with work. I’m a concrete labourer so when you’re tired after a hard day’s work and then you have to go down the gym afterwards it can be tough.
"Luckily the boss is a mate of mine from back in the day so he gives me a little bit of leeway here and there."
Back to the Hooper fight and Powdrill's reaction after landing that huge right hand. Instead of dancing around the ring or jumping into his trainer's arms, his first reaction was to check on his opponent's welfare.
"Yes, I sort of do that to most people I’ve knocked out," he said, matter-of-factly. "I like to make sure they’re OK before I start jumping around like a douche bag."
- Nathaniel May, who also appears on Friday night's CDL Boxing card, will headline a show in his home town of Bunbury on March 21 when he fights for the WBO Asia Pacific Youth featherweight title.
Perth's Brandon Ogilvie is also in action, challenging for the same title at super-feather.
* Updated to include details of Damien Hooper's return
