Curtis Scott punches as hard as any heavyweight in Australia according to his trainer – and is set to KO Barry Hall despite conceding 12kg to what is undeniably a new, beefed up version of the AFL great.
More than two years after being brutally stopped by Sonny Bill Williams, Hall has unveiled a significantly overhauled physique for his hyped heavyweight return on Wednesday’s No Limit Pay-Per-View in Wollongong.
BOXING: GOODMAN V WORAWUT | WBC Super Bantamweight World Title Eliminator | WED 10 JULY 7PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Hall’s new look was also just one part of a chaotic weigh-in event that also saw Sydney lightweight Youssef Dib branded “unprofessional” after coming in heavy, and undefeated Australian star Sam Goodman get up and in the face of his undefeated Thai rival.
Accompanied to the stage by his older brother, and former world champion, Billy Dib, 31-year-old ‘Uwee’ was slammed by Liam Wilson after hitting the scales at 61.62kg – or almost 500 grams over their lightweight limit.
Immediately, the fighter was told to go shed the excess within the allotted two hours, with Wilson shouting: “We’re professionals, go lose the weight”.
When approached again soon after by Main Event’s Ben Damon and asked for a comment, the Queenslander added: “There’s professional and then there’s that”.
After disappearing for two hours, Dib eventually returned and weighed in bang on the lightweight limit.
The event also saw Goodman involved in a tense face off with fellow headliner Chainoi Worawut, and after the pair weighed in at 55.26kg and 55.08kg respectively.
After making weight, Goodman walked quickly across the stage to get up and in the face of his rival, who a day earlier had stood off to the side when asked to square off by No Limit CEO George Rose.
“But it’s a fight,” Goodman shrugged when quizzed on the exchange afterwards.
“I don’t want to be your mate.
“Plus he stood off to the side yesterday, didn’t want to come close.
“So today I decided to go at him and see what he’s about.”
Elsewhere, Hall also looked in far different shape to his previous heavyweight outings against Williams in 2022.
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Yet despite the difference, Scott’s trainer Brian Doyle has told Fox Sports Australia the exiled NRL star boasts a power the equal of any domestic heavyweight.
Doyle added that as part of preparations for Hall, his charge – who has won both his first two fights by finish — has been sparring heavyweights like Jason Whateley, Jackson Murray, Johan Linde and Liam Talivaa.
Less than three weeks ago, Doyle was in the corner of Australia’s UFC star Robert Whittaker as he scored a brutal first round finish of rising middleweight star Ikram Aliskerov.
And now the respected Sydney trainer is tipping Scott to back up a weigh day claim that saw him stand across the stage from Hall and state: “I’m going to knock this bloke out”.
While the weight difference is nothing like the 30kg Scott conceded for his March boxing debut against Joey Leilua, it’s still substantial enough for a fighter who joked of hitting the scales “with car keys in my pockets”.
Yet Doyle stressed the crossover boxing star’s power has surprised not only him, but a crew of Australia’s best heavyweights during preparations for Wednesday’s Cross Code slugfest.
“Curtis punches as hard as any heavyweight in Australia,” the trainer said.
“His power, it really is uncanny.
“I’ve actually been surprised by just how hard he whacks and, during sparring, you could see the guys were taken aback with his power, speed and aggression.
“That’s also the feedback we’ve been getting.
“Curtis is a fighter who is in your face, wants to hit you and has real power … that’s a hard combination to deal with.”
Asked about the sparring sessions, Doyle continued: “There’s some big skilful guys in that group but, every time, Curtis has marched forward and given as good as he got.
“I know some people talk about boxing skills (being separate) to power and aggression, but for me it’s all the same.
“So we’re not dancing around, we’re going forward, looking to win the fight, and in all the sparring Curtis has done exactly that which isn’t an easy thing.”
Goodman also looked in strong shape, and suggested he would likely have to go find Worawut in the fight like he just had for the second fight week staredown.
“I have to go looking for all my opponents,” he grinned.
“Name a fight where I’ve taken a step back.
“I go at all these guys.
“I put on the pressure and they start moving.
“So I’ll be tracking him down like I do with all my fights.”
But as for taking anything from Warawut’s face off hesitancy?
“Nah, I’m not buying into any of the bulls***,” he said. “He’s here to fight and seems up to it.
“And I’m up for it, excited and ready to go.
“I’m coming out with a bit of nastiness.
“This is another opportunity to show my skillset and I’m excited to do that.”
Scott, meanwhile, said that he was “extremely grateful” to have fighters like Whateley, a former national champion, willing to help with his new sporting switch.
“I’m sparring seasoned boxers, guys ranked top 10 in Australia,” Scott said. “And sparring them three times a week.
“All four of the guys are great fighters and I can’t thank them enough.
“And travelling to Melbourne for rounds with Jason, that got me to the next level.
“Going down and mixing it with a world class boxer like him helped me greatly and, after those rounds, I really felt confident to jump in with anyone.”
FULL FIGHT CARD
MAIN CARD
Sam Goodman (55.26kg) v Chainoi Worawut (55.08kg) — super bantamweight world title eliminator
Barry Hall (106.20kg) v Curtis Scott (94.04kg) — heavyweight
Liam Wilson (61.18kg) v Youssef Dib (61.62kg) — lightweight
Mounir Fathi (69.92kg) v Anton Markovic (69.70kg) — super welterweight
Brandon Grach (113.04kg) v John Maila (110.78kg) — heavyweight
Billy Polkinghorn (63.40kg) v Jordan Kasilieris (64.02kg) — super lightweight
PRELIMS
Liam Talivaa (103.58kg) v Johan Linde (103.86kg) — heavyweight
Shanell Dargan (54.36kg) v Pannaporn Kaewpawong (55.02kg) — super bantamweight
Amber Amelia (53.36kg) v Connie Brown (53.02kg) — bantamweight
Alessandro Grippa (70.52kg) v John Weetra (70.52kg) — super welterweight