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Radovan-Mikhailovich clash in IBF eliminator

IBF #3 middleweight Denis Radovan (17-0-1, 8 KOs) will face IBF #4 Andrei Mikhailovich (20-0, 12 KOs) in a final IBF eliminator on December 16 at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland, England. Th winner will be in line to challenge IBF/WBO middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The card is headlined by a junior middleweight clash between Josh Kelly (14-1-1, 7 KOs) and Roarke Knapp (17-1-1, 12 KOs).

'He's good enough': Kevin Barry backs rising Kiwi boxer Jerome Pampellone to win a world title
Sam Wilson

Jerome Pampellone showed his class with a first round stoppage win over Mose Auimatagi Jr in April.
Light heavyweight fight: Jerome Pampellone v Rogelio Medina. Where: McKay Stadium, Whangārei. When: Saturday, December 2. Coverage: Live on Sky Arena and Sky Sport Now

The last trainer to guide a male Kiwi boxer to a world title believes rising light heavyweight sensation Jerome Pampellone has what it takes to be the country's next champion.

Kevin Barry was in Joseph Parker's corner on that historic night in Auckland seven years ago, when Parker outpointed Andy Ruiz Jr to capture the vacant WBO crown and become the first fighter born on these shores to hold a major championship.

And the esteemed coach with a keen eye for emerging talent is convinced the unbeaten Pampellone (17-0, 10 KOs) can go on to emulate Parker's achievement by one day conquering the 175lb division.

Speaking from his home in Las Vegas, where he still trains fighters at his gym, Barry gave a glowing assessment of Pampellone as the London-born contender prepares for the toughest challenge of his short professional career.

Trainer Kevin Barry took Joseph Parker all the way to the WBO world heavyweight title back in 2016.
Pampellone takes on hard-hitting Mexican Rogelio 'Porky' Medina (41-9, 35 KOs) in a 10-rounder on the undercard of Peach Boxing team-mate Mea Motu's latest world title defence in Whangārei on December 2.

It represents a sizeable step up in class for the 27-year-old, who is ranked seventh by the IBF despite only turning professional three years ago.

Medina, by contrast, has had 50 fights in a 16-year-long campaign in which he has faced a string of former and current champions, holding his own against several of them.

He also has a history of mowing down top prospects, blasting out Floyd Mayweather's protege J'Leon Love in three rounds back in 2014.

That has left some pundits questioning whether 'The Panther' has bitten off more than he can chew, though Barry is not one of them and expects Pampellone to come through this tricky assignment with flying colours.

“I think it's a very interesting fight and a really good challenge for Jerome. He's been stepping up nicely, especially over the last three or four fights,” said Barry, who has followed Pampellone's progress since he was an amateur.

“Medina is a very experienced, durable fighter who has been in the ring with some very accomplished champions throughout his career.

“This is the perfect test for Jerome at this particular stage of his career.”

Barry has been impressed by Pampellone's rapid development under the tutelage of trainer Isaac Peach in west Auckland and considers him a “world-class prospect” and the “most exciting talent in New Zealand” at the moment.

He particularly likes how the part-time plumber has added spiteful punching to a toolbox that includes an accurate jab and slick footwork, stopping his last two opponents in the first round.

“One thing I've been really impressed with is the way he's turning into a very, very good puncher. He's only got 10 knockouts in his 17 wins but if you look at his last three or four fights, he's starting to really hurt guys,” Barry noted.

“I look at the Mose Auimatagi fight [in April]. In 2020, he fought David Light who was 16-0, and Mose went the distance with him and gave him a really tough, physical fight. David went on three fights later to fight Lawrence Okolie for the world cruiserweight title.

“Jerome whacked him out in one round. To me, that made a real statement.”

Not that Barry expects Pampellone to have it quite so easy against a seasoned campaigner like Medina, who, at 35, might have seen better days but is in the midst of a four-fight winning streak, all by stoppage.

The crafty veteran knows every trick in the book and has a well-earned reputation as a busy fighter, frequently throwing more than 1000 punches in his bouts.

Mexican veteran Rogelio 'Porky' Medina has knocked out 35 of his 50 opponents in a 16-year career.
Barry anticipates the Mexican slugger will come in “pretty good shape”, confident of handing Pampellone his first loss in front of his own fans. But he is backing the Aucklander to get the job done inside the distance.

“He won't fear Jerome. Jerome is the guy who has to make the statement here,” said Barry. “Thirty-five knockouts from 41 wins, you know this guy can bang.

“I think it will bring out the best in Pampellone. I expect him to knock him out. I just think the style, the number of punches Medina throws, will work to Pampellone's advantage.

“It will take a while to break him down, but eventually I think he will get to him.”

Jerome Pampellone v Rogelio Medina: Surging Kiwi boxer faces the litmus test
Christopher Reive


If Jerome Pampellone is looking to truly emerge as a player in the world’s light heavyweight ranks, making a statement against Rogelio Medina in Whangārei next weekend will be the perfect way to do it.

Pampellone has had a rapid ascension in the world of professional boxing since leaving the amateur ranks behind him in late 2020. The 27-year-old, who is among the surging stable training under the watchful eye of Isaac Peach at Peach Boxing in West Auckland, has amassed a perfect 17-0 record with 10 wins by stoppage, starting his career with a 12-month span in which he fought 10 times.

It was a stretch that famed Kiwi trainer Kevin Barry says set him up well, and he has only built on that platform in impressive fashion.

“The opponents weren’t world beaters, but they showed him different styles and gave him the ability to develop and progress and learn the trade. He’s obviously a smart kid, because he’s picked it up very well in a short time,” Barry says. “I think he’s a very exciting prospect and a fighter the New Zealand public should really get behind.”

“What he has done in the last 12 months, it showed me that the guy is a world-class prospect.”

Barry knows a thing or two about exciting prospects in the sport, having trained Joseph Parker from 2013 to 2021, helping the Kiwi heavyweight to a world championship during that span.

Barry has been keeping an eye on Pampellone’s rise from his Las Vegas base and sees a similar potential in the London-born light heavyweight as Parker showed at the same point in his career, although Parker fighting on pay-per-view broadcasts from his first bout allowed him to build a larger profile.

“The New Zealand public and the sporting and boxing fans were learning and developing and watching Joe fight by fight. Jerome had some fights on TV, but his profile is nowhere near as what Joe’s was, and the boxing business was at a different stage in New Zealand when Parker was fighting than what it is now,” Barry says.

“I think this boy here has equal talent. I think he’s an exciting prospect, but now he’s going to have to keep developing and he’s going to have to keep beating guys like Medina.”


In Medina, Pampellone will get a true test. The 35-year-old Mexican is vastly experienced, with a 41-9 record and 35 wins by knockout. He has also fought against the likes of Caleb Plant (ex-IBF super middleweight champion) and David Benavidez (WBC interim super middleweight champion).

Medina has proven power, he is durable, and he has a big motor; frequently throwing more than 1000 punches in his bouts. He has proven to be a litmus test for boxers looking to make their mark at the top level. In Medina’s last eight bouts, only Plant and Benavidez have got the better of him, while he is riding a four-fight knockout streak.

With Pampellone winning both of his fights in 2023 in the first round, Barry expects Medina will come in looking to put the pressure on his Kiwi adversary and take him into deep waters.

“Watching Jerome, there’s a couple of things that stand out: he’s got a very educated jab, he controls the distance with his left jab very well. The other thing that Isaac has developed with him is his body punching. In the professional ranks, body punching is essential if you’re going to be successful. He goes to the body very well,” Barry says.

“Jerome needs to hit that body early, and if he doesn’t, this guy’s going to come and come and come and be a very tough fight for him.

“I think the style of Medina will play right into his hands.”

A win over Medina, particularly one in impressive fashion, would be a big step for Pampellone as he looks to press his claim for a world title shot.

Currently ranked No 7 with the IBF, No 11 with the WBO and No 15 with the WBC, Pampellone is yet to get a shot at another ranked fighter.

However, Barry says the young light heavyweight is definitely good enough to work his way to a shot at a world championship, and patience could be a key part of the process.

“I think he’s definitely good enough to get a look at the title and I know that Dean Lonergan’s working very hard and he’s been very calculated and careful with what he’s done. These things here, when you’re developing a young talent, it’s very essential that the right plan is put in place,” Barry says.

“He’s got to keep improving, and he’s got to keep winning.”

Pampellone will meet Medina on the undercard of Peach Boxing stablemate Mea Motu’s IBO super bantamweight world title defence on December 2. Also on the card, reigning IBF world heavyweight champion Lani Daniels will look to become a two-weight world champion in a bout for the vacant IBF light heavyweight belt.

Interesting to see what is next for Pampellone. He should be calling out some of the people ranked above him. Kevin Barry, who trained Joseph Parker to a world title, thinks German Michael Eifert (No 1 with the IBF) should be their target.

08:28 pm
I spoke to Jerome earlier in the week about what he needed to do in this fight to catch the world's attention. He said "win with flying colours"

Job done. The right hand put Medina down early, and Pampellone swarmed when Medina beat the count. He stunned the Mexican again, and with Medina shelling up, Pampellone was able to pick his shots and get the finish.

08:26 pm
IT'S OVER

OK, so Jerome Pampellone is a monster

08:25 pm

Wahine Toa II: Mea Motu, Lani Daniels clinch world boxing titles; Jerome Pampellone makes statement in return
Christopher Reive

Lani Daniels and Mea Motu continue to shine when the bright lights come on.

Earlier this year, the pair joined a select few to claim a world boxing title when they won the IBF heavyweight and IBO super bantamweight championships respectively.

After the Wahine Toa II fight night in Whangārei on Saturday, they are both still world champions, Daniels now being the IBF’s world champion in two weight classes.,

Daniels claimed a majority decision win over Australian Desley Robinson on the Wahine Toa II card in Whangārei, clinching the IBF world light heavyweight championship.

After 10 fierce rounds, she got the nod on two of the judges’ cards, with the other scoring the bout a 95-95 draw.

It was an indication of how closely contested the bout was. Daniels came out strong early, constantly walking forward and putting pressure on Robinson.

While Robinson had plenty of good moments in the fight, Daniels was landing the cleaner, more meaningful shots throughout and edged ahead on the scorecards.

When the rounds started, the two went straight back to on the attack, and that was the case for all 10 rounds.

In the end, it was Daniels who had her hand raised and a new title belt to add to her collection.

Earlier in the night, she was called out by Roseanna Cox – a newcomer to the Peach Boxing stable who claimed a unanimous decision win over Trish Vaka to improve her professional record to 2-0. However, Daniels would not be drawn on questions around what was next for her; earlier in the week she had indicated she might look to move down to super middleweight and pursue a belt in that weight class as well.

In the main event, Motu defended her IBO super bantamweight world title with a lopsided decision against Indian Chandni Mehra.

Body shots were key to Motu’s win, clearly hurting Chandni consistently throughout the fight. Chandni’s movement gave Motu some issues as the Kiwi tried to walk her opponent down.

While Mehra did have some success with her jab and trying to work combinations off the back of it, Motu dominated the bout from start to finish. Mehra also had a point deducted for holding late in the fight, but that was a minor detail as Motu overpowered her, with the judges scoring the fight 100-89, 99-90 and 98-91.

Like Daniels and Motu, rising light heavyweight contender Jerome Pampellone didn’t shy away from the biggest fight of his career – proving he’s a fighter the world should be taking notice of with a first-round knockout win over Rogelio Medina.

Medina entered with the reputation of being a man who was tough to put away, and one who would constantly come forward to pressure his opponent.

Pampellone didn’t give him the chance.

The London-born light heavyweight threw with heat behind his shots early, landing some good punches to the body before changing his target.

He caught Medina with a right hand, sending him to the canvas. While Medina beat the count, it wasn’t long before Pampellone had him stunned again, and this time he finished the job to earn a standing TKO.

In the other professional bout of the night, super flyweight Zain Adams claimed a devastating second-round knockout win against his previously unbeaten opponent.

Full results

Mea Motu beat Chandni Mehra by unanimous decision to retain the IBO super bantamweight world title

Lani Daniels beat Desley Robinson by majority decision to claim the vacant IBF light heavyweight title

Jerome Pampellone beat Rogelio Medina by TKO (1)

Zain Adams beat Patthaphi Camton by KO (2)

Roseanna Cox beat Trish Vaka by unanimous decision

Matt Matich beat Kurt Benney by TKO (2)