DUNCAN JOHNSTONE


Veteran heavyweight boxer Kali Meehan says his main focus in life now is to protect his promising son Willis from "the wolves" that chewed up his own true potential.

First he gets a chance to redefine his own legacy by taking on Shane Cameron for the WBA's Pan African title in Auckland on Saturday night, the feature bout on the Super 8 promotion.

The 44-year-old has had a storied career, wracking up 41 win with just five losses, fighting around the world and getting to be the WBA's No 1 contender and contesting world title eliminators and an actual world title fight in 2004.

But the cards didn't always fall his way and the Aucklander with island connections, who has based himself across the Tasman, has been unfairly lost in the Kiwi sporting consciousness.

He's happy to cash in on the sport's revival here, even if it is in his twilight years.

He impressively won the first Super 8 tournament in Auckland in June and didn't hesitate when offered a chance to return and take on Cameron.

With son Willis making his professional debut on the undercard against New Zealander Will Quarrie, it's a family affair that has Meehan excited.

Outrageously talented, super-heavyweight Willis won 28 of his 29 amateur fights in Australia, including the national title, and now juggles boxing with a league career at the Sydney Roosters where the comparisons with Sonny Bill Williams are obvious. He has size and athleticism.

"And he can fight," Kali said proudly of his 19-year-old monster.

"My main focus is on my son Willis and guiding his career and making sure that he doesn't make the same mistakes that I made, that he doesn't trust the wrong people . . . protect him from the wolves."

It's a game littered with carcasses and Meehan is a survivor, though he does have some bruises and a bit of bitterness.

"There were a lot of mishaps and politics in my career," he said.

It's why he's so excited about his current situation.

"I've gone all around the world to try to make things happen and now I've come back home and things have started to fall into place. I know it can't keep going forever but right now I'm hoping.

"I sort of gave up on planning things . . . if it happens it happens."

And it's happened. Now he's got a chance to come out of the shadows of the likes of David Tua, Jimmy Peau and even Cameron.

"It really is good to get recognised. I hold this as something dear to me, it's nice."

Beating Cameron, even at this late stage, will reinforce his claims and reputation. That's a done deal in his mind.

"I've got no doubt that I will win it. I'm not big-headed but I'm very confident in my ability, I'm very confident in my fitness," Meehan said.

"I believe I know Shane's style well enough to counter everything he does and try to make him do want I want him to do.

"It's do or die. One of us is going on and one of us is not. But I have a lot of edges . . . my height and reach, my speed and power.

"I've put in close to 80 rounds of sparring. I've done a lot of work. I do feel confident."

Also Quarrie vs Meehan:


https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/63339316/Quarrie-plans-to-give-Meehan-boxing-lesson

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