Gigantic 122kg, 201cm ex-AFL star Tom Bellchambers made the boxing world sit up and take notice with a stunning win on his debut and a surprise contender from rugby league might be next in line.
The 136-game Essendon life member, 33, was a powerhouse in the ruck over a 13-year career, and he showed impressive toughness to knock three-time Cats premiership great Cameron Mooney out in the third round on the undercard of Joseph Parker and Faiga Opelu’s clash on Wednesday night.
And the Bomber is not finished yet after his strong debut but his next victim may not be the opponent many expect, NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell. The Rabbitoh took to social media prior to the AFL superbout to urge fans to ‘jump on now’ because he will be ‘fighting the winner’ of Mooney v Bellchambers.
Bellchambers withstood a barrage of strong combinations from his 43-year-old rival in the opening rounds before knocking Mooney out with a devastating right-hand that sent the cocky Cat onto the canvas and drew praise from boxing legend Tyson Fury.
NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell (right, pictured with Aussie star Tim Tszyu), an unabashed fan of boxing, declared he would take on the winner of the bout – but will Bellchambers accept? But the man himself wasn’t so sold on the idea.
The footy hardman said prior to the fight that he had a ‘wishlist’ of other AFL players he wanted to fight including fellow Taswegian Mitch Robinson but No Limit Boxing promoter George Rose, an NRL cult hero in his prime, wants him to fight a rugby league star.
‘Ahh, not sure yet … we’ll see what’s next,’ Bellchambers said after his win about the prospect of fighting Mitchell. ‘That (boxing debut) was everything I thought it would be and more.’
One not named Latrell Mitchell, surprisingly. 123kg Eels bulldozer Junior Paulo, who narrowly went down to footy’s most famous boxing convert, Paul Gallen, in 2016 is believed to be a more likely match-up than Mitchell, according to Fox Sports.
He can often be seen ringside for huge bouts, and is an unabashed fan of both participating in and watching the sport. He was seen supporting Aussie star Tim Tszyu backstage before his win over American Tony Harrison in March, and admitted last year that getting in the ring was a challenge he coveted.
Other powerhouse props with boxing experience like Matt Lodge and Nelson Asofa-Solomona are also in the frame – and are a much better physical match for Bellchambers than the comparatively small Mitchell, at 102kg. Mitchell is of course no stranger to boxing.
‘As soon as I learn to throw a punch hopefully if I do that and don’t get 10 weeks [suspension] for it, we’ll go from there,’ he joked at the time. ‘Matty [Rose] has been buttering me up a little bit … (but) in footy, we get people to rely on, to help you out on the field. But when you’re in the ring you’re by yourself – it’s a different mindset.
‘It could be challenging and competitive, which I like to be, and it could be something in the future, maybe.’ Rose was full of praise for Bellchambers after his stunning win, and said it would certainly put a few NRL players (read: Mitchell) back in their place.
‘I’m not sure there will actually be too many boys wanting to put their hand up for this fight. ‘Tom (Bellchambers) recovered from a big shot early and proved he has heavy, heavy hands. The way he fights, it makes the ring feel like a phone box. You just can’t get away from him.’
Bellchambers certainly isn’t resting on his laurels or celebrating his win too hard, either it is full steam ahead, according to Rose. ‘He said he’ll be getting straight back into the gym so hopefully soon,’ the No Limits promoter said of when the footy star could get back into the ring.
‘I know the NRL boys have long considered themselves tougher than those in AFL, but I reckon a few might’ve been sinking down in their chairs watching that fight,’ Rose said after the bout.
