Brock Jarvis is finally back throwing punches – and readying for an all-Australian blockbuster – after quietly undergoing two major operations since splitting with his legendary coach, Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech.
Now eight months on from the split which rocked Aussie boxing, Jarvis is back working with an overhauled shoulder, two pins in his foot and a new trainer in Brian Doyle – the former Kostya Tszyu sparring partner who doubles as striking coach for UFC superstar Robert Whittaker.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, the promising 26-year-old has also opened up on his dramatic move to middleweight – eight divisions higher than where he first made headlines – and a possible showdown with Queensland puncher Issac Hardman.
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Earlier this week, Jarvis returned to light training for a 2024 comeback he says will see him campaigning “anywhere from welterweight to middleweight”.
“So whoever wants it in those divisions, they can get it,” the fighter said.
“Right now, that’s how I feel.
“Obviously given I’m coming off two surgeries, I’m a bit light because I haven’t been able to train.
“(Laughs) I’m actually skinny, right now.
“But I’m not worried about fighting at middleweight.
“I know I can push my body, get it wherever I need to.
“And while eventually I will sit down and work out exactly where I want to campaign, at the moment I’m thinking anywhere from welterweight to middleweight.”
Back in April, Jarvis shocked the national boxing scene when he split with Fenech, a decision the latter described as “the hardest of my life”.
Almost immediately, the fighter who initially made headlines as a bantamweight then went and reunited with Doyle, the man who first taught him, before heading Stateside for what was supposed to be six weeks of intensive sparring, and learning, in Las Vegas.
During his time in the US however, Jarvis was increasingly troubled by what would eventually be diagnosed as a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
By August, the Sydneysider was undergoing surgery and, given the required recovery time of six months, also decided to seek treatment for an ongoing foot issue — with surgeons eventually finding bone breaks in his left foot.
“So that operation was no joke, either,” he conceded.
“I had breaks in my metatarsals.
“I’d battled with it for years, just put up with it.
“It’s still not quite healed but I’ll be back early next year.
“It won’t take me long to get fight ready.”
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And as for the shoulder, which he tore in a Sydney sparring session shortly after the Fenech split?
“I had no idea what it was,” he shrugged. “Initially, I thought it wasn’t anything too serious and the pain would go away.
“And because I’d already booked the US trip, I decided to go.
“But instead of the pain easing, it got worse.
“I was sparring every day over there and, after a few weeks, it got to the point where I was like ‘f…, something isn’t right here’.
“So I came home, got it checked out … and got told I had a torn labrum.
“Eventually I went under the knife, got everything fixed, and now I’m ready to go.”
So as for who will be first up for a fella whose sole loss was that 2022 stoppage against fellow rising star Liam Paro?
“I know Issac Hardman was calling me out before the surgery,” Jarvis said.
“And I haven’t forgotten about that.
“It’s definitely a fight I’m interested in.
“But there are a lot of guys I’m interested in domestically and I can’t wait to get in there and do a job on them.”
Asked why fighting heavier was better for him, the Sydneysider continued: “I’m not a naturally small guy, so I can sit in those weight classes no problem.
“Plus, I’ve been to the States and sparred guys in those divisions, so I know I’ll sit there.
“Once I get back into training, we will see exactly where my weight is best and go from there.
“But right now I feel like I can campaign welterweight to middleweight, no problem.”
Jarvis also praised his renewed association with Doyle, the former sparring partner for Tszyu and Fenech who was himself trained by the legendary Johnny Lewis.
“When I first started boxing it was with Brian,” Jarvis explained.
“He has three sons and we all went to the same school together and played footy at De La Salle Caringbah.
“His boys also all boxed so I thought I’d give it a go too.
“And it’s crazy now to be back with him, I really feel like the best is yet to come for me.
“Brian has an incredible boxing background and he’s bringing out the best in me.
“His way of training, I love it.
“He’s the right man for the job.”
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Jarvis also revealed he would be doing some work with Whittaker, who is himself gunning for another run at the UFC middleweight title, early in the new year.
“I’ve already watched Rob spar a few times too and look forward to doing some work with him,” Jarvis continued.
“This next year, it’s going to be massive for me.
“I really feel like everything that’s happened has all been for a reason.
“Even this latest shoulder injury has allowed me to just sit back and figure out everything that’s going on.”
