Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has revealed how his career effectively turned on a secret gym battle with UFC legend Daniel Cormier — who, he says, “punched the f… out of me”.
Already ranked among the UFC’s most colourful athletes, Tuivasa will look to hammer his way back into championship contention against Russian Sergei Pavlovich in Florida this Sunday (AEST).
Despite only losing to No.1 contender Ciryl Gane in September, the Mt Druitt slugger has welcomed a quick turnaround against the big punching rival who “everyone is running from” after earning four straight wins via first round stoppage.
“Which is why they’ve now offered him to me,” Tuivasa laughed from the US this week.
“(Pavlovich) is a big boy.
“Knocking everybody out.
“Everyone is scared to fight him, everyone is running … so they’ve offered him to me.”
While Tuivasa is no stranger to highlight reel KOs himself, the 29-year-old has also spent time this week talking more detailed tactics with Cormier — the Hall of Famer now employed as a UFC analyst.
Tuivasa revealed the mentoring has been ongoing since 2020, when the Aussie — on a run of three straight losses — went and embedded himself alongside the two-division champ at his famed AKA gym
From there, and on the back of several more key changes, the fighter dubbed Bam Bam would go on a run of five straight KO wins.
About from being close mates who “talk a lot of s…”, Tuivasa revealed the pair also speak over the phone about fight tactics and will meet up in Orlando before the Pavlovich showdown.
When interviewed by Fox Sports Australia, Cormier also praised the cult UFC heavyweight who he not only mentors, but considers a friend.
But as for the moment DC really wants to talk about?
“Tai Tuivasa, that’s my boy,” Cormier cackled.
“Although on his birthday once, I kicked his ass.
“Be sure to ask him about that. Say ‘hey, was there a birthday where DC kicked your ass?’”
So this week, well, we asked.
“Oh, DC laid on me, then punched the f… out of me,” Tuivasa cackled of their sparring session.
“So yeah, fun birthday.
“But he and I, we’re similar personalities. That’s probably why we get on so well.
“DC even phoned me today.
“Gets out here Wednesday too so we’ll meet up then.
“We just talk s… a lot of the time.
“But DC also likes to provide input on my fights.
“Brings up the technical stuff – what he thinks will work, and what won’t – while I listen.
“And learning from someone like him, it’s an honour.”
Asked about the Australian now ranked No.4 in the heavyweight division he once ruled over, Cormier says: “People overlook Tai.
“Because he’s so much fun, because they see the dancing, the Shoeys, the coming out to Barbie Girl and all that s… … they miss that the guy is immensely skilled.
“And getting better.
“The Tai Tuivasa I sparred, he doesn’t exist anymore.
“I remember when he first arrived at AKA, he was so open – said ‘dude, nobody taught me to fight. I learned all this s… on the fly.
“Now though, he has the skills to match that warrior who bites down on his mouthpiece saying ‘c’mon mother…er, it’s me or you’.”
Asked his favourite Tuivasa traits, Cormier continued: “The power obviously, and fast hands.
“But Tai has also got so much better with his kicks.
“And sets traps, too.
“Blasts a kick and then ‘boom boom’ with the hands.
“And that can put you out.”
After fighting this Sunday, Tuivasa plans to take six months off, allowing his body to recover after a hectic year. Moving forward, he also plans to spend more time preparing for fights in Australia, so he can be closer to son Carter, six.
AUSSIE STAR’S PLANS FOR NEXT FIGHT
Australia’s IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia has unveiled plans for a Down Under blockbuster with WBO counterpart Lawrence Okolie, while also revealing “nobody knows” how his famed chin will hold up with three plates inside it.
Speaking this week from the Gold Coast, where he is back in training, Opetaia opened up on his plans to unify the division – starting with British superstar Okolie in March.
After claiming the IBF strap against Mairis Briedis in July – and courageously fighting with his jaw broken in two places – the Aussie was immediately called out on Twitter by the undefeated Londoner (18-0)
In his first tweet, Okolie wrote: “I PRAY the Opetaia is on all the smoke! I want that work IMMEDIATELY”.
He then doubled down with: “He’s gotta enjoy tht belts but OMG, what a fight had just been set up. Imma show Bredis (sic) how it’s f…ing done”.
All of which Opetaia is now happy to take up.
Back doing everything but full contact sparring, the champ said he would be ready to go by March, while promoter Dean Lonergan confirmed he was also in talks with the Englishman’s team.
“And it has to be Okolie,” Opetaia said when asked who he wanted next.
“He’s the one.
“Obviously I couldn’t give a f… who I fight.
“Everyone at cruiserweight should be ready.
“Because every fight I have now will be for a title … I want to unify this division.
“But what annoys me annoys is that he (Okolie) has already called me out a few times on social media.
“They’re only words.
“And it means I’m doing something right.
“He knows I’m the best.
“But while he’s a good fighter who has been around, I beat him.”
Quizzed on the state of those four plates placed in his jaw immediately after the title win, Opetaia continued: “In my last operation they removed one of the plates on the right side, because it was causing infection to my wisdom teeth.
“So I’ve still got three plates, and four screws a plate.
“And I’ll fight with that.
“They will stay in there.
“We’ll see how they go. We’ll spare, fight and see if they get in the way but for now they’re staying in there.
Any chance that impacts your ability to take a punch?
“Mate, you know the saying – she’ll be right,” the champ continued with a laugh.
“And my doctors have already told me the jaw should be stronger in the places where the breaks are.
“Which is encouraging.
“But I know nobody has broken their jaw like this before.
“I broke the left side in round three. The right side in round 10, maybe 11.
“It wasn’t even connected to my skull.
‘It’s a buzz’: Tim eyes all four belts | 07:42
“It was sagging down.
“Hanging on by a ligament and muscle.
“So nobody know what will happen.”
Any concerns about that?
“None,” he says simply. “Since breaking my jaw, all I’ve thought about is getting back into the ring and doing what I do best.
“While that title win shows what I’m capable of, I’m only capable of greatness if that’s what I prepare for.”
YOUNG GUNS WANTS TO CALL OUT TSZYU
ADOPTED Aussie Danilo Creati wants to continue his role as the nation’s great boxing spoiler against rising star Nikita Tszyu – but isn’t sure he can even call him out.
After surprising the fight world with his strong showing against Michael Zerafa in Sydney earlier this month, Creati now wants a showdown with the younger Tszyu brother in 2023.
While Zerafa won convincingly on all three scorecards – 98-93, 99-91 and 98-92 – the Italian-born fighter proved so awkward over 10 rounds, and off the back of upsetting Olympian Cameron Hammond, his rival was widely criticised afterwards by Aussie fans.
After moving up a weight class on three weeks notice to fight Zerafa, 32-year-old Creati said he will now go back to super welterweight where the Tszyu boys live.
“And Nikita Tszyu, that would be a nice fight,” Creati said.
“Although it’s not really fair for me to call him out.
“He has fewer fights than me.
“So I have to keep honour, wait for him to call me.
“But I took on Zerafa, a world number one, with three weeks notice — so I would take the Tszyu fight tomorrow.
Zerafa calls out Tszyu after ‘s***’ bout | 01:52
“Obviously they are taking care of him and moving him up.
“So after my performance against Zerafa, maybe they won’t put me in there with him.
“Even in my weight category, there may be no opponents for me in Australia.”
CALLS TO AXE REF FROM HALL OF FAME OVER AUSSIE ROBBERY
JEFF Fenech is demanding referee Carlos Padilla be removed from the Boxing Hall of Fame as legal efforts ramp up to overturn one of the greatest robberies in Australian sports history.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia this week, retired Aussie fighter Nedal ‘Skinny’ Hussein is exploring his legal options following revelations Padilla deliberately acted against him during a 2000 bout against Manny Pacquiaou.
While Hussein wants the bout declared a ‘no contest’, a push is also underway to have him receive the WBC International super bantamweight title on offer that night.
Ref admits cheating to help Pacquiao win | 02:01
The move comes only weeks after the WBC also awarded Fenech a fourth title – 30 years after judges declared his bout with Ghana’s Azumah Nelson a draw.
Ironically, Fenech was in the corner of Hussein the night he dropped Pacquiao in the fourth – only for Padilla to then start a ridiculously long 10 count.
This week, the referee who has officiated many big fights, including the Thrilla in Manilla, incredibly admitted as much and more.
“Which is exactly what I’ve been accusing the guy of for 20 years,” Fenech fired.
“It’s corruption.
“And it’s f…ing disgusting.
“Because I know what he did.
“I was there.
“I saw Manny’s eyes rolling in the back of his head.
“And I knew the count was long.
“If that guy counts to 10, Skinny wins.
“Even if it goes on and he lets us fight properly, Skinny wins.
“But he didn’t.
“And now after years of accusations, the guy just comes out and admits it?
“He should be removed from the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame immediately.
“Because people don’t realise what that does to somebody.
“Yes, a loss is a loss.
“But this decision, it was a huge thing.”
ENGLISH GREAT IN O’CONNELL’S CORNER
QUEENSLANDER Shannon O’Connell has been given a surprise boost on the eve of her all-Australian title fight with Ebanie Bridges — working out with English boxing legend Ricky Hatton.
Set to face IBF bantamweight champ Bridges in Leeds next Saturday, O’Connell is spending her final weeks of camp training at the Hatton gym.
Ironically, the partnership has been organised by Glen Jennings, the man who has overseen the careers of both rising Aussie star Tim Tszyu and his Hall of Fame father Kostya, and is also in the corner of O’Connell.
Back in 2005, Hatton beat Tszyu in would prove to be the last fight in his storied career.
“We’ve just brought Ricky into the picture to give us a hand,” Jennings explained this week from Los Angeles, where Tim Tszyu is preparing for his own world title showdown.
“Shannon is at the Hatton gym for a couple of weeks and she’ll work there right through to weigh-in.
“Which is great because, not only will he work with her, but it’s the atmosphere these guys create, these legends of the sport. ”
