BoxingTips

Another strong pick. This time there is a chance of jeopardy; however, I feel that's mitigated. No one is denying that SBW is the better boxer here. His punch resistance is worrying, as shown in his last three fights. However, the fact this is 8, 2-minute rounds means that a career-heaviest Paul Gallen will have to try and quicken his feet up to catch and finish SBW in just 16 minutes. SBW looks in much better shape, making a weight he hasn't made since January 2015. He's been with Team Opetaia and looks to be ready and taking this seriously, more so than an older and already retired Paul Gallen, who arguably has come back for the big payday by the looks of it, hoping he can catch his man. I'm also not completely sold on Gallen's power, but that seems irrelevant enough as SBW has been hurt by lesser punchers.

A pretty solid selection here in high-level amateur Clay Waterman, who lost a close disputed decision against fellow top amateur rival Paulo Aokuso. Both of these will go on and fight at world level. With the difference in class here and the strong record of 9 KOs in 13 wins, albeit not against much, he also dropped tough Lucas Miller twice. Auimatagi, on the other hand, was stopped by both Conor Wallace and Jerome Pampellone, who aren't renowned punchers. I don't feel Waterman and Aokuso are far off them. Add in the inactivity of Auimatagi, who's not fought since 2023, and this looks like a strong bet here for Waterman to get a nice name on his record in good style.