Opinion: Cameron - Hopoate

Next Thursday’s showdown between cardboard heavyweight Shane Cameron and former league international and sexual assault enthusiast (yes, violating someone without their consent is considered sexual assault) John Hopoate is a joke. A BAD joke. Unfortunately, this is a fight for the bogans with neither competitor being skillful and both just running on faded name. I can’t tell you how much this kind of ‘circus fight’ disgusts me. I would rather take a sharp kick in the pills than have to pay the $24.95 necessary to watch this bullshit. Bullshit!! If you are excited for this fight then you truly have no appreciation for boxing skill and clearly just like fighting. I am willing to bet that your favourite part of a rugby or (most likely) rugby league game is when they actually stop playing the game you are watching to fight. Which constitutes cheating and requires no skill. Classless. For shame.

Blah blah blah March 18th at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.


SHANE CAMERON: (23-2, 20 KOs)

STRENGTHS
Cameron really has no outstanding attributes, he has ok power but tends to wear guys down rather than being able to out and out blast someone. When he has someone hurt, he can always find another gear to put them away and he is always in good condition.

The Mountain Warrior’s body attack has been his biggest development of late with him able to straight rip Robert Davis (the last opponent has was able to throw a punch against) to the mid.

Although only a comparative strength, he has faced far better opposition than Hopoate with most of his wins being over mid-range journeymen. His stoppage over Bob Mirovic was impressive although Hopoate has also stopped and decisioned the same opponent


WEAKNESSES
Cameron has middle of the road skills which are only saved by his conditioning and his belief that he is better than what he really is. I have never seen a fighter dupe a public so bad into believing they were going to be something. Unfortunately, the bogan public are only too willing to believe that a white fighter is going to be great. He truly is “The Great White Hope for the Great White Dopes”.

Coupled with his average skills, Cameron’s punch resistance falters somewhere after something stronger than a wet fart. Ahunanya was able to counterpunch Cameron well and just wore him out with only mild power. Tua, although one of the most powerful heavyweights ever, barely even set his feet when he punched and Cameron was on the deck. He was lucky to escape the first round. If that isn’t bad enough, Cameron bleeds in strong winds and has been fortunate on a couple of occasions not to be stopped on cuts.

Anyone who tells you that Cameron is anything more than a one-dimensional journeyman is a delusional fool.



JOHN HOPOATE (12-4, 11 KOs)

STRENGTHS
Hopoate’s major attribute is his power, although he just blows everything in the first couple of rounds. He tends just to bull people around the ring, relying on his early strength.

Other than this, well….um….he was Australian Heavyweight Champ, which is something (I guess?).


WEAKNESSES
Hopoate’s record is a complete illusion. Complete. Don’t believe me? Well, let’s “break it down one time”. The overall record of Hopoate’s beaten opponants stands at 107-109-9, not even a winning record and includes four guys who had never even won a fight. That’s not even the worst news, of all of Hopoate’s conquerers (with an accumulated 86-38-2 record), only two have a winning record. He lost a decision to the 1-4-1 Brian Fitzgerald and then was ktfo’d in one round by a fighter on debut (although he was the former Australian kickboxing champ). That’s right. Bitch.

Hoppa’s power is also deceptive as he tends just the blow out early, he only has one stop after five rounds and Colin Wilson, who knocked him on his face last October, only had to survive the opening three before he could blast his poorly conditioned foe.

Aside from never beating anyone of note and having “bully power”, Hoppa’s chin is equally as crap. Of four losses, he has been stopped in three with 45 year old Oliver McCall the only notable conquerer.



PREDICTION
If Cameron can’t blast Hoppa out within a couple, then he is worse than I give him credit for. Hopoate’s name isn’t even synonymous with boxing and presents an uncouth bully with no skill to speak of. Cameron’s grit and (comparative) class shouldn’t see this one go further than the third round.