Alex Leapai selects sparring partners for Klitschko fight

Solomon Haumono, a former rugby league star, will join Sydney-based Tongan Bowie Tupou and Las Vegas-based Romanian giant Razvan Cojanu as Alex Leapai starts three months of hard preparation for his historic fight world title fight with Wladimir Klitschko. "All three are great sparring partners,'' said Leapai's trainer Noel Thornberry. "Solomon is very fluent in his style and has a great right hand like Klitschko. Bowie is 120kg of muscle and very strong to work in close and Razvan is 2m tall, like Klitschko, with good skills. "Together the three will give Alex fantastic preparation.'' Haumono was hoping to fight unbeaten Sydney heavyweight Lucas Browne in Melbourne on April 3 in the first all-Aussie Commonwealth heavyweight scrap since Peter Jackson beat Paddy Slavin 122 years ago. But Browne's promoter, the British boxing legend Ricky Hatton said: ``While negotiations with Haumono's team have taken place, the fight was never finalised. "Hatton Promotions' Australian representatives have been informed by Main Event Pay Per View that the (Browne-Haumono) bout could be given PPV status in the near future, but a suggested date of April 3 isn't suitable as the network's schedule is already fully booked. "As such, we feel that a Browne v Haumono fight should take place at a time which is more financially beneficial to all parties concerned. However, it must be stressed that Haumono is just one of the options available to Browne at this time.'' "Following his stunning fifth round stoppage of England's Richard Towers in November, Lucas is the only boxer guaranteed a shot at the Commonwealth title vacated by David Price.'' Browne is looking at big money fights in Britain against two of their leading heavyweights Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/boxing-mma/solomon-haumono-joins-alex-leapais-sparring-team-ahead-of-world-title-fight/story-fnii0bqi-1226803915513