Alex Leapai: "We're going to make history!"
There's no sporting story more romantic than the unlikely underdog boxer with a once-in-a-lifetime shot to become heavyweight champion of the world.
There's no underdog boxer more unlikely than Alex Leapai: the delivery truck driver, father of six, ex-con, choir-singing servant of God from working-class Logan, South-east Queensland, who will fight the second-longest reigning heavyweight champion of all time, Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko, in Germany on April 26.
When they make a movie about Leapai, Australia's first heavyweight champion contender in 106 years, they will need to use computer-generated imagery to render Wladimir Klitschko: actors don't come that big. They say it can't be done. They say Leapai's not got a chance in hell, but he's been to hell - drink, drugs, six months in prison - and survived once before. The Samoan-born 34-year-old has two things in his favour, God and the hardest punch in world boxing, and both of those things can produce miracles.
There's a caveat naysayer fight fans across the world put on their predictions of Leapai's defeat: but 'all he has to do is land one. And then their eyes light up with wonder.
Leapai says. "I know they've written me off but I believe I can beat this guy. He's got two arms, two legs and a heartbeat. Once he feels what I've got it's going to be goodnight.
"I'm ready to take out this world champion. We're gonna make history. Australia's gonna make history."
A fairytale ending for Australia's Cinderella man. What if.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226833648146
There's no underdog boxer more unlikely than Alex Leapai: the delivery truck driver, father of six, ex-con, choir-singing servant of God from working-class Logan, South-east Queensland, who will fight the second-longest reigning heavyweight champion of all time, Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko, in Germany on April 26.
When they make a movie about Leapai, Australia's first heavyweight champion contender in 106 years, they will need to use computer-generated imagery to render Wladimir Klitschko: actors don't come that big. They say it can't be done. They say Leapai's not got a chance in hell, but he's been to hell - drink, drugs, six months in prison - and survived once before. The Samoan-born 34-year-old has two things in his favour, God and the hardest punch in world boxing, and both of those things can produce miracles.
There's a caveat naysayer fight fans across the world put on their predictions of Leapai's defeat: but 'all he has to do is land one. And then their eyes light up with wonder.
Leapai says. "I know they've written me off but I believe I can beat this guy. He's got two arms, two legs and a heartbeat. Once he feels what I've got it's going to be goodnight.
"I'm ready to take out this world champion. We're gonna make history. Australia's gonna make history."
A fairytale ending for Australia's Cinderella man. What if.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226833648146
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