Tonga’s World Cup star Siosiua Taukeiaho is set to make a shock debut in heavyweight boxing before Christmas, and has been secretly among Britain’s best fans between Cup matches in the build-up.
Following the success of crossover fighters such as Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams, two-time NRL Premiership winner Taukeiaho is preparing for the move, aged 30.
Speaking to Fox Sports Australia overnight from Middlesbrough, where the Tongans face the Cook Islands in their next pool match, the 108kg enforcer revealed he is currently working with the former middleweight champion of AMB Martin Murray.
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Between Cup matches, the Tongan powerhouse meets with Murray not only to learn from the former British, Commonwealth and interim world champion, but also to avoid the current coach’s stable of rising prospects .
Should his Cup campaign end anywhere before the final, Taukeiaho will quickly return Down Under to appear on the November 23 card headlined by Paul Gallen and Justin Hodges.
However, if Tonga make it to the last game as they hope – “and this is the best side we’ve ever had,” says the prop, it will be a debut in December.
Siosiua Taukeiaho charges the Roosters. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images Source: Getty Images
While Taukeiaho has been preparing for his boxing crossover since June, the prop reveals that his partnership with Murray was only finalized a day before he left for England.
He said it was during a meeting with boxing director Pete Mitrevski, who oversees rising stars Harry Garside and Sam Goodman, that he decided to fight this year.
Taukeiaho says Mitrevski praised his power and speed, stressing he was as good as Australia’s other footballers-turned-fighters.
“And I’ve been told a few times by guys in pads that I have power,” the prop acknowledged when pushed into his conversation with the trainer who was a former boxer.
“But I just thought that coaches tell all their fighters that.
“But the day before I went to the World Cup, I had a session with Pete (pads, bag work, stuff like that) and we had a good chat afterwards about I take this seriously because of my power and speed.
“Before, I had never taken boxing seriously. It was more about staying in shape for football season.
“But Pete said I could do things in this sport. And after hearing that, it made me realize it might be a good opportunity to challenge myself, to chase the dream.”
After eight years and 168 games for the Roosters, including back-to-back NRL premierships from 2018, the outfit is heading to the French Catalan club in 2023.
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However, he says the plan will be to return Down Under after each season, if the Catalans give him the green light, to pursue summer boxing bouts.
Elsewhere, South Sydney prop Daniel Fifita is another leaguer who could feature on the November card that will double as Gallen’s farewell.
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“Obviously, my main goal is to win this World Cup with Tonga,” stressed Taukeiaho. “That’s why we’re here.
“And even though we haven’t played our best football yet, we feel it’s getting closer.
“I think this is the best team we’ve ever had.
“But I’ve also been working with Martin here so if the November fight goes ahead, I’m ready.
When it comes to potential opponents, Taukeiaho said he’s happy to pitch against anyone, or almost anyone.
Asked if he could ever envision a matchup with SBW, he said, “Sonny is like a brother to me.
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“When I moved to the New Zealand Roosters he was already there and he really looked at me and mentored me, he did that for all the Polynesian boys.
“So fighting him, that’s never going to happen.
“He has pushed so many Polynesian boys to follow their dreams, and I am one of them.
“I have a lot of respect for him.”