Check
Hook Boxing
Speaks
to Joel Brunker.
A Q&A with Joel
Brunker by Check Hook Boxing forum members.
Australian 27-0 undefeated featherweight contender
'Aussie' Joel Brunker recently took time out for a Q&A with members of the
Check Hook Boxing Forum.
Joel has been steadily climbing up the rankings in all sanctioning
organisations. Brunker is rated No. 4 WBO, No. 6 IBF, No. 13 WBA, and No. 15
WBC respectively. Joel made his US debut in 2012 and 2014 could be a big year
with Joel readying himself for a future world title shot.
Thanks for taking the time to do this for us Joel:-
Gary
Russell jr and Vasyl Lomachenko are fighting for the vacant WBO FW title.
Will you and Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo be fighting for a title shot at the winner?
My team are currently working on my next fight as we
speak. I can't reveal too much as nothing is confirmed but we are pushing for a
title eliminator and there are a few names in the mix as possibly opponents.
Joel
you went to the Olympics in 2004, and the guy who eliminated you went on to win
a medal.
I'd like to know what it was like for you going off to Greece to represent your
country, and whether the coaching system for the Aussie boxing team provided
the fighters with the support they required when training and competing in
their events?
The Olympics were probably the highlight of my career
so far. I had only been boxing for three years when I went so I was still
pretty green. I did my training with the AIS and they were a great support for
the fighters that went over.
Who
is your major sponsor Joel.
Clifford flooring, Killa boxing, Ubox and Vitamin King
I
saw you lose a couple of decisions to Paul Fleming as an amateur. One at
Fleming’s own gym tournament in Queensland that you should have got the
decision. Would you be interested in fighting Paul Fleming as a pro, and how do
you think you could beat him?
Paul and I have fought five times in the amateurs, we
both won some and lost some but that was long time ago. I think Paul and I are
going in different directions in our careers. Plus he is a super featherweight
now and I make featherweight comfortably. Anything in the future is a
possibility but it is not likely at the moment
I
understand you and Billy Dib have sparred on numerous occasions.
A few of us, myself included would like to see you fight Billy (and give him a
caning).
How likely is this?
A fight with Billy was something I have always wanted
for the Australian public. It has been talked about but that is as far as it
has gotten so far. It might be something that could happen in the future but
right now I am focused on putting myself in a position to fight for a world
title.
You
are undefeated after 27 fights. A great platform to work off. Who do you rate
your toughest opponent so far?
That is hard to say. The slipperiest and hardest to hit
would be Mike Oliver. The best technical boxer would be Ivan Hernandez. Biggest
war was Riovalle. Hardest hitter would be Adonis Aguelo
What
are your plans for the rest of 2014?
Do your plans involve fighting in the
U.S or would you prefer to fight a local opponent in a big local show?
My plans are to take on any fight I need to so I get
myself a number 1 spot to fight for a title. I will be fighting in America, it
is where the big fights and exposure is. I will hopefully have my next fight
organised soon.
What was it
like fighting and beating Mike Oliver last up in the States on the Daniel Geale
vs Darren Barker card?
Also. Did you get to see the main event? If so what were your thoughts on
Geale's loss mate??
It was great! I was not happy
with how I fought in that fight but I was happy to be on a big card in America.
I was disappointed for Geale, I thought he won that fight.
What is the
best advice you could give to young blokes in the amateurs?
Train hard! Be the first in the
gym and last to leave. Whenever you feel like you are training your hardest
always try and give that little bit extra.
What do you
think of Lee Selby? Selby's promoter Eddie Hearn has mentioned you as a
possible opponent many times, has the fight been offered?
I have sparred Selby before he is
a good fighter. No fight has ever been offered to me but it is a fight that
could happen down the track.
Is there a
particular world title you have your eye on at the moment? WBA? WBC? IBF? WBO?
Or is it just a matter of where the opportunity might arise for you?
Whoever gives me the shot at a
belt I will go for
You've had 2
fights in the US, the first was a devastating 1st round KO, and the second was
a solid UD against Mike Oliver.
How has the feedback been from the US
considering the good results you've had?
I have been welcomed by the US
fan base. I think they really enjoy my come forward fighting style.
The Mexican Edgar
Riovalle must have been a wild man? Head clashes and all.
He was a tough one but all
Mexicans are. I felt in control of that fight but after the head clash I
couldn't see his left hooks coming, too much blood in my eye.
Who did you
look up or aspire to be like as a fighter growing up?
Definitely Sugar Ray Leonard
Who are some
of the guys you have sparred with and thoughts on their abilities?
Too many to name. One of the
toughest and under rated fighters I have sparred would be Ranee Ganoy.........
so much power, he is a real monster of a fighter
Who is your favourite
active fighter?
Miguel Cotto
Who is your favourite retired fighter?
Sugar Ray Leonard
Joel even
recently you've fought a lot of your bouts out of your hometown, Richmond NSW.
Is this important to you to keep staging fights there?
I love to fight in
Richmond in front of friends and family but I need to take fights in the US,
that is where you make a name for yourself.
In your US
pro debut in 2012 you cut Carlos Fungenicio in half in the first round with a vicious
body shot KO. How was that whole experience? Walk us through the fight?
In that fight with
Carlos I hadn’t even settled in yet. I didn’t go into the fight with the
intention to go for a fast KO it just happened that way. I wanted to show the
fans more of what I had but you can’t argue with a first round KO. I trained in
America for 8 weeks for a 100 second fight. I guess it goes to show that if you
train hard you fight easy
If you
weren't a fighter, what would you be doing?
I would definitely be
a runner. I do heaps of it in my training and I have developed a real love for
it
Who would
you prefer to fight out of Orlando Salido and Evgeny Gradovich?
Either really. Salido
because he is a veteran and he would be an amazing test but Gradovich because he
is the new kid on the block and is a tough fighter. I guess that doesn’t answer
your question but since Salido has gone up weight I will say Gradovich
You have
only had 2 fights outside of Australia both in America. Do you have any plans
to fight in the UK or Europe and increase your profile slightly more?
If the right fight is
offered in the UK I will be on the next plane there. I know a lot of people
want me to fight Selby and when the time is right it may happen. I think at the
moment we are both just chasing title shots.
What's your
walk around weight is and do you think you will stay at 126?
It depends, if I am
not training for a fight I can be walking around at 145. I make 126 really
comfortably so I think I will stay at this weight for now.
Your last
fight was 9 months ago.
I'm guessing this is a longer break than you'd like, are you having difficulty
finding suitable opponents, or something else?
I think I heard you were planning to be
on the Daniel Geale/Garth Wood undercard, did a fight fall through or am I
having a lend of myself?
It has been a long
break for me but I think my body needed it. Since I turned pro late in 2008 I
have had 27 fights, that is more than 5 a year on average. I was looking at a
world title fight when Geale v Wood was happening but it didn’t end up
happening. My team are very close to booking me in my next fight and it should
be a big one if all goes to plan so stay tuned.
That's
fantastic Joel. I think you're answered all our questions. It would be great to
get you in again to do a Q&A down the track but once again, thanks for your
time.
Feel free to drop by any time to drop some facts or an opinion.
No worries at all, thanks for having me.
Check Hook Boxing would like to thank Joel for his time
in answering all the questions asked of him. We wish him well for the future…
