Boxing’s Next Great Or Dud? Aussie Tomlinson Signs With Golden Boy Promotions
Australian Will Tomlinson has signed with a five-fight deal with popular and top-boxing marketing arm, Golden Boy Promotions. He has high hopes he can land bigger fights in 2014 and crash the scene as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
The contract signing marks the Oscar De La Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions continuing efforts to tap the international market as Tomlinson is the face of Australian boxing at the moment.
“Golden Boy is the big league of boxing and I’m very excited to be a part of the team,” the fighter nicknamed “Wild Will” said, who is unbeaten in 22 bouts.
With Golden Boy Promotions, the 27-year-old from Sydney, Australia may land in the big fights and expose him to bigger and better fighters in the superfeatherweight division.
“I believe 2014 is going to be a big year for me, and with Golden Boy in my corner.”
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, agreed and is excited of the new prospect in their stable.
“Will Tomlinson has paid his dues on the Australian circuit and he’s ready for the international stage,” Schaefer said, adding: “He’s one of the top super featherweights in the world and he’s got all the tools to be a superstar in this sport. The fans here in the States will enjoy watching him fight for sure.”
Before turning pro in July 2008, Tomlinson had a great amateur career, including a stint at the 2007 World Championships.
Since turning he has won the Australian, New South Wales State, WBO Asia Pacific, WBO Oriental and IBO Inter-Continental titles.
He won the vacant International Boxing Organizatoin (IBO) superfeatherweight championship in November 2011 via unanimous decision over Alan Herrera and has never looked back defending the title three times against separate opponents since taking the crown.
He has a total of 12 knockouts of his 22 fights (54.5% KO rate) although the last two came via unanimous decision against Irving Berry in November 2012 and Malcolm Klassen in May 2013.
Tomlinson is ranked atop the IBO rankings but unranked in the World Boxing Association, 8th in the World Boxing Council, 5th in the International Boxing Federation and 15th in the World Boxing Organization rankings.
Here are some highlights from Tomlinson via YouTube:
Is he the next big thing in boxing or simply another Australian dud in the sport? Tell us your thoughts in the comment's section below.