NEW FACES: WILL TOMLINSON

Vital Statistics:

Age: 24
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Weight class: junior lightweight
Height / reach: 5-6 / 68 inches
Amateur record: 82-14
Turned pro: 2008
Pro record: 13-0-1, 10 knockouts
Trainer: Lincoln Hudson
Managers: Fidel Tukel
Promoter: Fidel Tukel

Best night of pro career: Scored an exciting knockout over Pennsylvania’s Verquan Kimbrough on the Roy JonesJr.-Danny Green undercard in December of 2009. Used constant pressure and thudding body shots to set up a classic left hook-right hand combination that ended matters in the third round.

Worst night of pro career: Suffered a cut in April 2009 bout against Filipino Junmar Dulog , forcing a technical draw in three. Tomlinson was ahead on all three cards at the time of the stoppage caused by repeated headbutts.

Next fight: Faces Dulog in a rematch in Sydney on July 22. Tomlinson aims to become only the fourth man to halt Dulog inside schedule.

Why he’s a prospect: Tomlinson combines a solid work ethic and thudding power with a fan friendly style; has deceptive speed and sets up combinations with clever angles and feints. Seems unusually powerful for the weight and intimidates opponents with heavy hands from the first bell onwards. Excellent conditioning has seen him negotiate the twelve round course without a detriment in technique or output.

Why he’s a suspect: Tomlinson is susceptible to cuts, having suffered skin damage in the Dulog bout and most recently in his 12-round win over unbeaten Chilean Oscar Bravo in April. Trainer Lincoln Hudson has been inculcating defensive drills over attrition in recent bouts to minimize damage. Needs to learn further how to cut off the ring on runners and be patient in waiting for counter punching opportunities.

Story lines: Born in the small country town of Bairnsdale,Victoria Tomlinson turned to boxing at age 12 out of boredom and admits he didn’t take the sport seriously until his late teens. Won Gold at the 2007 Oceania championships and national titles and competed in the World Amateur championships. At a tournament outside of Sydney later that year met up with current manager Fidel Tukel who felt that the hard punching style of Tomlinson would be more conducive to the pro game. Relocated to the inner west suburb of Blacktown in early 2008 and made his paid debut in July. Trains twice a day at Blacktown Hit Squad gym which boasts a state of the art sports science facility used by other Sydney boxers and elite Australian Institute of sports athletes. Lincoln Hudson has also encouraged further learning and development with fellow trainers. In 2009 Tomlinson trained in Miami under Cuban maestro Ismael Salas tutelage and sparred daily with Yuriorkis Gamboa, Breidis Prescott and the Velasquez brothers (Juan Carlos and Ivan). While in Sydney Tomlinson also gets world class sparring from Lovemore N’dou, Chris John, Billy Dib and Lenny Zappavigna. His management are setting a rigorous ring schedule with seven fights in 2009 and a similar number set of bouts set for this year; Fidel Tukel is in the midst of securing an IBO title bout for August.

Fight-by-fight record:

2008

July 4 Jerry Spanidis KO 2
Sept 7 Troy Glover KO 3
Nov 12 Ekarat Kiatpiaboom KO 1
Dec 12 Jurland Ceniza KO 2

2009

Feb 11 Percy Samson KO 3
Mar 6 Kane Buckley KO 4
Apr 4 Junmar Dulog TD 3
May 15 Matt Powell KO 5
Aug 14 David Wiremu KO 3
Sep 25 Roel Mangan KO 4
Dec 2 Verquan Kimbrough KO 3

2010

Feb 13 Flash Villacura W8
Apr 14 Oscar Bravo W 12
May 20 Ramon Esparanza W.disq.4