Wednesday 2 September 2015 16:07, UK
Joel Brunker is the latest Aussie to raid English shores in an attempt to carry off a title.
The featherweight from New South Wales is taking on Commonwealth title holder Josh Warrington on Saturday looking to atone for his sole career defeat at the hands of another British boxer.
To whet your appetite for the fight, live on Sky Sports, here's a little bit more about Brunker...
First thing's first... where does he come from?
He was born February 22, 1986 in Richmond. Not the one by the Thames but next to the Hawkesbury River, north east of Sydney down in New South Wales. Which is basically south east Australia.
That sounds a long way to come for a fight! How far is it?
Well give Bunker credit because it is a whopping 10,488 miles between his Richmond and Leeds. In fact had this been taking place in Las Vegas, it would've been a shorter trip for him. The mecca of boxing is a mere 7,734 miles away!
So has Brunker ever boxed in Las Vegas?
No, but he has boxed outside his homeland three times in 29 fights. The first time was in the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York in October 2012 when he KO'd Carlos Fulgencio in 80 seconds. Brunker then fought in Atlantic City 10 months later when compatriot Daniel Geale had his WBC middleweight title taken off him by Britain's Darren Barker.
That's only two, where was the third one?
Brunker was here in England last October when he took on Lee Selby at the O2, on an AJ night. Brunker was game and was anything but a pushover only to be stopped in nine.
Was that his toughest test so far then?
Probably, as Lee was crowned a world champion in his next fight. Brunker has been in with Ivan Hernandez, a former super-flyweight world champion who has challenged for the world super-bantamweight title three times - only for Israel Vasquez, Toshiaki Nishioka and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr to prove too good.
So has Brunker done anything of note aside from that?
Well he made the 2004 Olympics in Athens, which should always be applauded. He lost in the first round to eventual bronze medallist Aghasi Mammadov when the bantamweight gold went to Guillermo Rigondeaux, and when Yuri Gamboa, Andre Ward, Alexander Povetkin, Odlanier Solís and Mario Kindelán win golds too, you know it was a vintage year!
He must have been a fairly decent amateur then?
Australia is not bursting at the seams when it comes to boxers but Brunker was part of the successful - and still successful - Australian Institute for Sport, so he must've done something right. Of course ours in Sheffield produces the likes of Luke Campbell and Anthony Joshua. Australia have never had a gold medal winner in Olympic boxing but Grahame Cheney won a light-welterweight silver in Seoul 1988 and Reginald 'Snowy' Baker a middleweight silver in London... in 1908!
So Australia has had some sporting success over here, then? What chance Brunker to do the same?
Warrington himself knows this is going to be the toughest test of his career so far. He is expecting Brunker to come forward, throw plenty of punches but knows there is more to him than that.
I can see Brunker upsetting the apple cart. The way I boxed him, with the movement, I didn't let him look as good as he is
How do the bookies see it going?
Well it's no surprise that Warrington is the strong favourite at 2/9 while Brunker, if Aussies have any money left over from their Ashes losses, is a nice 3/1. The stalemate is the usual 22/1.
Not to be confused with?
Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tony Dorigo or Jacob Burns. They might not look like Brunker, but they made their way at Leeds. Will Joel do the same?
