‘Hardest I’ve been hit’: Aussie hailed as future champ

Teremoana Teremoana has been hailed as a world heavyweight champion of the future by the American who’s become the latest quickfire victim in the big Australian’s increasingly impressive unbeaten career.

DeAndre Savage was the 12th opponent to hit the canvas in less than two rounds against Teremoana, who extended his flawless record to 12-0 in the main event at The Star Gold Coast ‌in Queensland on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Olympian Teremoana finished the job in his usual clinical manner, dropping Savage to his knees with a right hand from which the veteran American didn’t fancy rising.

It continued the remarkable sequence in which every one of Teremoana’s pro opponents so far has been dismissed in less than six minutes.

It also left 35-year-old Savage, who had arrived with 11 KO victories of his own and the promise that he’d take Teremoana into a tough new world, admitting afterwards: “That was the hardest I’ve ever been hit.”

Savage also suggested that the fighter with the Cook Island heritage could go on to become a world champion, a prediction that Teremoana’s British promoter Eddie Hearn isn’t about to dismiss.

Hearn confirmed the big Australian would next fight ​on the undercard of the proposed Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury super-bout for which no date or venue has yet been confirmed. It is, though, pencilled in for later this year after being discussed as a prospect for years.

The only person who didn’t seem too happy was Teremoana himself, as he admitted to frustration at his fights continually finishing so quickly.

“I’m really annoyed that these fellas can’t ⁠carry on,” Teremoana said, after Savage became only the third opponent to take him into a second round.

“No one’s been able to make it out of two ​rounds.”

Hearn says Teremoana is the man he believes can hand unbeaten 21-year-old British star Moses Itauma his first defeat as he urges a match-up between the two hot prospects.

Londoner Itauma, who’s knocked out 12 of his 14 pro opponents without ever being taken past the sixth round, challenges Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at the end of the month, with the Australian potentially in the pipeline to challenge if the Briton, as expected, prevails.

“You have got to have that speed of foot and Teremoana has got it, but he has also got that power and he has got that strength,” Hearn says of the Brisbane-based fighter.