Unbeaten Fleming carries the mantle for Australian indigenous boxers

Australia’s undefeated indigenous boxer Paul Fleming is on a mission to win his next three fights and set up the opportunity to capture a WBC world title.

And to show how confident he is, Fleming will put both his WBC Asia and WBC Australasian regional title belts on the line when he faces undefeated Filipino challenger Charly Suarez in St Marys, Sydney, on March 15.

Fleming comes from the small town of Tully in outback northern Australia where he first started boxing at 12 years of age in 2001.

With an unbeaten record of 29 wins and 1 draw, Fleming is carrying the mantel for all the great Australian indigenous boxers who have preceded him: Aboriginal boxing legend Lionel Rose who unified the world titles (1964-76), superstar rugby league players and champions of the boxing ring Tony Mundine and his son Anthony Mundine Jr., Dave Sands inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame as “the greatest boxers never to have won a world title”, 2005 world champion Robert Peden, Wally Carr champion of six divisions in a stellar 15-year career, and Daniel Geale who won two unified titles before losing a world title to Gennady Golovkin at Madison Square in 2014.

While Fleming takes  confidence from his 29 winning streak, he accepts as “a matter of fact” that he has been ignored on the international stage.

“By now I should have become a world champion. I see it as the way of the boxing world, and the cards didn’t fall my way. But I feel my destiny is in the winning circle, as the coming world champion.“

His quest for world champion status starts with his fight against Filipino Charly Suarez in St Marys, Sydney, on March 15.

“Suarez, like me, hasn’t been beaten. This is where our paths come together – here in Sydney – and I am ready.”

Fleming said he won’t be underestimating Suarez who remains unbeaten with a 14-0 record.

Suarez at 34 years of age is around the same age as Fleming, but is almost 4 inches shorter in size.

Fleming, a fist-piercing Southpaw, said he would take advantage of having a longer reach.

“All my fights have been about fighting with a winning strategy,” he asserts. “If Suarez comes at me I have a counter punching strategy, and if he stays away then I will come at him.”

Of Fleming’s 29 successive wins 18 were KOs.

Whilst Fleming respects Suarez for taking the fight in Sydney, he knows that the suburb of St Marys – where the event is scheduled – has a strong contingent of Philippines expats.

“He’ll have plenty of supporters.”

Fleming has spent several months sparring with A class fighters that include the aspiring world championship Maloney brothers.

And last weekend he notched up competitive rounds with Andrew Moloney who will contest the world title within three months.

“Neither of us held back while sparring.” he said.

Fleming is on a three fights schedule for the remainder of the year with the sole intention of securing a world championship, or at least a world title shot.

“The cards are falling into place and I’ll be boxing with good hands.”

With 23 years ring experience, Fleming knows that the window is closing for him to win a world title.

What’s been so good me in boxing is that I have not been beaten, not once. I haven’t been bashed, and I have gained a lot of experience. I’ve fought against the best in Australia and now it’s time to break out and take on the best in the world.”

Fleming will put his WBC Asia and WBC Australasia belts on the line and Suarez will put up his Asian titles.

“The winner takes all,” said Fleming,.“After this the world title will be one big step closer.”