Adam Wilcock on new role at GCP, fighting abroad and more

 
THIS year, Australian boxers endured a torrid run in major fights in the US.

 
But if Australian promoter Adam Wilcock has his way, the transition from domestic fights to those abroad will be much smoother for Australian fighters than ever before.

 
Wilcock was recently appointed to the position of Vice President of Global Operations for US company Greg Cohen Promotions, meaning the opportunities afforded to current Australian fighters on their roster, including Jarrod Fletcher, Joel Brunker and Dennis Hogan will continue to present themselves in 2015.

 
Having established a working relationship with Cohen for the best part of three years – leading to world title shots for Frank LoPorto and most recently Jarrod Fletcher – Wilcock is looking to continue to create opportunities for Australians abroad.

 
“Greg Cohen and GCP were the promoters for Austin Trout when we took Frank LoPorto over in 2011 for a WBA world title shot,” said Wilcock in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
“Whilst the fight didn’t end in the win for Frank, Greg and I maintained our relationship and friendship.”

 
“I had Diana Prazak make her US debut in on a GCP promotion in January 2012 and we’ve worked together on a number of fighters, both American and Australian ever since.”

 
The increased workload will mean more time spent in the US for Wilcock, who presently manages a large stable of Australian fighters through his promotional company Fightcard Promotions.

 
His promotional outfit had an active schedule in 2014, highlighted by Jarrod Fletcher’s world title fight in New York, as well as a world title eliminator for Joel Brunker in London and a maiden world title win for Shannon O’Connell in Melbourne.

 
Understandably, Wilcock speaks with great enthusiasm about his partnership with Greg Cohen in the US, as well as a soon to be announced domestic partnership that will bring his company forward in the following twelve months.

 
“My time will be split between Australia and the US in 2015. Next year will be a massive year for GCP with some big announcements coming soon, with a busy schedule of promotions I’ll be in the US with those shows,” he continued.

 
“Next year will also be a step forward year here in Australia for Fightcard Promotions.”

 
“We have a Sydney show confirmed for February 13th – being the return of Joel Brunker – and six Victorian shows already scheduled at a new venue, plus the usual co-promotions with Steve Deller in Brisbane.”

 
“To facilitate the extra Victorian workload I’m excited to be teaming up with one of the best and most respected figures in Australian combat sports, an announcement will be coming soon, but I’m over the moon to be teaming up with such a professional operator,” Wilcock added.

 
“Fightcard Promotions is more than just myself, we now have a team working behind the scenes to ensure we keep pushing our boxers and promotions forwards.”

 
“I can’t overstate the opportunities that this will bring, as well as the opportunities that will come to me on a personal level to be involved in a world class boxing operation. This will also mean opportunities for Fightcard boxers, currently headed by Fletcher, Brunker, Hogan and O’Connell, who are all world-class Australians fighters.”

 
While all the details are yet to be officially announced, Wilcock speaks of a pathway for Australian fighters to progress in lower scale fights in the US.

 
With every Australian fighter losing their title opportunity in the US this year, Wilcock cites the need for progression against international fighters who are not of the elite level, but still within the consensus top twenty five of any division.

 
“If embraced properly it will also create opportunities for all Australian fighters,” Wilcock explained.

 
“We’ve seen and experienced the recent run of Australian defeats on the big stage, Australian’s fighting top-ten boxers who are genuinely world-class in massive fights,”

 
“Whilst nobody in their right mind would ever question those boxers for taking those opportunities, the fact remains that the gulf between our best on the very best on a world level is too big. Not insurmountable, but too big to try and overcome in one fight.”

 
“This role can and will result in Australian boxers fighting overseas in fights that offer a bridge to the top, in fights where they get to challenge top thirty and top twenty boxers, not always world title fights.”

 
Although the partnership with GCP is still in its infancy, Wilcock believes that if the idea of progression in the US is embraced by other local promoters, the industry as a whole will benefit.

 
“Time will tell which promoters and managers chose to try to make this work, and those that want to keep living in a bubble,” he said in closing. “Boxing exists outside of Australia and as a whole industry that needs to be embraced and not fought against.”

 
“Australia will only develop world champions with the whole industry looking for answers to the current problems and I believe this role has will offer a ‘real’ solution.”

 
 
Photo: Damien Brierty/Visual Delight