Angelo Di Carlo talks Law’s progress, title fight with MacKenzie

QUEENSLAND promoter Angelo Di Carlo has promoted some of the best domestic dust-ups seen in recent years. His shows, which until recently were a staple at the Mansfield Tavern, were a cant-miss in terms of evenly matched fights with an electric atmosphere.

 
Although the venue may have changed to the eloquent Eaton Hills Function Centre, the promise of another action-packed night certainly hasn’t.

 
Di Carlo’s formula – pitting local talent against each other for the Australian title – is a tried and tested method that has worked seamlessly over the last decade. This time around, Sydney’s unbeaten prospect Kye ‘Frenzy’ MacKenzie will defend his Australian super featherweight title against a resurgent Waylon ‘Outlaw’ Law, in a battle of the Indigenous prodigies.

“I truly believe that Australia has a massive amount of potential. However, unfortunately these young men don’t always get the opportunity to show case their hard work and talent,” said Di Carlo in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
“I am continually breeding fighters to challenge themselves against fellow Australians. My personal passion and what gives me the most joy is to bring the best out of each and every Australian fighter and I hope to do so now and into the future.”

 
Law, 21, the winner of three straight fights is going through a resurgence of late, having changed gym and trainer in the shape of Deception Bay Boxing and it’s head coach Damien Smith. The new partnership has already produced success, with Law (8-5, 2 KOs) returning to his winning ways – and in impressive fashion too – none of which surprises Di Carlo.

“To be honest, I have kept a close eye on Waylon since he was a young boy. I was always impressed with his talent,” Di Carlo continued. “Unfortunately, he took fights on short notice and well above his current fighting weight, which led him to be less successful then what he is today under his new trainer Damien Smith.”

 
“I think more than anything the fact that he has a full-time trainer now and plenty of sparring with his team mate Jason Cooper.” He continued.

 
“The talent was always there he just needed the commit one hundred percent to the sport which he has now done. Damien, as a trainer, has done an excellent job of exposing Waylon’s natural talent and has shaped him into a disciplined fighter.”

 
On the other hand, MacKenzie, 22, has done everything right in his short but successful professional career. MacKenzie (9-0, 7 KOs) has lifted state and national honours, but has done so against limited opposition. Many in boxing circles see MacKenzie as a future world title challenger – but with that said – he is yet to face anyone of Law’s quality or with Law’s momentum.

 
MacKenzie, who trains out of the Ultimate Training Centre in St Marys with Lincoln Hudson has had limited exposure to television audiences. Unlike Law, who has been a regular on Di Carlo’s televised cards, MacKenzie has only fought on live television once – a brief second round stoppage over Dominic Shchukin last September. The fight was billed as revenge for MacKenzie and his team, as Shchukin flattened stablemate Bashir Sadiq one fight earlier.

 
“To date, Kye has done a great job of dismantling the people that have been put in front of him. Come Wednesday night Waylon will be the best opponent he has faced since his professional debut.” explained Di Carlo.

 
“At this point Kye has shown me great potential and Wednesday night is his opportunity to potentially take his career to the next level. All in all, we have two extremely talented Indigenous fighters who have an opportunity to showcase their skills to Australia and I am very excited to see this fight.”

 
 
Photo: Triple Impact/Cyclone Promotions