Barry Michael on ‘History in the Making’, Zac Dunn, boxing in 2015

 
FORMER IBF super featherweight champion Barry Michael has always been a fixture in Victorian boxing.

 
Having played a part in a handful of careers in the past two decades, Michael is now attempting to bring through the next generation, in the shape of the unbeaten Zac Dunn as well as talented twins Andrew and Jason Moloney.

 
In an unprecedented move, Michael has put together his fourth show for the year from the heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building, with unified regional titlist Zac Dunn putting his world rating – as well as his recently acquired WBO Oriental bauble – on the line against Argentine veteran Ricardo Marcelo Ramallo.

 
“If you have a look on the internet, professional boxing was transferred to West Melbourne Stadium and then Festival Hall,” said Michael in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
“I actually came up with the idea to bring shows to the Royal Exhibition Building,”

 
“I went to a car show held at the venue and I had a flashback to about 1989, when I boxed an exhibition with Johnny Aba from New Guinea who was Commonwealth champion at the time.”

 
“It really is an awesome venue. There hasn’t been professional boxing held there since 1938,”

 
The other notable fight on the card is the second professional outing of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Andrew Moloney, who will fight for state honours in only his second bout, against Filipino import Jonathan Ligas.

 
Former Australian welterweight champion Fred Tukes will also feature on the card, facing exciting Victorian bruiser Ben Capps in a non-title fight.

 
“The card will have eight fights, including two top jockeys punching on,” Michael explained. “We’ll also have a great local match up with former Australian champion Fred Tukes fighting Ben Capps,”

 
“Commonwealth Games gold medallist Andrew Moloney is also fighting for a professional title in only his second fight, against Jonathan Ligas from the Philippines,”

 
“Zac Dunn is defending his WBO Oriental super middleweight title in our main event against Ricardo Ramallo,” Michael added. “Dunn currently holds a WBO #15 world rating and Ramallo is rated number two in Argentina and at one point, he was recently rated inside of the top twenty in world.”

 
“The winner between Dunn and Ramallo may go inside the top ten by the WBO, either way, expect big things next year for Zac Dunn.”

 
While Michael remained tight-lipped about his plans for next year, he believes his tentative plans will change the boxing industry as we know it. Part of that plan is the continued live streaming of his fights, which is something he will continue to implement for all future cards.

 
“I think live streaming is the way of the future and by selling advertising through the streams, otherwise boxing will die,”

 
“We have big things planned for next year – but it’s all a secret at the moment – but boxing is coming back as a main stream sport in 2015,”

 
Watch tomorrow night’s card live and exclusive on GoFightLive, free of charge.