Brian Amatruda discusses Will Tomlinson, potential Dib blockbuster

 
IF Brian Amatruda says he’s planning to make a fight, more often than not, it comes to fruition.

 
Australia’s leading boxing promoter and property entrepreneur, who is staging two events in the space of 48 hours this weekend, spoke to us about his plans for former IBO super featherweight titleholder Will Tomlinson.

 
Amatruda is promoting a seven-fight card on Friday night, featuring the aforementioned Tomlinson in a WBA affiliated regional title fight against Hero Tito, with a promising undercard featuring a host of prospects.

 
The card will boast undefeated quartet Luke Jackson, twins Andrew and Jason Moloney as well as Cameron Eyes.

 
“These guys are the next generation of Australian fighters,” said Amatruda in an interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
“Most fighters eventually get to a point in the career where they become too expensive for the smaller promoters to put on their cards. Maybe they can do one show, but we tend to help build them to get to the next step,”

 
“So we have decided to blood some of the young guns before they move on to bigger things,”

 
The Melburnian’s company, Big Time Boxing, recently inked a three-fight deal with Tomlinson, 29, with the idea of having the popular lightweight fight three times over the course of six months, concluding in a big fight.

 
While Amatruda was willing to give some details of Tomlinson’s schedule, he will reveal more after Friday.

 
“We will announce Will’s next fight after Friday night, which I plan to put together for August 19,” he explained.

 
It is no secret that the Australian public have long craved a salivating matchup between long-feuding rivals Tomlinson and former IBF featherweight champion Billy Dib. If Amatruda gets his way, we will see it this year.

 
“The idea is then to make a fight with Billy Dib in November,” he elaborated.

 
“Of course a slip-up in this fight or the next is the end of a huge fight for both Will and Billy. The next fight we have for Will in August is a total war in the making and it will be televised live on Fox Sports,”

 
“Will and Billy don’t like each other, that’s a fact,” he concluded. “They’ve agreed to fight at the end of the year,”

 
“If it’s a worthwhile fight – meaning we can secure a title or rating – this will be a huge domestic fight,”

 
“This fight will put the two best fighters in their division against each other. In my opinion, it’s also a career-ending fight for one of them. Both guys want the fight but they need to keep winning so we can make it,”

 
Six months is an eternity in boxing. But Amatruda is hopeful he will secure the biggest domestic fight this year.

 
“Main Event have agreed on the fight, as long as they keep winning. So both know what they need to do.”

 
 
Photo: Marty Camilleri/Marty’s Knockout Photography