Reds fly-half Quade Cooper said he enjoyed his first professional boxing fight and wants another bout in the ring later this year.
The 24-year-old won his first professional fight spectacularly with a first round knockout of fellow Australian Barry Dunnett on the undercard of former World Cup-winning All Black Sonny Bill Williams's heavyweight title fight against veteran South African Frans Botha in Brisbane on Friday.
An enthusiastic Cooper said he wanted another fight sooner rather than later and foreshadowed a possible return to the ring after his rugby commitments were finished with the Reds and the Wallabies later this year.
"Once I go into the ring there's all the lights, all the cameras --that's where I want to be," Cooper told reporters.
"I said to my guys afterwards I didn't want to get out of the ring.
"I would love to have another one later on this year although I have a big year of rugby.
"So I will just continue to train so when the window of opportunity arrives in December or something like that I will be fighting fit."
Cooper took a couple of blows early from Dunnett before bouncing back to hurt his opponent with a powerful combination, sealing the fight within three minutes.
"I had so much fun, I can't explain the feeling," he added.
"It was such a buzz.
"I am not going to lie but I was doubting whether my skill and athleticism was going to be enough.
"But once you get in there you've just got to trust your ability."
The only downside for Cooper was that his Reds team-mates had missed out on his boxing debut as they were playing in their final pre-season trial against defending Super Rugby champions the Chiefs at the same time as his fight.
Comments
scrumpoacher says...
I fancy a go at him, would have to get in that long line though! The guys an idiot...
Posted 19:31 12th February 2013
jonesy2 says...
like it or not, quade can fight, i was surprised at how fast his hands were and he has a hell of a left jab i would not want to be on the other end of that. love him or hate him you can only respect what he has done, incredible athletes both him and sonny bill, i doubt whether any other athletes in the world could be super rugby champions, international super stars, world champions and professional boxers all at the same time.
Posted 04:45 10th February 2013
ferdie says...
I liked it when the commentator said 'look at that leg work' when QC was running away from a dumpy little guy with no arms!
But good on him, doubt he has the makings of a boxer but he's given it a go in the face of a lot of criticism, and earned his 178 seconds of fame.
Posted 14:53 09th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Poor man's SBW?
At least he can win with a KO ! and no controversy.
Personally I think he just wants a tussle. Couldn't get it from McCaw (not even in his weight division !!!)
Posted 12:22 09th February 2013
passtheball says...
What's Ritchie McCaw doing on his sabbatical?
Posted 12:02 09th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Think he should be better than SBW. Footwork. But by better I mean he can fight people his own age and with only slight disability like short arms or one leg or suchlike.
Posted 11:36 09th February 2013
philipjfry says...
Poor man's SBW?
Posted 09:46 09th February 2013