Boxing: Cameron-Hopoate fight back on

Australian heavyweight John Hopoate. Photo / Getty Images

Former rugby league bad boy John Hopoate has had a second change of heart and will fight New Zealand heavyweight Shane Cameron after all, Cameron's corner said today.

Hopoate, 35, had pulled out of the bout, scheduled for Melbourne on March 18, but Cameron's manager, Ken Reinsfield, said the match-up was back on.

"I've just had a call the Australian promoters saying Hoppa wants the fight and it's back on," Reinsfield said.

"I don't know whether it's because I questioned his heart in the weekend papers, or he has been playing mind games and frankly I don't care."

Reinsfield said he was simply glad the fight was back on.

"Hoppa called Shane out some time ago and Shane has answered that call," he said.

"It's good to see Hoppa has finally manned up and wants to fight."

The bout will be the first for both men since they were in action on the same night in Hamilton last October.

In the main event, Cameron suffered a second-round defeat to David Tua, while on the undercard, Hopoate lost his Australian title to David Wilson in a fourth-round knockout.

- NZPA