Boxing: Ex-world champ backs Hopoate to knock McCall out

Former league player John Hopoate is fighting Oliver McCall for the IBA intercontinental heavyweight title on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - Former world boxing champion Lamon Brewster has dubbed rugby league convert John Hopoate as "strong as a bull" and a big chance to knock out Oliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall in this weekend's bout in Las Vegas.

Hopoate put the finishing touches to his world-title preparations at Los Angeles' famed Fortune Gym on Sunset Boulevard on Monday with intense back-to-back sparring sessions against Brewster and another veteran American heavyweight, Lionel Butler.

The winner of the Hopoate-McCall bout will claim the vacant International Boxing Association Intercontinental heavyweight title.

"He's as strong as a bull," Brewster, with sweat dripping down his face, said after three rounds where both fighters landed heavy blows.

"I tried to move him and he moved me so you can tell he played rugby. He'll do really well against McCall."

Butler, a veteran of 40 professional bouts, including fights against Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, Chris Byrd and McCall, predicted Hopoate would knock McCall out.

"I think he'll stop McCall," Butler, who beat McCall in a split decision in 1990, said after a four-round sparring session.

"I've been boxing for 16 or 17 years and I've been in there with some of the best, but Hopoate definitely has potential.

"He's strong, aggressive and keeps coming forward. I think he is going to do real good."

Hopoate, a 35-year-old former Australian and NSW representative rugby league star and stalwart of Manly-Warringah in the 1990s, had his first professional fight in 2006.

He said he can't believe his meteoric rise in boxing and will be fighting McCall at Las Vegas' Orleans Hotel and Casino on Saturday (NZT).

McCall, 44, shocked the boxing world in 1994 when he knocked out Lennox Lewis in the second round at London's Wembley Stadium.

"He's got a lethal right hand," Hopoate said of McCall.

"It is one thing I am going to try and stay away from.

"Even at the age of 44, his right hand is lethal and he comes with a lot of experience."

McCall made headlines again in the re-match with Lewis in 1997 when he refused to fight and sat in the corner of the ring in tears. Referee Mills Lane was eventually forced to award the fight to Lewis.

Hopoate laughed when asked if he planned to make McCall cry in Las Vegas.

"Well I hope he cries," Hopoate said.

"Then the fight stops and I win.

"I don't think he will. Back then he had a couple problems, but they are all over now."

The Hopoate-McCall fight will be streamed exclusively live around the world on www.secondsout.com.au Saturday 3pm NZT.

- AAP