Tevita vs Gus: Gould gives Pangai boxing plans blessing, with one catch
Tevita Pangai jnr was given Phil Gould’s blessing to have his first professional fight before reporting for pre-season duty at his new club Canterbury – but there was just one condition.
“‘Gus’ said if I wanted to take the fight, I’d have to fight him first,” Pangai said of the Dogs’ general manager of football’s tongue-in-cheek command.
“Lucky the borders are shut and I’ll have to fight him after December 4 when I jump in the ring.
“I was training up here [in Brisbane] when I realised I had three missed calls from Gus. When I phoned him I asked him about boxing. He was fine, just as long as I could beat him first.
“Luckily for me, the borders are still closed. Gus just told me to keep my left hand busy. He’s obviously done some sort of boxing in the past.”
Pangai, a heavyweight at 114kg, was only confirmed to be jumping in the ring on the December 4 Tasman Fighters’ card against Daniel Joyce at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall this week.
While most people appreciate his love and respect for “brothers” Sonny Bill Williams and Anthony Mundine, Pangai said he had no plans to follow their lead and pursue boxing full-time.
“I know I’m a novice and I won’t go calling out Paul Gallen or Victor Radley or anyone,” Pangai said.
“It’s just a good way to stay in shape because us big boys can blow out in the off-season. This has allowed me to stay focused.
“When I take on a new challenge I give it 100 per cent. I’m working with my physio [Nathan Carloss] and trainer [Andrew Croll], I’m training six days a week with [boxing trainer] Chris McCullen at Logan Boxing, so I won’t only be fit for the fight, I’ll be fit for when I return to pre-season training.”
Pangai was able to ramp up his boxing once he completed rehabilitation work on his knee, which denied him a spot in the grand final for Penrith.
He was not meant to start training with the Bulldogs,
who signed him to a three-year $2.2 million deal in July, until December 15, but “I’ll fight on the Saturday, catch the first plane to Sydney on the Sunday and start training on the Monday”.
Pangai said the fact he was able to make such impact in his short stint at Penrith reminded him of the impact he can have at Belmore.“Twelve months ago I was working in a nursery and almost getting sacked by the Broncos, so to play my little part in Penrith winning the grand final, I was so happy for the boys,” Pangai said.
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“I had a close relationship with the coaching staff, which is when I play at my best. I loved playing under Wayne Bennett [at Brisbane], and I had so much respect for [Penrith’s] Ivan Cleary and Cameron Ciraldo.
“I was able to show at the end of this season what I can do when I’m part of a good team and in a good system.
“I can’t wait to work with Trent [Barrett] and Gus and a guy like Josh Jackson. The club have gone through some lean years, but watching Josh Jackson, he just gives his all. It can be hard to do [when you are always losing], but he sets such high standards for himself.
“I know Matty Burton and Brent Naden, I’ve played with Matt Dufty, and I grew up with Nick Cotric in the junior grades at Canberra. I’ve already been telling him how I’m going to keep working hard and running off his quick play-the-balls.”
The Dogs’ general manager of football had some fun, saying the Pangai would ‘have to fight him’ before being given a blessing to enter the ring.
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