Two of the top up-and-coming American-based heavyweights – both from the Goossen Tutor stable – will appear in a non-televised undercard bout of the Andre Ward vs. Chad Dawson fight on Saturday, September 8, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. Thirty-one year-old Philadelphian Malik Scott (34-0, 11 KOs) will put his undefeated record on the line against once-beaten Bowie Tupou (26-1, 16 KOs), 30, of Los Angeles, in a bout where the winner stands to move up in the world heavyweight rankings.
“It’s very unusual to match fighters, especially heavyweights, with a combined 60 victories and only one loss against one another when it’s not for the world championship or televised on a major network,” offered Dan Goossen, promoter of both fighters. “Our goal was simple though, have compelling bouts underneath more compelling bouts.”
After posting 32 straight wins to start his pro career, Scott sustained a biceps injury. The arduous recovery – along with reevaluating his career – kept him out of the ring for nearly four years. The time away from fighting convinced Malik to utilize his size, strength and speed more toward his offensive skills once he stepped back into the ring.
It was a decision that came to fruition when he resurfaced in February 2012 on the Paul Williams-Nobuhiro Ishida undercard by earning a one-sided, but offensively entertaining decision, over Kendrick Releford in Corpus Christi, Texas. He followed that victory with one against Alvaro Morales in Studio City in June. Against Tupou, Scott is determined to show that his aggressive, flat-footed style of fighting can develop a knockout punch against the top echelon fighters while still controlling the fight.
For the Tongan-born Tupou, a former rugby player while living in Australia, the fight with Scott will be his first action of 2012 and mark his second appearance on a show headlined by Andre Ward, having won a hard-fought unanimous decision over 33-1 Donnell Holmes on the Super Six Finals undercard back on December 17, 2011. Just prior to that, Tupou posted a seventh-round TKO against Manuel Quezada in May at the Home Depot Center.
For Tupou, there are no secrets. He fights straight-ahead looking to stop his opponent with every big bomb he throws.
“Fans always gravitate to heavyweights, and with a top 10 world rating on the line, the winner of this fight jumps right up with the other world challengers and adds to the two highly-anticipated world title bouts headlining on September 8 in Oakland – the Ward-Dawson main event and Antonio DeMarco-John Molina, Jr. co-feature.”
“Ward vs. Dawson – World Champions – Made In America” is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and Gary Shaw Production in association with Antonio Leonard Productions and SOG Promotions and sponsored by Corona, City of Oakland, Azad Watches and 95.7 The Game.
