Teremoana Teremoana hopes that victory over Bowie Tupou on April 29 will lead to a fight with the Australian heavyweight champion Stevan Ivic.

The 28 year old, in his 11th professional contest, on the undercard of Skye Nicolson-Mariah Turner confronts his most experienced opponent to date – and on the occasion of his third fight in five months he is targeting another step up in class.

Teremoana represents not only one of Australia’s most promising fighters but one of the most promising fighters in an evolving heavyweight division. After the victory in March over Curtis Harper in Orlando, Florida he is also fighting in Melbourne, one of his home country’s most sports-driven cities, for the very first time.

“I just believe this fight, once I get it done, will take me another step forward – I really want the Australian title,” he told BoxingScene. “This will further prove that I’m one of the best in Australia and that should hopefully set up the next fight.

“What I want is to further showcase my boxing ability, like I did in my last fight at Orlando. I showed a little bit more composure – as people know, I like to get in there and have a rumble. But it’s better not to get hit, and that’s what we’ve been working on in the gym – staying calm and composed and trying to look to set the shot up. A clean punch to get the KO would be great, but I’m prepared to go the rounds as well.”

The date between Nicolson and Mariah Turner at the Melbourne Pavilion for the WBC interim junior-featherweight title is the main event of Matchroom’s relaunch in Australia, following a period working in association with Tasman Fighters. It was a Tasman promotion on which Teremoana fought and won in December, against Mexico’s German Garcia Montes. The 43 year old Tupou is also Australian.

“To be part of the launch of Matchroom in Australia is a very great and awesome opportunity,” Teremoana continued. “I’m very honoured to be able to represent Matchroom with pride. I really want to be world champion so this is just another step forward, and to have this platform – just put more eyes on me. I really need everyone’s support to be able to make it to the top, and without Matchroom and their broadcasting skills I don’t think I’d be able to do that.”

There will also be an all-Australian lightweight contest between Jake Wyllie and Miles Zalewski.