HORSHAM could host an Australian super-middleweight boxing title fight next year.
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Boxing promoter Barry Michael is keen to capitalise on support for former Horsham resident Mitchell Clark.
Michael has promoted Clark in several fights since he turned professional in 2013.
Clark has a 5-0 record with five knockouts as a professional.
He will take on Korean boxer Hong Yoo in a six-round fight for promoter Jake Ellis at La Mirage in Melbourne’s north next month.
The bout will serve as a lead-up to June 27, when Clark hopes to challenge Eric Diamondstein for the Victorian super-middleweight title.
The June fight will be in support of Australian Zac Dunn’s IBO world super-middleweight title bout against Ukrainian Max Bursak – the first time a world title fight has been hosted in Melbourne in years.
It is promoted by Michael and will be at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton.
Clark lived in the Wimmera as a teenager before moving to Lucindale in South Australia.
He still has a large following in the region, with people travelling to watch his bouts in Melbourne.
Clark thanked his supporters in the Wimmera after his most recent victory against Paul Watson in March.
Michael said he wanted to harness Clark’s support in the Wimmera to bring a major boxing promotion to the region.
‘‘We definitely want to do something there in about a year,’’ he said.
‘‘Mitchell has been improving rapidly and will hopefully challenge for the Victorian title in June.
‘‘We’ll look at the future from there, but he’s going extremely well.
‘‘Speaking to his father Barry and seeing the amount of people who come to support him in his fights in Melbourne, there’s definitely enough support to host a title fight in the Wimmera.’’
Michael said Mr Clark had recommended some potential venues for an Australian title fight, and he would travel to the Wimmera to inspect them.
He said it would be great to bring a big boxing promotion to an area that had not seen much professional action.
‘‘Country people don’t generally get to see much live boxing on a professional level, so I’m definitely interested in bringing something like that to the country,’’ he said.
‘‘I lived in Hamilton when I was about two, and I haven’t been back to the area for a long time, so I’m definitely keen to get out west again.’’
Mr Clark said he was proud of his son’s success and excited at the prospect of a fight in the Wimmera.
‘‘It’s great that everyone is getting behind Mitchell, because he’s sneaking along really well at the moment,’’ he said.
‘‘When I see articles in the Mail-Times, there are that many people who ring me up and ask about him.
‘‘There is so much interest because he’s so young and doing well.’’