Paul Stephen “Showtime” Fleming (born April 3, 1988) is a professional boxer and tattoo fanatic from Tully, Queensland. He was an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder and represented Oz in the 2008 Olympics under the featherweight division.
Paul had a stellar amateur career record of 83 W – 17 L before opting to turn professional. His debut fight against veteran Shane Green on November 29, 2008 turned to a 3rd-round TKO victory. The 32 year-old Fleming has since compiled an amazing professional record of 27 wins with 1 draw. He was also recognized by the Australian Olympic Committee as an Australian Indigenous Olympian.
Paul Fleming is arguably the most talented fighter that Australia has ever produced, and he carried an unbeaten record of 28-0 to the ring when he recently took on Charly Suarez in Sydney.
The Aussie champ put four titles on the line, and a world title eliminator was also up for grabs.
In what was a cracking contest, Fleming brought all his trademark energy and flair. The man known as "Showtime" is renowned for making great fights, his previous effort having been voted Australia's best of the year in 2022.
Suarez waits for notification from the Fleming team as to whether they wish to option a rematch clause in their contract.
The King's Warrior Charly Suarez has just walked in to Kevin Betts Stadium in Sydney.
Suarez v Fleming coming soon!
*story courtesy of Manila Standard
Former Olympian Charly Suarez has vowed to go all out against fellow undefeated Paul Fleming of Australia in their International Boxing Organization super featherweight title bout on Wednesday in Sydney, Australia.
"Pambihira lang itong ganitong pagkakataon. Ito na talaga chance ko,” said Suarez, who at 34 cannot afford to be delayed any longer in his quest for a world boxing title. “Ang totoo kong kalaban is sarili ko. Kahit saang larangan, malaking part ‘yung maturity. Iba ka nang mag-isip kaysa dati.”
“Basta ako lalaban ako at dapat makuha ko ito. Ito na ‘yung level ng mindset ko ngayon. ‘Di ko na pakakawalan, wala ng excuse,” added Suarez, a former Filipino Olympian, who spent most of his boxing career as a national athlete.
After beating all his first 14 opponents, eight of them via stoppage, Suarez is facing his toughest test in his two-year professional boxing career—a taller foe, who has 29 wins with 18 knockouts and without a defeat.
Suarez’s manager and coach Delfin Boholst said they have done everything in their training camp to make Charly stronger than ever.
“Makikita natin si Charly may edad na pero, ‘yung body niya sariwa. Sa laban makikita niyo talaga ‘yung ginawa namin na preparation ni Charly,” he said.
Without the backing of a moneyed manager and promoter, Suarez’s camp turned to friends and supporters for their needs. Some of those who answered their plea for support were former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas and businessman-philanthropist Edward Aguilar.
Sinas and Aguilar, who are close friends and partners in several business ventures, provided financial support for training and other needs of Suarez.
Suarez is coming off a big conquest of the International Boxing Federation Asia junior lightweight title with a technical knockout win over Defry Palulu of Indonesia at the Grand Ho Tram Hotel in Vietnam last Dec. 10.
Two months earlier, the many-time Southeast Asian Games champion decisioned compatriot Carlo Magali to successfully defend the World Boxing Association Asia Super Featherweight title.
As an amateur, Suarez won three Southeast Asian Games golds—two in the lightweight division (2011 Jakarta, 2019 Manila) and one in the featherweight category (2009 Laos)—plus a bronze in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, the left-handed Fleming said he won’t be underestimating Suarez as he has set a fight strategy that suits him against a smaller opponent.
“If Suarez comes at me, I have a counter-punching strategy, and if he stays away then I will come at him,” the Australian said.
SUAREZ FLEMING Media Day
Shirts off, smiles all around as the Philippines Charly Suarez and Aussie Paul Fleming meet for the first time today in Sydney.
story courtesy BoxingTalk.com
Australia’s undefeated indigenous boxer Paul Fleming is on a mission to win his next three fights and set up the opportunity to capture a 130-pound title. After years of low activity (three fights since the start of 2019), Fleming's next step takes place in St. Marys, Sydney on March 15th when he faces undefeated Filipino challenger Charly Suarez. Fleming comes from the small town of Tully in outback northern Australia where he first started boxing at age 12 in 2001.
Fleming (29-0-1) finds himself carrying on the tradition of past Australian indigenous boxers such as Aboriginal boxing legend Lionel Rose who unified the world titles (1964-76), superstar rugby league players and champions of the boxing ring Tony Mundine and his son Anthony Mundine Jr., Dave Sands inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame as “the greatest boxers never to have won a world title”, 2005 world champion Robert Peden, Wally Carr, who competed in six divisions over a stellar fifteen-year career, and Daniel Geale who won two titles before losing to Gennady Golovkin at Madison Square in 2014.
While Fleming takes confidence from his unbeaten streak, he accepts as “a matter of fact” that he has been ignored on the international stage. “By now I should have become a world champion. I see it as the way of the boxing world, and the cards didn’t fall my way. But I feel my destiny is in the winning circle, as the coming world champion.“
As for Suarez (14-0), Fleming says, “Suarez, like me, hasn’t been beaten. This is where our paths come together – here in Sydney – and I am ready.”
The left-handed Fleming said he won’t be underestimating Suarez, who is 34 years old and almost 4 inches shorter in size. “All my fights have been about fighting with a winning strategy,” he asserts. “If Suarez comes at me I have a counter punching strategy, and if he stays away then I will come at him.”
Fleming has spent several months sparring with top Aussies, including the Maloney brothers. “Neither of us held back while sparring.” he said after some competitive rounds with Andrew Moloney.
But Fleming knows that the window is closing for him to win a world title. "What’s been so good for me in boxing is that I have not been beaten, not once. I haven’t been bashed, and I have gained a lot of experience. I’ve fought against the best in Australia and now it’s time to break out and take on the best in the world... after this the world title will be one big step closer.”
Set to be Australia's very best fight of 2023.
The match up of the Philippines and Australia's two unbeaten champions.
Paul "Showtime" Fleming 28-0 goes head to head with the King's Warrior Charly Suarez 14-0 for the IBF, WBC, WBA and IBO belts.
Wednesday March 15th in Sydney Australia.
CHARLY SUAREZ OFFICIALLY "DOWN UNDER"
The King's Warrior Charly Suarez has touched down in Sydney ahead of his clash of "Philippines Best v Australia's Best" next Wednesday night March 15th.
Suarez takes on gun Aussie Paul Fleming 28-0 for four belts, including what are likely IBF and IBO World title eliminators.
The Philippines star got some rounds in at Bondi Boxing Club with former world champion TJ Doheny. The Irish star will face off with Sam Goodman as the main undercard to the Tszyu-Harrison event in Sydney this Sunday.
And what was the gossip that came from the "friendly" sparring between Suarez and Doheny?
"Goodman is in for one helluva fight !"
Watch live on fite.tv
https://www.fite.tv/watch/fleming-vs-suarez/2pcqh/
The word is that Australian Paul Fleming has been on fire in training, and has been shredding sparring partners in advance of his huge clash with Charly Suarez on March 15th.
So much so that Team Fleming has been forced to bring some big names into camp in order to be pitch perfect for Suarez.
George Kambosos has done rounds, and now former world champ Andrew Maloney is the latest to lend his skills. The boys did some high quality rounds this week and Fleming really impressed.
The Aussie star will spar again with Maloney this Sunday as part of a public workout to promote the impending battle with Suarez.
There is huge confidence coming from those close to Fleming that he will not only hand the whiz kid Suarez his first defeat, it will come by way of stoppage.
Paul "Showtime" Fleming is unbeaten in 28 fights, with 18 of those wins coming by way of KNOCKOUT.
Australian champion Paul Fleming 28-0 meets Philippines freak talent Charly Suarez 14-0
Wednesday March 15th Sydney
Philippines best Charly Suarez goes head to head with Australia’s best Paul "Showtime" Fleming.
Wednesday March 15th Sydney Australia
Philippines star Charly Suarez heads to Australia next month to take on the unbeaten local champion Paul Fleming (28-0)
Suarez was an acclaimed amateur, and despite a relatively recent transition to the pro ranks, the King's Warrior has already racked up 14 impressive wins.
And identical to Fleming, the Davao fighter also retains an unbeaten record.
But what seems astounding about Suarez is that, for a boxer with such a wealth of amateur experience, he has improved markedly since turning pro.
So much so, he actually appears to be an even better prospect at the longer round format.
That said, Suarez was touted as the "next big thing" when he decided to finally go pro, and here is some ringside action taken from the first professional performance of Charly Suarez.
He shows all that dynamism that he is renowned for, and it will give you some insight as to what Australia will be getting come March 15th.
https://www.facebook.com/VSPPromotions/videos/527622426120815
"Charly Suarez, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to take down undefeated 28-0 Australian champion Paul "Showtime" Fleming, and bring back the WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO belts. All of them !
In doing so, you will do your country a great service, and you will go to top 10 in the world, and become mandatory for IBF and IBO World titles. You will also become the likely target of Liam Wilson, the first man to drop Emanuel Navarrete.
This message will self destruct in 10 seconds.
Good luck Charly "
Philippines Charly Suarez looking to bring down Aussie champion Paul "Showtime" Fleming and move into the world top 10 with the WBC, IBF and IBO.
Don't miss history in the making !
Wednesday 15th March
Kevin Betts Stadium
Paul Fleming has questioned the experience of Liam Wilson's team after the younger man's controversial world-title loss, saying he would never have let the weigh-in go ahead.
And the ageing super featherweight says he will not be a "rebound fight" after being called out following Wilson's gut-wrenching defeat in Phoenix.
Wilson has appealed against the decision in his loss to Emanuel Navarrete, keeping alive slim hopes of a rematch after footage showed a 27-second allowance - almost triple the traditional count - when the Australian floored the red-hot favourite in the fourth round.
The rank outsider, in his US debut, also weighed in about 2kg lighter than expected in a bizarre lead-in drama that had Wilson's camp threatening to boycott the WBO title fight after claims of cheating.
Wilson was eventually stopped in the ninth round on Friday by a resurgent Navarrete, who became a three-division champion and improved to a perfect 11 wins in world-title fights to set up a lucrative blockbuster with fellow Mexican Oscar Valdez.
"I would have said, 'No way, these scales aren't right' and stopped it then and there and requested another set of scales," Fleming told AAP of the weigh-in drama in which Navarrete came in narrowly under the 59kg limit.
"I guess that's just inexperience."
Keen to capitalise on a profile boost after scaring the likely future hall-of-famer, Wilson has called out Fleming for an all-Australian blockbuster.
But Fleming (28 wins, one no result) fights at the same weight, is world ranked by rival bodies the WBA and IBF and is quickly rebuilding his following in a late-blooming career.
If the 34-year-old beats impressive Filipino Charly Suarez (18-0) on March 16 in Sydney he will move closer to an overdue title shot - but potentially further from a duel with WBO favourite Wilson.
He just got his shot at the world title," Beijing Olympian Fleming said.
"I'm nearly 35 and still haven't had mine, so it's the Suarez fight first and then I'm not going to fight Liam for his ego or a rebound.
"I only want fights that'll move me closer to a world title.
"If it is one of those, then 150 per cent let's do it; we've been calling for it and it's a bit funny now it suits him he's calling it out."
If the pair continue to diverge it could mean they only fight to unify different world-title belts.
"Liam's very dangerous very early, but from what I've seen he loses his way (in the later rounds)," Fleming said.
"He's got a good left hook, but that one shot ain't going to work fighting me.
"I'm more elusive; you've got to have more in your repertoire."
The team of Liam Wilson have turned their attentions to Australian indigenous star Paul Fleming, and possibly to Teofimo Lopez conqueror George Kambosos, if they are not granted a rematch after Saturday's controversial title fight in the US.
The No Limit team have lodged a complaint regarding the delay (up to 28 seconds) afforded to Emmanuel Navarrete after Wilson dropped him in the 4th round of their fight.
Paul Fleming has an outstanding record of 28 and 0, and many regard the man dubbed "Showtime" as the most naturally talented Aussie fighter in recent years. He is also ranked in the top 15 with the IBF, WBA and WBC, and will force his way into the top 10 assuming he is successful in his next bout on March 16th.
Paul Fleming meets Philippines star Charly Suarez in Sydney, and it appears the teams of Wilson and Fleming are both totally overlooking the unbeaten pinoy.
The word is strong in Australia that the Fleming team are extremely confident of delivering the King's Warrior his first loss, and are predicting it to come in spectacular fashion. They feel a knockout win is required to stamp his claims to being Australia's best in the weight class.
Alternatively, a win by Suarez elevates the Philippines man to #3 with the IBF, and a possible mouth watering clash with Liam Wilson.
Sydney Australia Friday March 17th
*special thanks to Pareng B.Vlog for the awesome video and support toward Philippines boxers.
One of Australia's most colourful and entertaining fighters is also one of that country's BEST EVER.
Paul Fleming 28-0 will take on Philippines freak talent Charly Suarez in Sydney on March 17th.
The indigenous star known as SHOWTIME has got it all.
https://www.facebook.com/VSPPromotions/videos/695818145579601
This just got made !!!!!!
Yes, it's official - Philippines best Charly Suarez will take on Australia's best Paul Fleming in a showdown for the IBF intercontinental, WBA Oceania and WBC Asia titles. The iconic bout will take place in Sydney on March 17th.
A win for either fighter will likely catapult them into a world title mandatory position. Both fighters are unbeaten, both are former Olympians, and both are blessed with supernatural hand and foot speed. Indigenous prodigy Paul Fleming was responsible for the "Fight of the Year" in Australia in 2022, and the man known as Showtime is peerless when it comes to non stop action.
To counter the claims of the Aussie, Charly Suarez has been on an ominous run of 10 wins in the last two years, all against quality opponents. Tellingly, he has barely broken a sweat in his rankings surge, and lost few, if any, rounds.
This is a HUGE FIGHT for both Australia and the Philippines, and a dominant performance by Suarez will certainly put the world on notice.
Bacolod's Genesis Servania will fight China's rising star Aketelieti Yelejian for the WBO Asia Lightweight title this November.
The highly-anticipated match up will take place on the undercard of the IBF world title fight between Pedro Taduran and Zhu DianXing at Jeju Island, South Korea.
Aketelieti Yelejian, who suffered a narrow loss to the Prince Albert Pagara in June, rebounded with an impressive IBF Asia victory against Korean Jin Su Kim in Vietnam recently. He is a very rangy and deceptive boxer known for his relaxed combinations, and he's supremely confident in his ability to take down Servania and claim the title.
"I've studied Servania's style, and I know I have the skills to outmaneuver him," Yelejian said yesterday.
"I'm excited to represent China on the international stage once more, and bring home an impressive win against a top and proven boxer like Genesis."
Servania, a seasoned veteran with a 35-4 record, boasts a reputation for toughness that has come from battles at the top level. And has still possesses some of the best body shots in the sport of boxing.
This important title shot gives the filipino the opportunity to re-establish himself on the world scene once more, and it's best remembered that his only defeats have came against world-ranked champions like Oscar Valdez and Andres Cortes.
But the China team have already confidently stated that Yelejian's youth, speed, height, and reach may all prove too much for the Filipino boxer.
Their optimism also exudes for the world title bout, where surprisingly, they are quite dismissive of Pedro Taduran's hopes of beating star Zhu DianXing. They actually rate their boxer so highly, they have predicted that the champion has no chance of retaining the belt.
These claims set up an intriguing backdrop for two massive Philippines v China feature bouts.
Fight Details :
- Date: Saturday, November 23rd
- Location: Jeju Island, South Korea
- Title: WBO Asia Lightweight
- Contenders: Aketelieti Yelejian (China) vs. Genesis Servania (Philippines)