Jacob ‘The Flamingo’ Ng tickled pink with lightweight belt

[Glasgow]

A Gold Coast fighter who took up combat sports seriously after losing to a girl is now one of the most exciting boxers in Australia.

Lanky 24-year-old Jacob “The Flamingo’’ Ng is the new Australian lightweight champion after an explosive fourth-round stoppage of Yeppoon’s Gaige Ireland on a historic boxing promotion at the Southport Sharks on Saturday night that featured four Australian title fights.

Ng, whose father Stephen Ng was an outstanding amateur and professional fighter, spent much of his childhood at his dad’s Matrix Boxing Gym which also taught Thai Boxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

After three years of dance lessons and being one of the smallest kids on the footy field, Jacob took up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu aged 10.

He competed in his first tournament after two weeks and lost to a girl, but he has lost very few fights in the 14 years since.

Now unbeaten in nine pro bouts, “The Flamingo’s’’ boxing style combines fast, flashy hand-speed with sizzling moves that are a carry over from his dance training.

He was too fast and slick for Ireland on Saturday night.

The Australian lightweight title has previously been held by such great champions as Barry Michael and Vic Patrick.

Saturday night’s big fight program also saw Ipswich giant Demsey McKean retain his Australian heavyweight title with a stoppage of Perth’s former national champ Roger Izonritei.

Mackay’s unbeaten Tysinn Best won the Australian welterweight title by toughing out a split decision over Nathan Webber, a key Jeff Horn sparring partner and a former national amateur champion.

And Kingscliff’s Josh Frederiksen won the Australian light-heavyweight title with a 10-round decision over Quintin Carey.

Meanwhile in Sheffield, England, yesterday Melbourne junior-middleweight Michael Zerafa forced former world welterweight champ Kell Brook to go all 12 rounds before the hometown star won a decision in their WBA world title eliminator.

Brook, who has been mentioned as a future opponent for Jeff Horn, becomes the mandatory contender for American WBA champion Jarrett Hurd.