Don’t get him wrong; Demsey McKean is happy to help launch Matchroom Boxing’s debut in the Australian market.

The opportunity comes, however, after having his name attached to several big fights, including one that seemed well within his reach elsewhere later this year.

“We have been in negotiations even recently with Dillian Whyte,” McKean revealed to krikya360.com. “We came close to landing that fight but that kind of fizzled out a bit. [Former WBO heavyweight titlist] Joseph Parker as well. Now we’re getting thrown in the mix with [former two-time unified heavyweight titlist] Anthony Joshua as well. Eddie [Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sport] has been talking about taking AJ on a global tour, including here in Brisbane.

“So, I just have to keep pace, look good doing so and line myself up for a big heavyweight fight. 

The next step in that journey for Australia’s McKean (21-0, 13KOs) comes this weekend, as he faces Germany’s Patrick Korte as part of Matchroom’s maiden voyage Down Under. The scheduled ten-round battle serves as the chief support this Saturday on DAZN from South Bank Piazza in South Brisbane, less than an hour from McKean’s hometown of Ipswich, Queensland.  

McKean (21-0, 13KOs) fights for the first time in his home country since last May, having since made his U.S, and U.K, debut in consecutive fights. The now 32-year-old southpaw made a splash in a sixth-round knockout of Don Haynesworth last November in Manchester, New Hampshire, his first of a three-fight deal with Matchroom.

From there came a move to the UK, where he linked up with noted trainer Tony Sims ahead of a February 27 clash with Argentina’s Ariel Bracamonte at The O2 in London. The signed and scheduled fight left McKean unable to accept an invitation to enter negotiations for an IBF heavyweight title eliminator with 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic.

The fight itself left McKean with a broken thumb over the course of an eight-round points win after having stopped ten of his previous eleven opponents. It delayed plans for a quick third and final fight under the existing Matchroom agreement before renewing terms with the global outfit who boasts several heavyweight contenders McKean hopes to face in 2023 and beyond.

“We were supposed to have three fights in six months with Matchroom, just churn out those steady fights and build up our relationship,” admitted McKean. “That obviously slowed when I broke my thumb in my last fight. But I’m healthy, I’m ready for Saturday and my time is coming. 

"We’re not far off. The next fight after this one is going to be a big name. I can feel it.”

Headlining the show is an all-Australia showdown between Brisbane’s Liam Paro (22-0, 13KOs) and Marrickville’s Brock Jarvis (20-0, 18KOs). Paro is the mandatory contender to the WBO junior welterweight title, while Jarvis—who turned pro at 115 pounds—moves up in weight for the fifth time in as many fights.  

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox