Super bantamweight contender Bruno Tarimo is ready to kick-start his career now that he and his family members have received Australian visa approval.
Tarimo (28-4-2, 7 KOs) soared into the super featherweight rankings after a string of upset victories over Aussie contenders Billy Dib, Joel Brunker and Nathaniel May in 2019. Tarimo’s link-up with Aussie trainer Angelo Hyder and manager Tony Tolj saw him become a firm fixture in the Australian boxing scene.
“Bruno is doing better than ever before,” Tolj told Boxing Scene. "He's coming off a knockout win in Tanzania, but the fight was much more important than it appears. He fought at home in front of his family for probably the last time because he and his family have been granted their Australian visas.
“He’s bringing his wife and kids with him here to live so that he can focus fully on training. His focus has been a little off over the last couple of years, and I completely understand it. During COVID time, he didn’t see his family for over two years. That’s some sacrifice. I got kept away from my family for eight weeks. God knows how he coped with two years.”
Tarimo, a 28-year-old southpaw, saw his time at 130 pounds end following a wide points defeat against Zelfa Barrett in December 2021. Tarimo would move down two divisions to his natural super super bantamweight to face Yoshiki Takei, but that matchup produced a second straight defeat. Tarimo has since posted two successive victories in his native Tanzania.
“We are planning a big 2024, where we can get him back in the rankings and challenge for a world title,” Tolj said. “He wants to campaign at super bantamweight; we believe he can compete there and it’s his natural weight. He was fighting up at super featherweight, which wasn’t his weight. But during COVID times, they couldn’t get anyone into the country, so he jumped up. He just kept fighting Aussie after Aussie and just kept beating everyone. He ended up getting into a position where he was fighting in a world title eliminator.
“He lives close to Jason and Andrew [Moloney], and also Alex Winwood is around there. They are all friends; Bruno is another extension of our boxing family. He will be a big help in Jason’s next fight in Tokyo. He's been a big part of all the big camps we have had with the Moloneys. Takei has had eight fights with eight knockouts, but Bruno’s fight was stopped due to a cut.
“First thing I need to do is get him active, then back into the world ratings,” ToIj added. “Now we can get him into a position where he will fight for a world title. Now he is going to be settled, not worrying about his family, not detached from those he loves. I think he will have a good run now.”
