Warwick Capper, 61, shows off incredible physical transformation ahead of boxing debut against face-tattooed fighter
Footy great Warwick Capper has shown off the fruits of the training he’s been doing in preparation for his boxing bout in May.
The 61-year-old former Sydney Swans star took to Instagram last week to show off his drastic weight reduction after shocking fans of both sports when he announced the fight last month.
In a video released to coincide with that news, Capper cut a very different figure as he did some pad work with boxing trainer Prince Bunjaku as he declared, ‘If Mike Tyson can do it at 58, Warwick Capper can smash heads at 61,’ referring to the boxing legend’s fight with Jake Paul last year.
‘Good for your mental health, good for my body and good for the kids that train. Gets them off the couch and over to the gym.’
The ‘good for my body’ quote wasn’t just empty talk designed to hype up the bout, judging by the recent image of Capper, which was uploaded on January 16 with the caption, ‘The Wiz [Capper] getting his rig back for the big fight for charity in 2025.’
In it, Capper is showing off a lot of muscle definition in his legs and abdominals as he lifts his shirt up while wearing a pair of Muay Thai fighting shorts.
Warwick Capper is taking his upcoming boxing fight very seriously if this new photo of his very slimmed-down frame is anything to go by
The footy cult hero cut a very different figure in a video released in December when his shock return to the ring was first announced
Footy and boxing fans were pleasantly surprised by the new look, with one writing, ‘Awesome! I’m so happy to see you fighting fit again, mate,’ and another adding, ‘Holy s***!! He’s lost heaps of weight.’
In the comments, Capper reveals that his bout is due to be held on May 17 at the Melbourne Pavilion – and his opponent has also been named.
A promotional image for the bout posted by the Fight Fanatics Instagram account shows capper will be fighting Jesse Dardha, who is described as a ‘former bad boy’ in the caption.
Information on Dardha is scarce, but judging by a video showing him in the ring, the footy cult hero will have his hands full.
A clip of Dardha fighting Cathal Ryan, which was uploaded to YouTube this week, shows Capper’s opponent is powerfully built and covered in tattoos, with ink all over his face in addition to pretty much everywhere else on his body and the word ‘outlaw’ prominently displayed on his chest.
He was knocked down in the second round of the bout but argued with the referee, apparently believing he’d slipped over, and lost the three-round bout on points.
If Capper’s bout with Dardha goes ahead, it will be the second time he has stepped between the ropes after squaring off with NRL legend Wendell Sailor in a 2009 charity fight.
Capper (pictured with fellow footy great Ben Cousins) will have his work cut out for him on May 17 when he faces Jesse Dardha
Dardha (pictured right in his fight against Cathal Ryan, centre) is a powerfully built fighter with extensive tattoos that cover almost all of his face
In that bout, Sailor dropped the AFL cult hero and managed to get a stoppage victory in the third round.
Capper’s boxing announcement has been received warmly by footy fans online.
‘Wow nice work making this happen,’ remarked one Instagram user.
‘Kappa v Jake Paul,’ suggested another, referring to Tyson’s opponent in his comeback fight last month.
‘Capper’s nemesis Ricky Nixon would be a great matchup,’ said a third who wants the ex-full forward to take on the controversial former AFL player manager.
Nixon and Capper had a public dispute in 2023 when their plans to celebrate a birthday party together soured.
Later, after Sam Newman and Nixon were involved in an altercation, Capper called out Nixon to settle things in the boxing ring.
