An underground fight club organiser has clapped back at critics, including Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech, claiming that the fighting competition is helping men dealing with mental health issues.
The Hood Contender series was founded by western Sydney rapper Caleb Valeri, who insists that fights are all conducted with appropriate health and safety precautions in place.
Participants are understood to typically compete over two one-minute rounds per fight. Events can feature a 16-man elimination bracket with each combatant vying for a shot to win a $5,000 cash prize.
Fighters wear MMA gloves during the bouts. Recent footage shows two competitors squaring off in a ring made out of straw bales, in front of a crowd of onlookers.
The Hood Contender has now amassed over 20,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 20,000 followers on Instagram.
While the new fighting league has sparked concern among NSW Police and the Combat Sports Authority of NSW, The Hood Contender has appeared to gain some support from some big names within the Aussie sporting community, with Willie Mason, Latrell Mitchell and surfer Koby Abberton appearing to like some of the league’s social media content.
Underground fight league organiser Caleb Valeri (pictured) has hit back at his competition’s critics, claiming that the fight league is helping men struggling with mental health issues
Valeri’s underground fight club ‘Hood Contender’ has seen a rapid rise in popularity (pictured, two boxers competing at a Hood Contender event)
In light of the criticisms, Valeri has fervently insisted that his unsanctioned fighting league is helping men cope with mental health issues.
In a video published on his Instagram, the organiser hit out at several news outlets regarding recent articles published online and in print, that shed light on the organisation.
‘I just want to give a quick shout out to The Daily Telegraph and Channel Nine News for their ongoing support and sponsorship,’ he said to his 80,400 Instagram followers.
‘Mental health or just mental?’ Valeri added, appearing to quote a headline from one of The Daily Telegraph’s articles on the fighting competition.
‘Firstly, they are making a mockery of men’s mental health. Yet, the world wonders why men don’t seek help or ask anyone, or speak to anyone for that matter, because we get laughed at.
‘This is exactly why men don’t open up to anyone, because when we do we’re labelled crazy.
‘Believe it or not there are men out there who enjoy being punched in the face as a form of therapy. They love this s***,’ Valeri added.
Statements on The Hood Contender’s website echo Valeri’s comments.
The league recently copped some flak from Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech (right) who claimed those competing in the series were not ‘tough’, branding it ‘sad’
Valeri hit back at Fenech over the claims, telling the Aussie boxer and his 80,400 followers that health and safety procedures were in place at his fights to protect the wellbeing of competitors
‘This event is a controlled sparring organisation,’ the website states.
It adds that the competition is: ‘For men’s mental health, youth crime prevention and suicide awareness. This is not an event for thugs.’
Valeri has also returned serve at former world title holder Fenech, who appeared to brand the events ‘sad’, before adding that those who participated in The Hood Contender were not ‘tough’.
‘Sure, your friends will call you tough because you do this underground street fighting, but see if they’re there in 30 years when you need someone to wipe your a***, Fenech said to The Daily Telegraph.
‘It’s sad. These guys have one thing, they got ego and they want to show how tough you are. Show people how tough you are by taking care of your family.’
Valeri reaffirmed that all the events organised by The Hood Contender fight series, were operated with proper safety precautions in place.
‘G’day Jeff mate,’ Valeri said to Fenech. ‘All you had to do was ask me to come to a The Hood Contender event and I would have allowed it. But now you’ve gone and spoken to your little media buddies and you’ve gone and f***ed it for yourself and everyone else.’
He went on to add: ‘We don’t sell tickets. Any money the fighters make are donations from people in the crowd. There’s no alcohol, there’s no crowd fights, we have security, we have first aid, we have all the good stuff on standby for our fighters.
Valeri (pictured) has fervently insisted that the main objective of the operation is to help men with their mental health, adding that no alcohol or drugs are allowed at the events
‘No one’s getting stabbed. No one’s getting their head kicked in. No one’s drinking and knocking out some bloke from behind. He hits his head on the ground and he’s in hospital for the rest of his life – there’s none of that mate! It’s a well-controlled sparring event.
‘You should come down and check it out, you and your little mates.’
‘We’re providing a platform with no weapons, no alcohol, no drugs or anything like that,’ he added in a separate video.
Valeri then criticised news outlets for being too judgmental when it came to the fight league.
‘People fear what they don’t understand. I wouldn’t expect a bunch of office workers to understand what this is about because you’re a bunch of cats and we know that – and that is fine! You can be a cat but just stay in your lane. This is where the big boys play.’
He added: ‘They also said that I have gang ties, links to organised crime and bikie connections. Maybe 100 moons ago I did. But I can’t afford a new door. Do you know how many times I got my door kicked in? It’s expensive.
‘It’s never a good sign when you see a bunch of ninjas kicking your door in. I couldn’t afford the repairs and I’m done with that lifestyle. The police know I’m a good boy now and that’s that.
‘That is also another scrape at the barrel because I haven’t been around organised crime for nearly six or seven years now. I haven’t even had a set of cuffs on my wrists for years now. I wouldn’t even know what that lifestyle is about anymore. Ask around, I haven’t been involved in s***.’
Videos of the fights have gone viral on social media. One video, which has, at the time of writing, amassed over six million views on The Hood Contender’s Instagram, appears to show one fighter dislocate his shoulder, before popping it back in.
Another clip, which has gained 5.1million views on the social media platform, shows one fighter being knocked down, get up again before knocking his opponent to the ground with a brutal right hook.
The NSW Combat Sports Authority explained to The Daily Telegraph that they are yet to receive an application for a permit to stage The Hood Contender series.
‘On information received regarding the proposed conduct of the contest, the authority and NSW Police took the proactive step of giving a direction to the organisers prior to the event under the Combat Sports Act 2013 (NSW) to not proceed with the contest,’ a spokesperson said.
‘The authority will be taking compliance action against the organisers and all registered combatants who participated in the contest.
‘The authority will continue to remain vigilant in its efforts to regulate the NSW combat sports industry to minimise harm to combatants and ensure the integrity of combat sport contests.’
Meanwhile, NSW Police say they are also investigating Hood Contender events.
‘Anyone who organises or participates in these events can expect appropriate action by police,’ a police spokesperson said.
‘All evidence will be used at the disposal of police to help identify those involved, including social media.’
Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14
The Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 support. Call 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety. Call 1300 22 4636
MensLine Australia is a counselling service offering support to Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78