TRAINER Lincoln Hudson declared Ipswich-bred sportsman Paulo Aokuso in prime condition for Saturday night’s historic fight in Ipswich.

Aokuso, who turns 27 in May, is challenging Ghana opponent Emmanuel Danso for the WBA Oceania light heavyweight title in his seventh professional bout.

“We’re in the best form of our career,” Hudson said.

“He’s currently rated number 15 in the world with the WBC.

“He’s number one in Australasia so this fight should give him an opportunity to get a world title fight.”

Former Gailes and St Peter Claver College student Aokuso now trains with Hudson in Sydney.

However, Ultimate Training Centre owner and head coach Hudson said being back in familiar Ipswich surroundings was helpful for Paulo leading into Saturday night’s bout at the Ipswich Basketball Stadium.

“I think it’s great for Queensland and it’s great for Ipswich,” Hudson said, having worked with Aokuso since he turned professional.

Hudson said the former Gailes student was in tip-top shape, benefiting from being at home, supported by a strong sporting family and remembering “where you come from”.

Aokuso spent more than an hour with his family, including boxing brother Austin, motivating students at St Peter Claver College on Wednesday before his big fight at the Ipswich Basketball Stadium.

Aokuso turned professional after a narrow split-decision loss to Spanish fighter Gazi Jalidov at the Tokyo Olympics.

He won his first three pro fights by knockout.

Aokuso, a southpaw fighter with Samoan heritage, looked supremely fit during a pre-fight visit to St Peter Claver College where he graduated in 2015.

“My fitness is good,” he said.

“I live in Sydney now so I’ve been training there.

“I’ve done a bit of homework [on opponent Danso].”

Although aware of Danso’s more substantial fight record, Aokuso said he was just another fighter to test his diverse skills against.

"I've got the experience. I believe in myself," he said.

Aokuso was a multi-talented athlete, basketballer and rugby league player at college before focusing on boxing.

He said his focus was “100 per cent” on boxing for the foreseeable future.

Former St Peter Claver College student Paulo Aokuso with his brother Austin, deputy principal Todd Riggs, teacher Chris Ash and current year 11 and 12 students. Photo: DAVID LEMS

Aokuso’s title fight is on Saturday night’s The Fists and the Furious program, also featuring former Broncos NRL enforcer Tevita Pangai Junior up against super heavyweight opponent Raphael Sa’o.

Che Keneally and Sequita Hemingway are fighting for an ANBF Australasian heavyweight title and Desley Robinson is taking on Kaye Scott for the Australian middleweight women’s belt.

Read more about Paulo’s sporting journey in next week’s Ipswich Tribune newspaper and online.