hit them again

JEFF FENECH – I LOVE YOU’SE ALL

2008-06-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

The Marrickville Mauler is back for one more round.

A street thug made good, he was an Aussie battler who’s catch cry “I Love You’se all.” is now part of our culture, he captured three world titles, he’s in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and when his bid for a fourth world title against Azumah Nelson went wrong, the whole of Australia was behind him. Now, at 44 Jeff Fenech is having one more blue against the 49 year old Nelson.

I talked to Jeff (via the phone) as he prepared himself for the fight asking him first why he was doing it.

I don’t know, I think I got rocks in my head. It just came about. Someone challenged me to fight in Thailand, first few days I said no no no then its all of a sudden, maybe and then a yes. Then he (Samart Payakarun) pulls out and we had to find someone else and old Azumah Nelson pops up. It goes from Payakarun which was something that was going to be relatively easy to something (Nelson) that’s going to be quite difficult. It’s gonna be a hard night.

Your hands always gave you trouble, how are they now?

Still sore, nothing’s changed but then everywhere is sore at the moment.

You had a pretty rough time with the law as a kid. How did you end up in a boxing gym with Johnny Lewis?

It was just by sheer coincidence, I didn’t go there to box. It was a youth club and I just went to see a friend. He (Johnny) was one of those men who was like a magnet and I was instantly… I don’t know, I instantly took a liking to him. And to be honest with you, it was like he was my dad. We’re very close still and it’s good to be back together.

Well, as an amateur you apparently only ever lost when Johnny wasn’t there.

Yeah, I know, pretty strange huh? It’s a pretty unique relationship.

Its always been portrayed as a good relationship too but there were times when he had to get tough with you weren’t there?

Yeah, many times. If I was a bighead or anything, he’d tell me to pull my head in or see the door you walked in son, walk back out again.

When you look back over your career now what were your toughest fights?

I fought the greatest fighters out there. Daniel Zaragoza, he’s in the Boxing Hall of Fame, Carlos Zarate, he’s in the Hall of Fame, Azumah Nelson, he’s in the Hall of Fame. (Marcos) Villasana, (Mario) Martinez, all these great fighters. Victor Callejas you know, he was a great fighter, a very difficult fight. I fought the Olympic Gold Medallist (Steve McCrory) and knocked him out. Jerome Coffee he was 26 and 0 when I fought him so I fought some great fighters and I was able to overcome them all. So I’m hoping I can overcome one last beat up at 44. (laughs)

What about fighting the great Carlos Zarate? Everyone said he was at the end of his career but he still had sixty six victories up his sleeve.

You know they say he was old but he was thirty odd and now I’m fighting again at forty four… he wasn’t really too old at all. (laughs)

In 1990 you were supposed to fight Juan La Porte for the WBC Super Featherweight title but you had to pull out with glandular fever. Is that a fight you regret not getting?

It’s funny I was just thinking about that a couple of days ago. I was on a plane with Azumah sitting on the other side and I thought about the La Porte fight. You know if that had happened, I wouldn’t have even had to think about anything else. That would have been my fourth title, but like you said I got sick. These things happen though you can’t change them.

Around the same time there seemed to be a bit of a feud between you and fellow Aussie world champ Jeff Harding. Was that anything to do with you both having the same trainer? Was there some jealousy perhaps?

No no no, Jeff’s not like that. (laughs) Jeff, he’s pretty well balanced, he’s got a chip on both shoulders. (laughs)

There seems to be a couple of ex boxers you don’t see eye to eye with. Barry Michaels is another one.

Mate, the only way he can get in the paper is by mentioning me. For years he’s said ‘I wanted to fight him for twenty years.’ But you know four or five years ago when he was talking about twenty years back I was at the Olympic Games! He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

The Man, Anthony Mundine has been pretty vocal too. He’s even challenged you to a fight at middleweight.

What do you expect from an idiot’s mouth? Stupid things! He’s just jealous. As a league player he wanted to knock Brad Fittler and Laurie Daley but he could never do it, he wasn’t good enough and it’s the same in the fight game. He’s a talented kid no doubt about it. He’s done a great job but he’ll never be in the Hall of Fame, he’ll never fight fighters who can fight. He won’t step up. That’s the thing with me and Azumah Nelson. We both respect each other. Respect goes a long way in the world.

You were always accompanied in the ring by your mate Con Spyropolous who was brain damaged at birth. It’s not often touched on but that friendship certainly helped bring a much wider understanding of the mentally disabled to the public didn’t it? It wasn’t a gimmick, it was a genuine friendship.

You’re a hundred percent right. Con was certainly teased and stuff you know when he was a kid and when I was young I teased him too but now to be able to help him, trust me, it makes you feel much, much better. He’s still a huge part of my life and I see him everyday when I’m in Sydney.

And how is he these days?

He’s great. He’ll be at the press conference (in Sydney), he’ll be at the fight. Like I said, he’s still a huge part of my life and will be until one of us is no longer here.

JEFF FENECH Vs AZUMAH NELSON – THE FINAL ROUND III

JUNE 26^TH 2008 VODAFONE ARENA MELBOURNE VICTORIA

Screening on Main Event and Fox pubs and clubs

SA BOXING NOVICE TITLES – THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

2008-05-27T23:02:00.000-07:00

From School Boys through to Seniors you can expect some great boxing from South Australia’s up and coming amateur boxers this weekend at the SA Boxing Inc. Novice Titles. Held at the Cumberland United Soccer Club in Edith Street Clarence Gardens the bouts kick off Saturday night 31^st May at 6.30 pm and continue through Sunday afternoon June 1^st from 12 noon. With more than twenty fights scheduled over the two days there’s sure to be some great fistic action.

Of course there are plenty of bright prospects and future champs but here’s a couple of names to keep an eye on, Norwegian Exchange Student Hakon Halverson fighting out of the Glenelg Boxing Club, Ben Pham from the Aboriginal Sobriety Gym and from Mount Gambier Jacob Parham. Be there and see the next generation of South Aussie boxing talent.

Mr. Business

2008-04-02T18:23:00.001-07:00

JAMIE PITTMAN – He Means Business

Thirteenth ranked Aussie middleweight Jamie ‘Mr. Business’ Pittman takes on the WBA champ Felix Sturm in Germany on April 4^th. Pittman might only have 16 pro fights under his belt but this former Olympian had over one hundred amateur blues. He got ripped off in Athens by a German boxer and Jamie wants to get some revenge.

This is a pretty big opportunity isn’t it? Are you ready for this?

Yeah I believe I am. I’m hungrier than I’ve ever been and I’m improving with every session, getting strong in every session, so yeah, I really believe I am.

Are you worried about fighting in Germany? It is notorious for its hometown decisions.

I believe I’ve got a different style to the guys that have been there and been ripped off. I’ve got a very European style and it’s something I think the Germans will like, including the judges. They like boxers, they don’t like brawlers or big hitters so I’m confident I can steal the judges away from him and steal his hometown crowd away from him.

Well Sturm did get a draw in his last fight against Otis Griffin so they don’t favour him all the time.

Yeah and that was to a guy who was flatfooted and didn’t have much of a workrate and he’s American. So, you know, if he can get a draw I believe I can beat Sturm.

Has he made a mistake then, picking you out, thinking he’d have an easy fight against a young bloke with not too much experience, not a big KO record.

He’s definitely picked the wrong bloke. He’s fought one left hander in his career and the guy was slow and flatfooted and he didn’t handle him very well. I’m fast, good on my feet, got a big work rate so I think he’s chosen the hungriest middleweight in the world at the moment. I’ve got a totally different style to all those guys he fought. A very awkward style, I throw a lot of punches. I think they’re crazy, our styles clash and he doesn’t have the style to face a southpaw. He’s definitely going to run into trouble.

You mentioned being a lefty. You southpaws always get a bad name because of your style. No one wants to fight a left hander. Does that ever worry you?

It doesn’t worry me how I win a fight or how I look, long as I win.

Fair call. You’ve had an extensive amateur career, well over a hundred bouts. Does that experience help you here in the pro ranks?

Well, I’ve already been to Germany four times as an amateur. And the Olympics was a big eye opener for me. You know, nothing’s bigger than the Olympics so I’m not over awed by this fight at all.

Speaking of the Olympics, you got ripped off in Athens against a German fighter didn’t you?

Yeah, Lukas Wilascheck, he’s ranked no. 12 in the world now (supermiddleweight) and he’s actually managed by the same guy as Felix Sturm. So I’m hoping he’s at ringside so I can say, “Where’s my rematch?”

I’ve got ripped off twice with him. I fought him in his hometown two years before the Olympics and got ripped off there as well so this one is to get even with all the Germans.

Now you’re related to one of Australia’s most famous fighting families, The Sands aren’t you? Does that add pressure do you think? Trying to live up to that bloodline?

Yeah, my cousins are Richies, which is Dave Sands grandson, so it’s definitely in my blood and it’s in my blood to be world class. I guess I’ve got to back up my ancestors and fight well. You know, there was Dave Sands and Tony Mundine, two aboriginals go for middleweight titles and two of em got beat, so hopefully I’m three times lucky.

You’ve been sparring with a couple of good fighters to prepare too.

Yeah, Sakio Bika is my main sparring partner, I probably do sixteen to twenty rounds a week with him. And I’ve been sparring with another aboriginal boxer, Edgar Wymarra too who’s very fast with his hands. By the time I’ve done eight rounds with Sakio I’m tired, you know so those last four rounds it’s good to get a fresh face in front of me.

What’s it like sparring with Sakio.

There’s no such thing as sparring for Sakio, he goes hard all the time. Even walking into the gym, it’s like you’re his enemy you know and it’s only a spar!

That’s got to be good preparation for the fight.

There’s no way in hell that Sturm’s going to be as strong as Sakio. If I can go ten rounds with Sakio Bika I’ll be able to go thirty rounds with Felix Sturm.

An edited interview appears in this week's People Magazine. buy it and keep the publisher happy! (and me in work)

Katsidis, Green and a real loss

2008-03-25T01:09:00.000-07:00

Well the Katsidis/Casamayor fight was a corker wasn't it? Michael down twice in the first when he kept leading with his face, a great comeback and then Casamayor down and almost out in the sixth from that body shot and then that tenth round where Katsidis came out blazing, hurt the Cuban and then walked into a huge left hand and went down himself. It was definitely fight of the year material regardless of my disappointment at the Aussie losing. Katsidis certainly gave his all and he's sure to be offered more fights in the US based on that blue. And Casamayor was a surprise too considering how lack lustre his last bout was. He really came out firing himself and his jab in particular looked the strongest I've seen for a long time. He was obviously taking Katsidis seriously. A great bout and I'm sure Michael learnt more from this loss than any of the previous twenty three victories. He certainly hasn't lost any fans with the fight he put up.

Danny Green has retired! Where the hell did that come from? Seemingly in the midst of preparing himself for his first title defense and from all reports looking strong, he's suddenly upped and quit the game claiming he wants to spend time with his family and wants to go out on top. Something else has to be going on that we don't know about. You don't quit in the middle of preparations for a world title defense unless there's something seriously wrong somewhere - whether it's your own health, a family problem, illness... if he had been out of the game for a year ala Paul Briggs then I wouldn't be surprised at the announcement but this seems to have caught everyone (including his team) by surprise. We'll just have to wait and see. Until then I'd just like to say thanks Danny for giving us a true blue Aussie bloke to support, for the great bouts you put on (especially against Eric Lucas) and for never backing down from a fight. We can only wish you well in the future and hope everything is alright and that this is purely a man who just wants to be at home with his family.

RIP Joe Bridges - Amateur Boxing Icon and legend who passed away on Friday 22nd March aged 74 years old and just three days shy of his 75th birthday. I met Joe last year after a couple of phone calls to talk about boxing and the like and we discovered that he was from the same end of the world as me (only he'd been there thirty years longer) and in fact in my father's boxing collection we dug out the original Amateur Boxing mags that Joe and his wife Julie had put out back in 1978 from Millicent. The next time I saw Joe he dropped around some back issues of the new Amateur Boxing mag that he'd resurrected in 2003 and we talked a bit about a few of the old hands down in Millicent and what was happening around Adelaide. He then went off to the doc's to have a check up as he was in the midst of battling bowel cancer! A tough old bugger, he then organised to walk from Adelaide to Melbourne to raise money for cancer research. This he did last year and I was one of the few that showed up in Victoria Square to see him off. I'm not bragging here, I was there because well, I guess I was representing Millicent and my old man and Tony Campbell and the other friends that couldn't be there. Joe did that walk, though it took a lot out of him by all reports. That was the last time I actually talked to him, just before he headed off with a camera man following to get footage for the news. He was planning another walk this year from Melbourne to Sydney and i was meaning to catch up with him to see how the plans were going. i didn't get to it and now, well... anyway, it was good to know you Joe even if it was only briefly. One of my greatest writing moments was getting an article into The Fist a few years back about SA boxer Jamie Wallace. In the very next issue was a letter from Joe correcting a factual error! He also added that it was a great story. Mate, i don't think I told you but i was as proud as punch when you said that. I still am.

Michael Katsidis talks the talk.

2008-03-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

While other fighters talk about facing the best Toowoomba boy and WBO Lightweight world champion Michael Katsidis is doing it. With a record of 23 wins, 20 kos and no losses, he was all set to take on WBO’s ‘other’ champ Juan Diaz when Don King scuttled the fight. Instead Michael, backed by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, now finds himself facing Lightweight legend and Olympic Gold Medallist Joel Casamayor for the prestigious Ring Championship belt.

Let’s start with a two part question. (1) Is this fight for any of the belts? Since I know there were threats of Casamayor’s WBC belt being taken away and your WBO interim belt maybe being upgraded.

The WBO and The Ring Magazine Belt

And (2) do you think all the sanctioning and different bodies helps or hinders the sport sometimes. Do you sometimes just want to fight the best and say bugger the titles and belts.

I don't believe I am one to say what is or isn't best for the sport. I think it is my position to demonstrate what is best for the sport and that is to fight the best and be the best. This can only be measured in time and by my performance. Come 22nd of March I would have prepared a lot of my life just for this one day in the office to prove my self. The A, B, C's in belts and titles will soon be unified, there will be one champion. Until then every fight is the fight of my life regardless of what its for. I cannot treat any battle any different to another.

A lot of fighters talk the talk but fail to walk the walk. By taking on Casamayor you’ve really stepped up. I mean he has fought some of the best. I know this sounds daft but are you ready for him? And vice versa I guess, do you think he realizes what he’s got himself in to?

We are not measured in this life by what we say but by what we do. I can only promise to give my very best and do myself my family and heritage proud. I can't remember when an Australian has ever beaten a Gold medalist at the Olympic games. Casamayor is one of Cuba's finest and an all time great. What he says doesn't mean anything. He has done enough in his career to prove where he stands in the sport. He now holds what is regarded as the supremacy of al belts. The Ring Belt.

Diaz has once again avoided you, this time it appears to be Don King who’s crashed the party. Will you get a chance to take him on? Is that fight still on your agenda?

Whilst all the papers and press were rolling with the highs and lows of the Don King saga Christmas time drew near. Brendon Smith and myself sacrificed our time to be with our families to do the work that needed to be done. There can only be so many moves a fighters management can make and although it appears Don King has more moves then a rattle snake, time will soon answer your questions. Either way my job is to fight and not involve in the political side of the sport.

Having Golden Boy on your side, obviously will raise your profile in America but do you think that it adds pressure? Everyone expecting you (and Billy Dib too) to perform, to win and win well because De La Hoya and co are backing you.

I carry no exra weight on shoulders aside from the weight I put on my self (; The rest doesn't matter.

And what is it like to have the likes of Oscar and Bernard around? Are they friendly or is it all business? Do you even see them?

I don't see Bernard that often though occasionally at the fights. I had a great time in Puerto Rico with Oscar at the WBO convention. Knowing Oscar on a personal level from fighter to fighter is a great boost. Each time we do business the whole Golden Boy team treat Brendon and I like family. I would love to bring the whole Golden Boy team to Australia some day for a Super-Fight. I believe the Australian public would take very kindly to the likes of Oscar De La Hoya making a visit

Lets talk about the fight itself. Where do you see you winning this bout? What have you got that others have lacked when facing Casamayor? Obviously power has to be a factor but do you worry about his experience, the fact that he’s faced stronger opponents perhaps than you have?

I like to keep all cards close to my chest on these issues. You'll be able to find out for yourself in your own home come Easter Sunday 23rd march. (Main Event) All I can tell you is that I'll be very weary of the Rabbit punch.

You’ve put in a couple of real fight of the year type bouts – do you see this being one of those battles or will Joel try and outbox you rather than brawl?

The plot has certainly thickened. It is renown I'm never in a dull fight. I bring out the bet in every opponent as like me they are fighting for their lives. Each fight is the fight of my life. My fight records suggests this.

I read that you got Sportsperson of the Year in your home town Toowoomba. That must have been a buzz, knowing that they’ve recognised you and your sporting achievements.

I never forget where I come from and what made me who I am today. I have my family and Australia, Toowoomba to thank for that. It's been a great honour coming from where I'm from and making a statement to the world. I've shown anyone can become a warrior if it's alive inside of them. I'm a very proud person and getting that award has meant more then just any title. Since I was a little kid I've wanted to win that award.

The Katsidis Vs Casamayor fight is being screened on Main Event on Sunday 23rd March - check guides for details. Billy Dib is on the undercard.

An edited interview is in this week's People magazine. buy it and keep me in a job!

NADER HAMDAN - CINDERELLA FELLA?

2008-02-25T18:25:00.000-08:00

On February 27^th Nader “Lionheart” Hamdan takes on Anthony “The Man” Mundine for Mundine’s WBA supermiddlewieght belt. Both Sydney boys, many see this as another easy fight for Mundine but after talking to Nader Hamdan I wouldn’t be so sure. A 10 year, 45 fight veteran, Hamdan is really fired up. The Man better be on his game and not just pissing about or we could just see an upset.

Thanks for talking to us Nader, how’s the training been going?

I know this sounds weird because I’ve been boxing for ten years but I’ll be coming in in the best condition of my life. I’ve never trained so hard in my life.

You’ve been chasing Mundine for a long time, even before he became champ, so did you see something there that made you think “I can beat this guy.”

Well, him being who he is, you know, love him or hate him he’s one of the biggest athletes to come out of this country so you know, when you beat him you go from an unknown to being well known.

So do you have a plan to beat him?

Yeah, the plan is basically… well, they know and everyone knows I ain’t gonna out box him so I’ve just got to be right on him. Basically that’s the only way to beat him. I can’t beat him on points or try and outbox him. He’s quicker, a better boxer but I’m a streetfighter you know… I’m gonna put a lot of pressure on him and make it rough and ugly for him.

Well he can be beat can’t he? We tend to forget he has lost a couple of fights.

He can be beat, it’s been done before. Everyone can be beat.

You’re probably one of his toughest opponents – 45 fights and you’ve only lost to the very best. Do you think perhaps people are underestimating you?

I don’t mind being the under dog, it’s the story of my life mate.

Do you think Mundine himself has underestimated you? I mean, bringing the chicken out at the press conference, talking about Green. Maybe he’s already looking past you?

No I don’t think so. He’s a professional, I know he’s training hard. Obviously he’s got people out there looking at what I’m doing and I’ve heard that he’s in full training. He’s not taking me lightly, he’d be foolish to.

Is this your big Cinderella Man moment?

A lot of people have said that you know and that’s exactly what it is because I should have had my shot six or seven years ago but due to the politics and bullshit in the sport I didn’t get that chance. So I’ve got to thank the man for giving me the opportunity. Hopefully it’ll have the same ending too.

So do you think maybe it was supposed to happen this way that you missed those opportunities where you maybe weren’t at your fittest anyway but now you get this chance when you’re ready for it?

I think it was destiny man. I was pretty much done with my career and the only thing that kept me hanging on was a title fight. I was no. 2 in the world for 2 ½ years and I could never get the opportunity. Nothing came, nothing and now here I am, towards the end of my career and this chance has been given to me and I ain’t gonna let it go. I’m gonna take him out. I told him straight out “if I don’t knock you out, you better knock me out.” That’s my plan, I’ve got to knock this guy out. He’s been knocked out before, he might have to revisit that. It’s not like it’s a secret. In the overall scheme he’s going to come forward and I’m going to bash him. I’m not going to try and outbox him, too many tried that and they got their heads boxed in. I’ll be in there trying to take him out you know, rough him up and make it ugly. It’s the only way to beat a boxer like that.

Everyone knows I come to fight. I’m a fighter that’s what I do. It’s all about heart man, that’s why they call me lionheart.

the fight's on main event/foxtel and in pubs and clubs... i know Mundine's last couple of fights have been foregone conclusions but I wouldn't be surprised if Hamdan pulled off the biggest upset of the year here. he's got the heart and the endurance, it just remains to be seen if he has the power to maybe just rattle The Man's cage.

This weekend's fights

2008-01-31T16:18:00.000-08:00

Ok so here’s where I pretend I know somethin’ about this sport. Two Aussies (actually both transplanted but let’s not go there) fighting this weekend. Gairy St. Clair is taking on Amir Khan over in old blighty. Gairy is stepping up in weight and is a last minute replacement but I wonder if Khan’s handlers have maybe made a mistake? Granted, St. Clair has lost a couple recently but he’s far more experienced than anyone Khan has faced yet and he doesn’t fall down. It wouldn’t surprise me if Gairy can pull off an upset here but being Khan’s home turf it’ll probably go to the ref and Amir will keep his record intact.

Vic Darchinyan meanwhile is in the Philipines facing Z Gorres in an elimination bout to get a shot at the super fly title. This one is hard to pick. Vic has said he ain’t gonna wait for the judges decision so expect him to go in hard and try and knock Gorres out (but then that’s always Vic’s gameplan anyway) Having found out that he’s not invincible is probably not a bad thing for Vic because he might actually remember to bring some defensive skills to this fight. I think he might need them but in a tight contest I think Vic’s power could be the difference. There, that sounds impressive doesn’t it?

Oh and by the way, I’m “officially” People magazine’s boxing expert now! I prefer boxing tragic but expert sounds much more impressive on the CV don’t it?

BEST OF 2007

2008-01-17T03:49:00.000-08:00

Hit Them Again Best Of 2007

Yeah, I know it’s nearly the end of January already but some of us have to deal with the real world too (or at least school holidays and all it encompasses) so here is my list, for what it’s worth of the best of 2007.

Fight of the Year – Joe Calzaghe Vs Mikkel Kessler.

Without a doubt this was the clear winner, two undefeated fighters, both at the top of their game and it was a fight where either man could have won, though Calzaghe edged away in the latter stages of the fight, it was never a safe fight for him because Kessler never gave up. I really thought Kessler had his measure early but Calzaghe hasn’t got this far without learning a few things. A great bout and it gave me that very rare buzz of anticipation as they stood in the ring waiting to get it on.

Runner Up – Sakio Bika Vs Jaidon Codrington.

Many purists don’t like the Contender concept but I say anything that puts boxing into the general publics’ mind and eye is a good thing. And this bout was a great advertisement for the sport. Both men forgot all about defense and went bang! Codrington down and then Bika down and then it just went punch for punch until finally young Jaidon could take no more. Not pretty by any means but a battle that made your heart skip more than a beat every round.

Boxer of the Year. Well I’d have to go with Sakio Bika. I don’t think anyone really expected him to even make the final of The Contender let alone win but he showed amazing heart and strength. It was a great victory for a man who just wants to do right by his family. And what a way to do it! With any luck now he can parlay that victory into a shot at a title and really show the world what he’s capable of. [providing someone shows him some defensive techniques]

Runner up: Miguel Cotto. His fight against Sugar Shane Mosley was a great bout and showed just how far he has come. I really thought that Mosley would be too big a step up for Cotto even with the age difference but we are about to see the beginning of a new era me thinks.

KO of the Year. Has to be Nonito Donaire’s one punch knockout of Vic Darchinyan. Vic has copped a lot of stick since then but hell, no one would have got up after that punch, it was perfect.

Runner Up. That hook from Mayweather that floored the previously unbeaten Ricky Hatton was beautiful to see. Not only had Hatton never been beaten he’d never been hurt like that. Who would have thought Mayweather had that in him really? Most people expected Mayweather to win sure but by points not by sheer power. That was supposed to be Ricky’s game!

Honorable mention to Kelly Pavlick’s comeback against Jermain Taylor. After looking like he was out on his feet he came back to pound Taylor into jelly. Awesome display of power.

Upset of the Year. An all Aussie affair here. Junmar Dulog’s points decision over rising star Heath Ellis in December has to be the biggest upset of 2007. The Filipino boys aren’t supposed to win, just give the Aussie boys a good work out. Dulog has been in against some tough competition though and maybe that was the difference – his experience. Great to see though, some of these boys do get ripped off in the close fights but this time things went Junmar’s way. And it won’t do young Ellis any harm to lose a bout anyway.

Runner Up would have to be late replacement Peter Cronje’s split decision victory over former Aussie Heavyweight Champ Colin Wilson on the Danny Green undercard. We’re talking 56 fights experience versus 8 and yet the South African pulled it off!

And an honorable mention to Green Vs Drews – not for the result but for the fact that Drews ran for the whole fight! Who would have predicted that?

Prospect of the Year. William Kickett is looking pretty good over there in Perth. Of course other than his last fight over Tommy Browne he probably hasn’t been seriously tested yet but he looks fast, sharp and he seems to have his shit together. He is a lad who could go places.

Runner Up Jamie Pittman has been quietly going about his work, picking up regional titles, maintaining an unbeaten record and working his way up the middleweight ladder, now rated no. 8 in the WBO. Don’t be surprised when he makes a chump out of some of the big names overseas.

Honorable mention to former Hit Them Again Fighter of the Year Ranee Ganoy who’s got Johnny Lewis and Jeff Fenech in his corner now and after knocking out former champ Robbie Peden has every chance of causing a few upsets on the world stage. Sure he’s not got the greatest record and his defence is a bit suspect but with the one punch knock out power he’s got and Johnny and Jeff behind him (not to mention Angelo Hyder) he could really cause some headaches on the world lightweight scene.

battling the demons with Lester Ellis

2007-11-13T17:02:00.000-08:00

Lester Ellis, former world junior lightweight boxing champion.

Forget the stories of Lester’s suicide attempts, of the bankruptcy, the struggles, sure Les is having a tough time retiring from a sport he lived 24/7 for over twenty years, sure he is fighting an ongoing battle with booze but Lester Ellis isn’t some punch drunk pug laying in a gutter somewhere, far from it. On the day I meet Lester he greets me at the front door of a two story mini mansion where the plasterers are doing repairs on the ground floor ceiling caused by flooding from the upstairs spa! In the late eighties Lester investments went bad, “I went to all the smarties, the solicitors, the accountants and they said put your money in real estate you can’t go wrong. I did and I went broke, we lost virtually everything.” But he did what he does best, he fought on, saving the money from his fights, his comebacks, four or five of them and he’s built this house from the ground up. We adjourn to the Trophy Room where the walls are covered in photos of Ellis in his prime, boxing posters, prints, title belts and trophies. Despite the financial struggles in the eighties and nineties Lester never let go of these mementoes. Though later on when I’m admiring his first belt – the IBF World junior lightweight championship belt – he jokingly says “You wanna buy it?” He has plans to give his kids some money for their futures, maybe some land and if the right price was offered he might just part with that belt. It was an enjoyable chat. I even met his dad as we had coffee after but Lester could never sit still. He was in and out of the house checking on his pigeons, offering to help the plasterers, talking and wandering... still struggling with his demons, he needs to keep busy. But here's a little bit of what Les had to say about things

What I know about…

Boxing

You do it for the money. It’s not a sport mate. Two people go in there and they kill each other, you’re trying to hurt someone. It’s not like football you know, when you get tired you can handball it to your mate and have a rest. In boxing if you want a rest, someone’s gonna hurt you.

Winning a world title

Hwan Kil Yuh, the IBF champion picked me as an easy fight…I was a nineteen year old kid, undefeated but with limited experience. They picked the wrong guy.

You can teach some one to play cricket or footy or different sports but its hard to teach someone who’s nineteen how to handle success. It was a bit of a rollercoaster.

Losing a world title

I got $100,000 for fighting Barry (Michaels) that was a house, a coupla houses.
When I was twelve he was twenty three and the Australian champion and I remember saying to my dad, “One day could I be as good as him?” Eight years later and he’s fighting me for my world title. We actually thought we could beat him but I fought his fight. I stood there and slugged it out. He was a bit stronger than me. Though I could punch harder, he was physically stronger.

Jeff Fenech

In 1992 or 1993 Bill Mordey offered him a million dollars to take me on but Jeff said, I’m not gonna butter Lester’s bread.” I said, “Well, the loser gets nothing the winner gets a million dollars.” You know, to prove I was genuine.

I boxed with him on a couple of occasions. (Sparring) He’s physically very strong but he can’t punch. Because of his hands he wasn’t a big puncher. I respect him but that was one fight that definitely should have happened.

Literacy

I was half pie illiterate. I couldn’t read, I couldn’t write but I wanted to read the boxing magazines, the books on how the greats dieted, how they got motivated so I taught myself. A year or two fair dinkum is better than ten years bullshitting around half hearted.

Brothels

After my fight with Hwan Kil Yuh he said (through his interpreter) “Listen Les I want to get a woman, an Australian woman with big boobs.” I said to my brother “Where do I take him?” and he said, “There’s a place in St. Kilda, Top Of The Town.” So, we took him there and there’s these doors you knock on and the first door unlocks he starts screaming out “Baaaagababaga!” like beautiful or something in his language, so we fixed it up, he went in there and I paid for a long time which is an hour and he was out in thirty seconds!

Puerto Rico

Mate they put us in cages fair dinkum. Fed us fruit and water and they had guns. We made a deal to fight in a place called San Juan for a certain amount of money, I think it was fifty thousand U.S. but as the fight got closer he (the promoter) said tickets aren’t going so well and the money went right down to nothing. We had to break out. My brother Keith just went bang, knocked out some guard. It was like something out of The Magnificent Seven you know, all dressed in white with the black gun belt going across, the guns… it was crazy. We got to the embassy and just got the hell out of there.

Anthony Mundine

I hadn’t fought for six years but I looked at him, I seen that he hadn’t been hit hard before… thought I might have a chance. But he was so big and every time I punched him BOOM you know… too big for me. If I was the same age, same weight division I definitely would have been a top chance but it (the fight) never should have happened.

Life after boxing

I love the boxing, I miss it terribly but enough is enough. I fought for twenty four years, it’s come to an end and I can honestly say I had a good career. It was hard not being super fit anymore but I could eat what I liked, no dieting anymore or running. I’ve got a gym at home and I teach some self defense, weight loss, general fitness, I do that part time. I don’t want to train people to be fighters I just want to get kids that are going the wrong way and keep their minds right, get them fit, if I can be a mentor to them, get them going, get them motivated that’d be good.

Lester’s biography, Fighting The Demons by Robert Drane is out now through ABC Books

An edited version of this interview appears in the December 2007 issue of Ralph magazine

INTERVIEW WITH THE GREEN MACHINE

2007-11-12T21:47:00.000-08:00

He might have faced off against Sylvester Stallone in Rocky Balboa but back in the real world Light Heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver wanted nothing to do with Aussie boxer Danny Green. After negotiations broke down for a title tilt at Tarver, Danny found himself with a better deal though, a WBA World Light Heavyweight title shot against former Paul Briggs victim Stipe Drews. And he gets to bring the fight home to Western Australia for Perth’s first ever World Title fight. I talked to the Green Machine as he prepared for the big day.

Thanks for taking the time out to talk to me Danny, how’s the training been going?

Pretty good. I’ve been training twice a day, six days a week. I usually have a six week preparation for a fight, I train for each and every fight like it’s a world title.
I don’t let myself go in my downtime, I’m only four or five kilos off weight whereas some guys, you know like Kostya Tszyu, will balloon up to in excess of twenty kilos over their fighting weight so it’s a long, arduous preparation to get in shape. I keep in shape 24/7 so it only takes me six weeks to reach my peak.

What about ring rust? You’ve only fought five rounds in the last year.

Well, time will tell come December 16^th. We spar hundreds of rounds in the lead up so no I’m not concerned about it.

Are you disappointed that the fight with Antonio Tarver fell through?

Well, I’m fighting for the WBA light Heavyweight tile in my backyard in Perth and it’s a much bigger and more prestigious world title. The Tarver fight was an attraction because he was the opponent. But they absolutely stuffed us around, led us up the garden path for fourteen weeks. It’s crystal clear that Tarver had no intentions of ever fighting me. They kept moving the goal posts and changing the deal, chopping money, a fairly large amount of money off the top of the deal too, that we’d agreed to a month earlier so it was clear that Tarver was doing all in his power to get out of fighting me. But in the end it turns out I get the WBA world title fight in my backyard. It’s a much bigger and better fight for me so I’m very happy.

And what about your opponent Stipe Drews. Just how good is he?

He’s the WBA world Champion and a former European champion. They don’t just give world title belts out. He’s only been defeated once and he’s fought some very, very good opposition. He’s an awkward opponent but I’m relishing the chance of getting in there and winning the world title.

What’s next after the fight?

Well, two days later my wife is due to give birth so I’m hoping to be at the hospital waiting for my baby to come out and then when I wet the head hopefully I’ll be able to have a double celebration for the world title and the birth of my new baby. And I dare say I’ll tie on a fairly large one.

What about future fights? Any idea who’s next?

I’m concentrating just on winning the world title. I’m not going to put the horse before the cart. I won the super middleweight championship with the WBC and I want to become a two-division champion and win the WBA Light Heavyweight championship. I know what it takes to win a championship. In order to win it takes complete and utter focus on your upcoming opponent.
Against Stipe Drews I’m going to have to be extremely aggressive and not leave anything to chance. I never make bold or brash statements, that’s not my style but I’m confident that I have what it takes to defeat Drews.

You’ve had weight problems in the past. Is that all over now?

It’s no secret I struggled with my weight. When I’m off training I carry around 8% body fat and to go into a fight with less than 4%% body fat, you don’t have any reserves, you have no stores, you have no petrol in the tank. I’ve progressed into a natural light heavyweight. I was a super middleweight but I couldn’t make that weight anymore and I’m really happy because I can get up now and have breakfast.

There has been talk of a Mundine fight again in the future hasn’t there?

Yeah, obviously a rematch is something I want, I don’t like losing and I’d love to redeem myself. He (Mundine) started the ball rolling with a few quotes regarding me so I’d love to have a rematch and I’m more than happy to have that rematch as a world champion.

He’d have to come up in weight then?

Well mate I can’t make Supper Middle anymore, it’s unhealthy so yeah he’d have to come up.

What about boxing heroes? Do you have any?

I don’t have boxing heroes. I class the word hero in a totally different light than a lot of other people do. To me a hero is someone who’s dealt with tragedy or illness in their life and soldiered on. Or guys who go to work to put bread and butter on the table for their kids, going to a job they hate… for me that’s a hero. I’m blessed to earn a living doing something I love.

But in boxing, people I love watching, fighting and I guess just idolised growing up and now really respect, love their fights, their style of fighting were Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran, Muhammad Ali, Diego Corrales.

You have a five year old daughter, Chloe...

Yeah she’s the apple of my eye, she’ll be six in February She’s everything to me, the older she gets the closer we get. She got in trouble at school for elbowing a little girl and I’m in Sydney training and she’s in Perth so I rang up and she said, “Dad, I tried to lean over to see a book that was being read at book time and a girl elbowed me in the stomach so I elbowed her back.” And I couldn’t really tell her off because I’ve always taught her to stick up for herself and defend herself. You know I don’t want my daughter growing up and thinking that someone is going to have it over her. And if push comes to shove I want my daughter to be able to handle herself but at the same time she is only five years old and she’s gotta realise that most of the kids don’t know how to react. In one way I couldn’t tell her off because just she did what I told her to but in another way I had to pull her back and tell her “well love next time give them one chance and warn them and then fight back if that’s the case or you walk away.”

Does she understand what you do for a living?

She does, but I don’t let her watch my fights. For a little girl who’s father is her idol, her hero it’s very distressing to watch him getting punched in the face. She knows I’m a boxer and we’ll be walking along the street and people ask for an autograph or a photo and she kind of wonders, “What are these people doing?” but she’s kind of got the drift now. And I don’t make a big deal of it or anything, I want to make sure she’s completely grounded in her life.

Well, thanks for talking to us. I talked to Sakio Bika just before he did The Contender and he won, so I’m hoping for two out of two.

Wasn’t that f***** fantastic? I’m just so rapt for Sakio and his family. He’s come from Cameroon, done it hard over there and then come here and he gave Calzaghe a hard fight and now he’s made a real name for himself in America on the Contender so I’m just rapt to bits for him. I wish every fighter could do that for their family unfortunately they can’t but when I see someone like Sakio succeeding it just brings a smile to my face, I’m rapt.

Thanks for talking to us Danny and good luck with the fight, we’ll be watching.

No worries. Now I know what I said too mate so I don’t want any wobbly bits slipped into the interview.

(and I hope I haven’t!)

Danny Green Faces off against Stipe Drews on December 16^th in Perth. Screening in pubs and clubs and on main event. Check your Foxtel guide for details.

Danny Green’s record: 27 fights – 24 wins (22 by ko) 3 defeats
Stipe Drews’ record : 33 fights – 32 wins (13 by ko) 1 defeat

In the land of the blind...

2007-10-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

Anthony Mundine has announced his next bout - an optional title defence on December 10 against Jose Alberto Clavero. His eye is still giving him trouble and he doesn’t have full vision but then again he’s fighting a guy that Sam Soliman ko’d in 2004, who’s won 2 fights out of his last seven, his last fight being a draw the two before that losses (including one against paul briggs where he was disqualified because he didn’t want to fight anymore!) – Mundine only needs one eye!

That’s what pisses me most about “The Man”. For all his bragging and showboating, he doesn’t give the fans any respect at all. Another poor Argentinian schmuck who realistically won’t give him too much trouble and he expects us to pay to see him do it. If he is the best take on the best (or at least some one in a top 10 somewhere). He proved in his fight with Green that he is good, damn good but apart from taking on a blown up light middle/middleweight in Soliman he’s done nothing since. He should remember what happened to Taylor. Taking on guys who were smaller than him, not beating them convincingly at all, in fact getting gift decisions and then when a banger comes along that weighs the same as him – pow, he’s no longer champ. The Man wants to be careful the same doesn’t happen to him. And it would be nice if he gave the fans and the sport a bit more respect and a bit more credibility… prove how good you are and we will believe you but taking on guys like Clavero aren’t helping you or the sport.

the ghost who walks

2007-10-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

That’s what I like about boxing! Here we have Jermain Taylor the man who beat the man facing the undefeated small town slugger in Kelly Pavlik and making Pavlik look bad when, pow, Pavlik nails him and Taylor goes down. That’s the thing about this sport – that unpredictability, that moment when it can all turn around. Taylor was dominating Pavlik, hell he damn near had him gone in round two (and I’m sure there will be many an argument that it should have been stopped) and he was showing his skill, his speed, his style (and about time) but Pavlik had heart, guts and an obvious belief in himself. You just have to look at the way he came out for the third round. Most boxers after getting put down so heavily in the previous round would have been cautious, dancing, holding, just trying to get their head back together, but not “the ghost” he comes out swinging, showing Taylor that he wasn’t intimidated, wasn’t hurt, that he wanted to continue brawling. We can say lucky punch, bad ref, he never should have been there, whatever but admit it, the middleweight division is exciting again isn’t it? Taylor’s last couple of fights did nothing for him or boxing – hell, Spinks beat him, Wright got a dubious draw, Hopkins beat him first time round – he needed to step up and for six rounds he did look the goods, maybe a loss is what he needed too. And Pavlik well he’s the American small town dream. Still with his original trainer, a brawler, one punch power, exciting and willing to take them all on. Now the question is, how long will he be the champ? Would Taylor take him out in a rematch? Hell, would Taylor want to fight him that way again or will he be smart and stay out of his way? (assuming they have a rematch – Pavlik might want an easy defense first). Whatever goes down, boxing is getting exciting – the fights we want are happening in the smaller divisions, Sam Peters is at least making the big boys look like they have potential and the trinkets are becoming less important all the time. (I mean ask yourself – who are the other middleweight champs? And how did they get the belts… did they beat Taylor?) It dragged there for awhile (hence the emptiness of this blog) but now, shoot, now we got some fun happening again.

Boys keep swinging

2007-05-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

Floyd Mayweather V OScar De La Hoya... tomorrow morning finally it happens. Who will win? well, my heart would love to see De La Hoya kicks Mayweather's arse but i think it might go the other way. That said, Zab Judah showed that Mayweather ain't as good as we all think he is and just maybe De La Hoya can put the pressure on and can end his unbeaten streak. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if he did but Mayweather's speed may be the deciding factor. OScar has to get close enough to hit Floyd first... i'm looking forward to it and it's great to see a big fight actually happen, to see the best fight the best - we need more of it.
So, the hitthemagain tip? Hell, i'm gonna stick with the heart (why change now?) De La Hoya to break Mayweather down in the later rounds.

Aussie Aussie Aussie???

2007-05-04T18:28:00.000-07:00

What’s wrong with boxing? Why isn’t it taken seriously in this country despite the depth of talent and the world champions we now have? I mean Darchinyan, N’Dou, Mundine and Katsidis all have belts, regardless of how highly we may think of those baubles and they are world champions sort of (or at least up there with the best in the world anyway) but still its not a sport that garners the attention of the public like the cricket or footy or even the bloody golf! Well, here’s something to think about.

Friday night fights on Fox sports – bigtime boxing live from Cronulla 4^th May. Australian Junior Middleweight title on the line. That’s right Australian championship on the line. The champion Ryan Waters has had eight fights and won five. The challenger Jay Sims has had five fights and won two! And they’re fighting for the belt, for the right to be Aussie champion! Now, I don’t mean offence to either fighter because they did put up a hell of a show but come on…thirteen fights between them and the Aussie belt is on the line!? Two victories and you get a shot at the title? And Waters beat Sam Setu for the title and Setu isn’t rated in the ANBF top ten?

I know the best fighters are chasing the regional belts and trying to get rated in the world rankings and the rules are that you can’t hold a regional and Aussie title at the same time but come on … what about some common sense? Let them hold both until they truly are fighting international fights (and I don’t mean some poor schmuck from Indonesia who comes over to get flattened by the local boy and keep his record clean).

There’s what? 3 or 4 of those regional baubles floathing around now? That could mean the best four fighters in any weight division in Australia are prevented from holding the Australian belt? How does that help the sport?

Look at the champions of the past – Tony Mundine, Charkey Ramon, Hector Thompson, Tony Miller, Bobby Dunlop, Paul Ferrerri… etc etc that’s a list that takes your breath away with its talent and depth. The Australian title was something you held with pride, it was a stepping stone to the world rankings, now it seems like it’s a left over for the guys who don’t get that chance. If we can’t get the best in this country to fight each other how can we expect anyone but us fanatical supporters to even care about the sport? And again I reiterate I am in no way trying to put down the boxers who do get the chance to fight for the titles I just want to see the best go at it, I want to see the sport become mainstream (or at least get more coverage) and I can’t see that happening with fights like Friday nights job – great contests but irrelavent.

When people think titles or championships or premierships or world cups they expect to see the best vs the best – not the team on the bottom vs the team in the middle ‘cos the other guys are too busy doing something else or are caught up in the politics or just don’t care about the cup/belt/pride. And how did it help young Sims to get the shot anyway? Sure he looked competitive for a while but he got beat up, he gets another loss (now 2-4) how does that help him? Hell, he might just get sick of getting beat up and we’ll lose him from the sport altogether.

We could be up there with the world’s best – some of our fighters already are but if we keep spoonfeeding opponents to the new kids, if we keep denigrating the Aussie title, if we keep claiming these regional belts really mean anything in the bigger picture we could lose this chance to really put boxing back on the map, to really get it back out there in the mainstream where it should be. I don’t want three channels of bloody rugby I want three channels of boxing!!!

Green Eggs and Ham

2007-01-23T19:54:00.000-08:00

So Danny Green took care of Murdoch within two rounds… was it that unexpected? Granted I thought the fight might have gone a little longer, after all DeLisle stretched him was it 9 rounds? I fell asleep. Anyway, Green looked good but once again, the opposition didn’t. No offense to Murdoch but he got the fight based on LOSING to someone not on his winning ways.
It’s getting harder to judge any of our better Aussie boxers because they so rarely step up. And when they finally do, they are usually found wanting. (wanting to go back home for the soft targets). And it isn’t just Green – who remembers anyone the Hussein boys have fought (other than the guys who kicked their butts) or when Mundine got himself back into title contention by beating up Lester Ellis?! Glen Kelly getting himself a title shot against Roy Jones Jr after facing what, two decent o/s opponents? Katsidis on his way to a title shot because he’s fought??? (Anyone name a ‘name’ opponent?)
And I know it ain’t just the Aussies – everyone pads their records, no one wants to lose a fight, and journeymen make their living out of this caper but still – how can you expect realistically to beat the best in the world when you constantly fight “gimmes”. (Ask Jeff Lacy)
What sort of lead up is it fighting some poor bastard from the Phillipines or Bali, some schmuck from Argentina (At least Green has fought a couple of guys reasonably rated even if they were never going to win – Mundine fought ??? oh yeah, the powder puff with one knockout to his name)
There’s obviously plenty of talent in the Aussie boxing scene – Green, Mundine, Briggs, Hussein boys, Bika, Ndou, St. Clair, Ben Rabah, Katsidis… but so often when the time comes to take the next step, to take that title shot, they just don’t seem to have that little bit of extra experience, the background of fighting back from behind, they so rarely have to dig deep at home that when they hit the big stage they don’t know what to do when it goes against them. You can almost see some of Fenech’s boys going “Hey, I hit him, why hasn’t he fallen down? Now what do I do?”
The one man who has stepped up is Vic Darchynian. But then has he been tested yet? No one wants to face him it seems. Here is a world champion and yet you wouldn’t know it – Vic has to learn to be an obnoxious, big mouth if he wants to make the headlines. Talent alone plus a world title don’t seem to rate in the news here. Maybe he should say he’s going to play soccer in between fights or run for mayor or badmouth the Aussie cricketers or something… anything to get a press conference, a headline. Hopefully though, he won’t have to, hopefully his talent and those belts around his waist will get him the recognition here that he seems to be building overseas. And just maybe, he can get one of the big names to stand still long enough for Vic to beat them up, then maybe he’ll get the recognition he deserves int his country. Until then, I guess we just have to keep paying ridiculous prices to see Green and Mundine take on guys who don’t have a chance while they spruke about being the best. (Well, Green doesn’t quite do that, but boofhead most certainly does. To be the best you have to beat the best or something like that… well, then bloody do it Anthony do it. As far as I remember Kessel beat you not the other way around.)
So much talent in this country and yet so few titles… please prove me wrong boys I’d be so happy to apologise.

reality... what a concept. The Contender

2006-08-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Now I’m not a fan of reality tv, finding it puerile, pointless and seemingly just there to create instant celebrity and make up for the lack of any decent drama or original thought on the idiot box these days… but then I’m hooked on The Contender and RockStar Supernova so where does that leave me? Of course reality has very little to do with rock and roll anyway or for that matter boxing when you consider the likes of don king and sly stallone so maybe I’m really hooked on un-reality shows. Whatever they are doesn’t matter… the new season of The Contender has really raised the bar. From the first week when Michael Clark, a pre-show favourite, was eliminated this show has promised surprises. And each week it delivers.
What I’ve always liked about the concept was the fact that you got to see the boxers as real people, with families and ambitions and problems. You got to see, even though it’s the idiot box version, their lives. This was no better illustrated than this past week’s episode where Michael Stewart and Ebo Elder squared off. You see, both families had hit it off and the kids and the wives were now friends (as were in fact the husbands) but then Michael and Ebo had to “go to work” which meant beat each other up. It was a moment you couldn’t create when the fighters told their wives who they were fighting… you could see the looks on their wives faces as they contemplated what was about to happen. It made them all more human I guess (despite Ebo’s religious waffle I still like the guy)… and the bout itself was intense. Stewart showed that you’re always in with a puncher’s chance and after getting picked off for three rounds by Elder, came up with the punch to finish the fight and continue on in the show. Unlike some of the previous bouts where there had been words, had been tension between the fighters – these two were prepared it seems to be happy either way win or lose… Only Ebo’s daughter seemed distraught, the rest were very accepting although Stewart himself was visibly upset upon hearing how Elder’s daughter had reacted. It made for an intense episode and some great television. And it made the fighters look all the more human and that can’t be bad for the sport at all.

is this the end of the free world?

2006-08-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

So the rock isn’t the man we hoped he was… or at least the man the American people thought he was. Did anyone really fall for that jingoistic crap anyway? The last man standing between the Eastern Bloc and the rest of the free world. Christ, it’s a professional sport not a war. Although, that said this fight was a war. Maskaev and Rahman really laid it on for us didn’t they? That was probably the most action packed heavyweight title fight I’ve seen since Big Bob and Rob Calloway. And it came right down to the wire… I really had trouble separating them after the 11 rounds and wouldn’t have been surprised if it had gone either way. It was a battle between those hard, controlling jabs of Rahman and those hefty, smash and grab hooks of Maskaev. In the end though Maskaev obviously didn’t want to trust the judges and what a way to win. Twelth round, fuck it I’m gonna smash the champion til he can’t stand up. A new WBC champion and now you have to say, hey maybe European boxers aren’t that bad. It seems they always get bagged but have a look fellas – all the heavyweight titles, Calzaghe made Lacey look like a chump. Hatton is just waiting for his chance to knock off Mayweather, and some of those African exports in the lower weights look purty tough too. We may be about to witness a whole new era in boxing. I hope so. For too long the sport has been controlled by a few and we get shite anfter shite fight foisted upon us. Thing could be changing. I’m almost excited again.

Is there somewhere I can go for my addiction?

2006-06-28T18:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I do wonder what it is about this sport that makes me love it so much, that makes me spend hours in front of the tv, hours reading and rereading magazines, searching the internet, reading blogs and websites… I mean, what is this addiction to a sport that is often brutal, that is corrupt and subject to outside influence, that is sometimes so dull and boring that you want to throw something at the tv, want to jump in the ring and slap the fighter upside the head and say “throw a left you fool, he’s wide open for it!” But its an addiction I can’t stop. I just love the science of it, the pacing, the subtle moves, the roll of the shoulder, the quick jab, the inside body punches, the sheer power of a hard right… I’m a sucker for it. Which makes it hard when you see the cheating and bad judgements, the dull fights, the recent spate of old farts fighting well past their use by date, the lack of mainstream coverage for anything good that happens in boxing, just the bad calls, the tantrums…
But, hell I’m still watching, I’m still spending my money on ppv’s and magazines, logging on, blogging, so I guess they won’t change will they? But some day I will make a stand, I promise.
And maybe it’ll be Vargas/Mosley II (maybe not). I mean sure, the first fight was a good one but do I want to see them do it again? Despite what people say, I didn’t think Vargas was up to the challenge. Mosley was wearing him down, he was faster, slicker and a boxer. He doesn’t have anything to prove against Vargas so why take him on again? I said so time ago that I thought Mosley might just be a decent challenge for Mayweather and the other top echelon welters… I still think he can be… maybe he wants to show them that he is, that it wasn’t a fluke over Vargas. He sure as shit should be able to beat Hatton, who I didn’t think won against Collazo. Sure, he had that flash knockdown but really, he was being outworked by Collazo from about the fourth round on. It was much closer than the judges called it. But then I guess, there’s a fair bit of money tied up in Hatton now isn’t there? They could hardly afford a loss in his first big bout in the U.S. (cynical, who me?)
So Mosley is in there maybe with a chance. If he gets the right backing. And what about Taylor/Wright? How lucky can one man be? Close decisions against Hopkins and a draw against Winky… Taylor’s got to learn to pull the trigger… he can’t rely on the judges to always give him the close ones (or maybe he can – after all it’s worked so far!)
And speaking of Hopkins… how good was the executioner in his finale? Tarver had absolutely no answer and no magic. Hopkins has finished on a high. Let’s hope he’s smart enough to stop now, with a defining victory over the universally recognized best light heavy in the world. My money though would be on Hopkins/Jones II just because the egos will demand it. That is of course if Jones can beat the prince whoever the hell he is. So where was I? Oh yeah, why do I still love this sport, why am I waiting for Contender II to start, why am I still spending money on ppv’s I don’t really rate? Because, goddamn it, I still get a thrill out of seeing two young fighters going for broke, I still love watching the magic of a Winky Wright, the power of a Paul Briggs, the sheer skill of Floyd Mayweather. And every now and then someone like Carlos Baldomir comes along and shows everyone that dreams can come true. As long as that keeps happening, well then I’ll be watching.

As I wipe the egg off my face...

2006-05-30T04:13:00.000-07:00

Okay so I was wrong. What’s new? It does say on the masthead that this is a fan’s eye view – and being a fan means you aren’t always objective. I truly did think that Green had what it took to finish Mundine off but power ain’t everything (and in this fight it weren’t nothing) It was Green who couldn’t adapt or change his fightplan while Mundine had obviously done his homework and fought a beautiful and intelligent fight – fast fists and feet, keeping out of range, he was just too good. It was depressing to watch after about the fifth round – I already knew then that Green wasn’t going to win. So I take my hat off to Mundine he has improved significantly, let’s see if he can keep up the standard. As a person I still don’t like his loudmouth persona nor his bullshit racism charges (face it Anthony some people don’t like you just cos you are you – it has got nothing to do with colour) but as a boxer I have to rate him very highly. He’s on the brink of maybe achieving that world title again (and this time it will be a proper one).One other interesting point – when the fight finally came on (after the longest undercard in recent history) I was actually excited – I mean by that, I had butterflies, adrenaline all that stuff – I haven’t felt like that for a long time – it was nice to get that buzz again. I mean we’ve seen some okay fights recently but really how many times do we have to see Oscar or Hopkins or Tarver ad nauseum – what about the up and comers – what about Manny or Barrera (here in oz they are always delayed telecasts – rarely live) but we always get Hopkins and the lame ducks over and over. Hell, we still haven’t had Calzaghe V Lacy. That said though I am looking forward to Wright V Taylor even though I think Wright will be far too ring savvy for the young kid. It was nice to get the buzz again though and it has inspired a few of us to venture out in search of some local boxing. Sadly Adelaide doesn’t have much of a scene. However there’s a couple of (amateur) nights happening this month – so watch for my reports.

Countdown to Man V Machine

2006-05-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we’re one day away from what is being called the greatest fight in Australia’s boxing history – Man V Machine – Mundine V Green. Never thought we’d see it happen but unless something fucking drastic happens in the next 24 hours we will finally watch the best two supermiddleweights in this country beat each other up. My tip? Green in six. Mundine is fast, skilled and a superb boxer but other than when he boxed Echols and fought smart he hasn’t shown us that he can think in the ring, on the job. Against Manny Siaca you could see that Mundine just couldn’t get his head around the fact that his game plan wasn’t working and he couldn’t adapt, he couldn’t change. Green ain’t anywhere near as skilful as Mundine but he has the power, the will and I think the experience to do what has to be done. Sure if Anthony can stay out of the way for 12 rounds he can win on points but all indicators are that he seriously thinks he can mix it with Danny and win! That won’t happen. If he tries to trade punches with Green he’s going to get beaten badly. Of course I could be totally wrong, I have been before but I think the caliber of recent opposition will tell, I think Mundine’s ego will make him step in to show he can take it (he can’t)and I think Green’s sheer determination (and the lessons he’s learned from his loss to Beyer) will make the difference. If you have any doubts just watch Green V Lucas – if he can get that form back the black superman will be in trouble.

Another meaningless fight

2006-05-12T04:26:00.000-07:00

Hey DeLaHoya beat Mayorga… who woulda picked that?
(Disclaimer: on a website I voted for mayorga… it was wishful thinking)
I don’t think anyone seriously thought Mayorga could upset Delawhorea did they? He maybe had a slugger’s chance but that’s all. I mean, that’s why Trinidad used him for his comeback… cos Ricardo is there to be hit if you’re fast enough as Trinny and Whorea are. I have to admit I had hoped that Mayorga might have got one of this big blows in and upset the applecart but right from the first it was obvious that wasn’t going to happen. Whorea was too fast for Mayorga and although a few of his body shots were getting through he wasn’t doing any real damage. Mind you , that uppercut in the third was purty impressive, he just couldn’t follow up. Oscar was just too quick, too clever and Ricardo’s habit of standing there to soak it up just played into his hands. I’m just glad it wasn’t me who paid for the broadcast. Question now is who does DeLaHoya take on next and do we care?! All the talk is Mayweather… hell, Mayweather will whip oscar’s ass… and no I don’t think Mayweather is that good…but he is younger, faster and fitter. If Oscar is smart he’ll remember what happened to Trinidad. It’s one thing to beat Mayorga it’s another to beat someone who can box!

Pound For Pound My Ass!

2006-04-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well, Mayweather and Judah finally got it on and the results were as to be expected, especially when you consider that Judah lost his Undisputed welterweight Championship title not that long ago to the unheralded Carlos Baldomir. Of course, the trinket holders didn’t worry about that and this fight was still for the IBF belt because Baldomir apparently couldn’t afford the sanctioning fees for all the belts in his fight so despite Judah’s loss he gets to still be champion?! Work that one out. Let Mayweather wave his fourth belt about- it really don’t mean shit these days, it ain’t like he’s another Henry Armstrong or anything after all.
Anyways we’ll just ignore the bullshit belt and concentrate on the fight itself.

I don’t think anyone was surprised by the result, after all the writing was on the wall from about round 5 on that Zab had already run his race. I was surprised though at one judge giving it 119-109. Was he watching the same fight that we were? How could he give Zab just one round? I mean Mayweather gave away the last two after the low blow in the tenth (we’ll get to that round later) and Zab had at least three of the first four. Here in the RRRRRumble househole we had it damn close 115/114 although to be fair it was probably 116/113. I thought the first round was even. Zab had the next three with his jab controlling the pace and that slip? in round two was very dubious. Mayweather got tagged simple as that. From, the fifth round on though, Mayweather started to take control and Judah seemed content to just try and steal the rounds with last minute bursts of activity. He looked good when he did try but he just wasn’t trying enough. At times Mayweather wasn’t necessarily looking great, Judah was just looking worse, especially around the seventh and eighth rounds. Of course it all went silly in the tenth when Zab did a Ricky Hatton and threw a low blow that could have almost taken Floyd Jr.s kneecaps out too. Roger Mayweather certainly didn’t make hisself look good by charging in to protest but its interesting that it was Judah’s side that threw the first punch and that Zab had to get in on the act too, wacking one of the cornermen with a cheapshot behind play. It will be interesting to see who gets what bans, fines and slaps on the wrist. Zab has already shown that he’s just a spoilt brat in the past with his attack on Jay Nady when Kostya caned his pimp ass and most recently his bad sportsmanship against Baldomir let alone trying to blame Don King for the loss in that fight. (probably the first time Don King wasn’t to blame!)The fight was already over really, the last two rounds were Zab’s because Floyd was nursing sore balls and taking it easy. In the end all we got was proof that Zab Judah is the spoilt brat we all thought he was and that Mayweather ain’t half as good as he thinks he is. P4P? Not yet. At least he stepped up and fought someone in the top 10 but come on, he got tagged, he got found out by Zab’s jab, if he was fighting someone who wasn’t such a half arsed sook he’d be in trouble. He’s certainly up there with the best fighters but until he fights a few more of them he certainly ain’t the best.

I could have been a contender

2006-04-04T17:59:00.000-07:00

Calloway to appear on ESPN Wednesday Night Fights

WBF heavyweight champion Rob Calloway who featured in the hitthemagain fight of the year against Big Bob Mirovic is taking a step up on the 26th April when he takes on Jameel “Big Time” McCline. Jameel may not necessarily be big time any more (I don’t see his name in any of the top 10 rankings) but this is still a big fight for Rob. To be honest I can’t see Calloway ever being a top 10 fighter but saying that, who the hell is Sergie Liakhovich?! He just knocked off Lamon Brewster who I had big wraps on and who i thought was going to be a big name in the heavyweights and now he's been beat by some guy who's name I can’t even see in the March 2006 WBO top 10. The door is open right now, maybe Rob can take the next step, maybe he will take out one of the bigger trinkets. If he ever had a chance now is probably that chance. April 26 will tell us if he’s got what it takes. Good luck to him he certainly can’t be any worse than Toney, Ruiz or Valuev. And having seen Rob fight I gotta say he's a lot more entertaining.

Interesting to see on the undercard that the undefeated Allan Green is taking on Contender fighter and no.1 dad Anthony Bonsante. Can’t see how this will help Bonsante’s career but I guess any tv time helps, even a possible flogging from the rising star that Green is. (Or maybe Bonsante sees something there that we’ve missed?)
The Contender is still showing here in the land of Oz. And I’m enjoying it, even though I already know the overall winner. Of course there are some stupid things, like the challenges and the editing of the fights and those stupid sound effects and of course Sylvester Stallone but hey, how often do you get to see boxers out of the ring unless they’re in court ala Tyson. The best thing about this show is that human side of the fighters, the fact that they are all manipulating each other, that they have families, dreams, goals. It’s great just to watch these people as people not just pugilists. I hope when the second series kicks off we here in Australia actually get it the same year it comes out! At least then there will be some mystery to it. I should mention too that it was very hard to watch it early on knowing that Najai Turpin had already taken his own life. Watching the episode where he lost the fight you really wouldn’t have expected such an outcome. I mean the guy started playing hide and seek with his kid, he seemed to have realised that yeah, he lost a fight but he still had so much personally anyway. Being an old softy I went and hugged my own daughter a little harder that night. Remember don’t let the demons get you. End of sermon.

Who would have thought we'd be missing Lennox Lewis?

2006-03-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

It was supposed to be the fight that would get the heavyweights rolling again, the stoush that would give us a clear favourite and an idea where the other guys really stood. I’m talking about Hasim Rachman V James Toney for the WBC heavyweight trinket. Toney had talked himself up and fattened himself up from middleweight thru cruiser to heavy. Somehow he’d got everyone’s imagination going and he was thought of as a genuine contender. We should have known better. After all who’d he beat? Oh yeah, Evander Holyfield on his way down and John Ruiz, that hardly counts. (An aside here - Ruiz is like Kylie Minogue and cockroaches – impossible to kill. The fucker will still be here after the nuclear bombs drop, with Kylie humming at his side and cockroaches scurrying around his feet waving contracts.) Rahman had his one big day in the sun, nailing Lennox with a perfect punch and has never been able to do it again. Still, at the moment this fight was the best the heavyweights had to offer. Right from the word go it looked like a mismatch. Toney looked like the fat kid who always does bombs in the pool. He’s got himself a championship fight and he comes in looking like that!? I know the belts are trinkets but come on show some respect. Rahman set the pace early throwing jabs and even wobbling fatboy but by the second round was drawn into the brawling/in close style that Toney wanted to fight. Despite this Rahman was still clearly in control. Behind the jab he looked great, why he kept choosing to then step in close and brawl is anyone’s guess.
Maybe after tasting a few Toney rights in the third he knew he couldn’t get hurt and so decided to stay in close; I don’t know but it probably cost him the fight in the end.
Toney did look good around 5/6 though he was already looking tired. After that he’d come out strong, throw a few haymakers then fade completely. Rahman was always in control, always had the answers and yet he had to settle for a majority draw.How this was judged a draw is beyond me. I had it 117/111 (as did one of the judges) – 9 rounds to 3 but I could see an argument for maybe 8 rounds to 4. I couldn’t see it even though, no matter how many times I watched it. So what fight were the other two judges watching? They were obviously having trouble seeing around fatboy’s girth because they didn’t seem to notice the work Rahman was doing. Of course, Rahman is to blame too. After all, he was the heavyweight, he should have been able to put Toney away. Where was the power, where was the big punch? He worked the body throughout the fight but he never really took advantage of that work. And with Don King involved (surprise!) we’ll probably have to sit through it all again. I just hope Byrd V Klitschko is a better fight. Actually that’s a bit unfair, it wasn’t a bad fight – wasn’t a great fight true but they did at least throw punches – it was just that the result was ridiculous and that Toney shouldn’t have even been there.
And what does Brewster have to do to get some recognition? At least he holds a trinket. Where did Toney come from to get the shot at Rahman first? Ah the foibles of boxing...
Now I'm just waiting for someone to give Ibragimov a chance. (not that it will happen but it’s on my wish list) then maybe we will see some movement in the heavyweights.

Man V Machine Finally

2006-02-27T17:13:00.000-08:00

The big fight is finally going to happen! Yes, Green V Mundine - the man V the machine.
It's about time too. Of course Anthony Mundine couldn't resist his whole me against the system routine at the press conference - claiming he's a grass -roots fella, an aboriginal muslim while Green is the blond haired, blue eyed corporate type. Ah yeah, Anthony - that would be why you showed up in a cream suit and hat looking like some Yankee black pimp - cos that's what aboriginal muslims do??? And the boof headed carpenter from Perth is the corporate guy??
Face it man, you were a good rugby player but you weren't the best - that's why you didn't make the state of origin - nothing to do with colour just ability. And you can box, damn fast, damn smooth but then again against most of your opponents you couldn't look anything but fast and smooth - come on! At least Green has faced a few hardier men in his time - he wants to risk it to better himself. Mundine seems to have backed himself into a corner where he just can't risk losing (except in title fights where he some how tries to claim moral victories). It's going to be (hopefully) a damn good fight. There is no doubting Mundine's ability but there's also no doubting Green's heart. If Sven Ottke (not known for his punching power) could put Mundine out cold imagine what Green can do if he connects. That could be the story. If Mundine can stay out of the way and box, if he can keep his ego in check and not try and fight it toe to toe - he could come away with the points but if he wants to trade blows - well, it'll be all over before you can say "Yo Pimp Daddy Mack."

April Fools

2006-02-27T17:03:00.000-08:00

So Mayweather and Judah are still gonna fight. That's fine, i don't have a problem with them still getting it on. However, calling it a title fight is surely pushing the envelope a bit. Just because Baldomir didn't put sanctioning fees up to the other parasites Zab can still claim to be champion? Gimme a break. He was the undisputed champ, he got beat - end of story. How Mayweather and he can keep beating off about the ibf championship being on the line and keep a straight face at the same time is beyond me. Instead of fighting April 8 maybe they should have it on April 1. Hey, it might even be a good fight - although Zab Judah would have to be one of the most overrated fighters on the planet - but it ain't a title fight. Mayweather wants to be the best - start fighting the best then. Too much jawing, not enough actual action. Sure he beat Gatti - and? Who didn't think he would. He's fast, he's powerful but he's also full of shit. Admit you just wanna pound on Zab and make a few bucks - that i can respect. This title fight hoohah - forget it. And will someone get Don King outta the fucking picture?!

You gotta keep your eye on the prize

2006-01-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

Zab Judah just found that out when he took challenger (and WBC No. 1 contender) Carlos Baldomir too lightly on the weekend. Rumours have it that Zab did no sparring/serious preparation for this bout other than with a few amateur boxers, instead looking too far ahead at his big bucks fight with Mayweather. You would have thought that given Erik Morales just made the same (losing) mistake against Zahir Raheem that Judah would have been better prepared. He wasn’t though and now he ain’t the champion anymore. Instead, Baldomir, a ‘journeyman’ from Argentina who was prepared to work for his chance is now the Ring’s welterweight champion of the world. (And of course WBC as well – he didn’t get the other two ‘cos his management didn’t put up bucks for them. The alphabet gang will have to now find a couple of more champs – hey Kostya, maybe you can get that big fight now – Zab’s gonna need something to do!)
It’s hard to believe though that in a sport this ‘professional’, in a sport where upsets do and have consistently happened, that Zab Judah and his team weren’t ready, weren’t taking this fight seriously. So much for the ‘new’ Zab, the new serious, mature fighter. Let’s see if he accepts any of the blame himself for this loss. My bet is he won’t. It’ll be his trainers, the WBC, the matchmakers, the guy at the corner shop, everyone but the man himself. And Mayweather will be kicking himself, here was a big bucks moment – a fight people would have paid to see – and it just got KO’ed. What does he do now? Does he stay at welterweight, maybe take on Sugar Shane Mosley or Margarito or does he go back down and look at Hatton or Tszyu. That’s what I love about boxing, it only takes one fight to change everything.
You gotta keep your eye on the prize. And you gotta remember that the prize is the fight you’re currently in, not the one coming up later!

Best of 2005

2006-01-06T22:40:00.000-08:00

So another year has gone. Shit, that was fast… or so it seems as you get older! (I know, I know the kids don’t want to hear us old farts talk about time flying by.)
Well, I guess I should follow the tradition and do the best of 2005 type thing. And it was a good year for the fight game despite the usual farces (Ruiz, Rahman, etc etc) and the odd dodgy fight. (Just how did Mayorga get a title shot?) But look at the fights we did get. Coralles/Castillo I (& II) – Arce/Hussein I – Tszyu/Hatton (actually a pretty damn good fight despite the ending) Wright/Trinidad (OK not so good for Trinidad but a superb showcase for Winky’s skills). My pick for the fight of the year though goes to Big Bob Mirovic Vs Rob Calloway for something called the WBF Heavyweight Championship of the World back in June of 2005. Sure, you can’t get much lower on the totem pole (actually you can – IBO anyone?) but this was twelve rounds of non stop boxing from two middle of the field heavyweights; both who suffered broken bones – Calloway broke his cheekbone and fractured an eye socket/ Mirovic fought most of the fight with a broken jaw – despite the injuries though they both went at it for the full twelve rounds. When was the last time you saw two heavweights actually fight for the whole damn fight? No clinches, no leaning on each other, none of that shit just punches being thrown and thrown again. It was a damn fine fight and I bet most of the boxing community outside of Oz didn’t even see it. The good news is Mirovic and Calloway have said they’re willing to do it again in February. It’ll be interesting to see if the rematch can live up to the first fight, they so rarely do these days (Arce/Hussein II anyone?) but with Big Bob in there you can be sure he’ll give his all.
And continuing in the vein… my fighter of the year for 2005 is one Ranee Ganoy. Ganoy, from the Philippines is currently fighting out of Australia and had five fights for 2005, winning four. Fighting from lightweight to welterweight his only loss this past year was to Michael Katsidis and he’s not alone there since Katsidis had already iced 15 other opponents in his 17/0 record. Ranee ain’t no world beater by a long shot but what I like about him is his willingness to have a blue. His record of 18/10/2 (15ko’s) isn’t the greatest sure but he tends to win by KO or lose by KO and some of his losses have been to the likes of Katsidis, Ben Rabah and Bobby Pacquiao. The reason I picked Ganoy as my fighter of the year is that willingness to have a go. Here in Australia, we tend to get a lot of fighters from the Philippines, Thailand and Asia purely for cannon fodder to make the local boys records look good. Hell, Fenech has made his fighters world rated contenders doing just that. The first time I saw Ganoy fight though he iced Alan Luxford (now Oz lightweight champ) and he’s repeated that dose, most recently with welterweight Matthew Paulley knocking him over in the fourth. Ranee has got himself rated no. 2 now in the Australian lightweight division and with his win over Paulley he may even get himself rated in the welters. Personally, I’d like to see him get a shot at a title in 2006. He’ll never be a world beater but boy is he exciting to watch. And with the power he’s got in those fists he’s never out of it.
PS: my runner up would have to be Jackson Asiku, formerly of Uganda now based here in South Australia. In November, Jackson KO’d Britain’s Marc Callaghan to become the new Commonwealth featherweight champion. In the seventies this would have been major news in this country but now it seems to have slipped through the sports news net. Asiku is good, damn good. Expect to see more of him, all he needs is the backing and a lucky break and he will be a world top ten fighter. Mark my words.

Has Hopkins Had It?

2005-12-05T18:36:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the executioner has lost his axe. Once again, Taylor was just a little too quick early, obviously undaunted in the face of a legend and this time managed to hang in there for the later rounds – you couldn’t really dispute the result could you? Yes, it was a close fight but Taylor did enough to hang on to his title. Where now for Hopkins? Does he try again or does he get out? My bet is that maybe Jones and Hopkins will face each other – that way at least one of them can retire on a victory!
A quick mention of the commentary too – what has happened to the colonel? Sure he’s always been a tad pompous, a tad know-it-all, friends to everyone etc etc but he wasn’t watching the same fight that I was on the weekend. Hell, he practically had Taylor boxing a shut out! Huh? Maybe that heartattack cut off too much oxygen to the brain.

Heavy Wait?

2005-12-05T18:32:00.000-08:00

Pity about Klitschko. With his retirement and Don King regaining total control of the heavyweights, the "glamour" division is gonna go even further downhill. There just ain’t anyone there who can stand up and take them all on. For mine, I think Lamon Brewster just might be able to cause a few upsets – but that depends on which version of him steps in the ring. And maybe David Tua has come back at the right time. As long as he still has that big punch and he can get some ring fitness, he may be able to parlay himself into a good position. Certainly you would think that he’s a better boxer (if not a slugger) than the likes of Samuel Peter who looked very ordinary in his bout against the other Klitschko. How do you get to be 24-0 without any idea of defence at all?! How many mugs are out there waiting to get hit? And then there’s the great white hopes like Brian Minto. He certainly looked the goods in the last bout I saw of his – if he can get into the rankings maybe he can get himself a shot. Unfortunately we all know who will get first dibs – an overblown cruiserweight with a drug record. And just as sadly, he probably is the most exciting thing to happen to the heavyweights right now. Maybe Big Bob Mirovic should be looking outside these shores – he might just be in luck.

No Excuses

2005-10-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

October started with a bang – Jones V Tarver III No Excuses and none were given.
But before we get to the big one let’s look at what was for a change a pretty fine undercard.

A couple of big bangers started the night when Vinny Maddalone and Brian Minto met for a rematch over 10 rounds. The last time these two ‘up and coming’ heavys met, Minto stole the fight with a last round KO. This time Minto said he was going to control the wild swinging, hard hitting Vinny with the jab and he did. Showing a lot of style he kept the jab in Maddalone’s face throughout the bout whilst also being canny enough to step in and tie Vinny up negating his power. Pitching pretty much a shut out this time, Minot finally stopped Maddalone in the seventh with 15 unanswered punches (nearly all of them left hook/jabs). Minto’s lost just one fight – a split decision against Tony Tubbs but has yet to face serious opposition. He looked good here but can he step up? If he fought like he did here he could maybe cause some problems. Sure he ain’t no world beater but look at the rankings, who is?
Olympic Gold medallist Andre Ward was fighting at middleweight against some poor local schmo with a decent record but hell, Glen LaPlante is a club fighter. He shouldn’t have been in the ring with Ward and he wasn’t for long. "Nuff said.
For mine the fight of the night was Nate Campbell Vs Almazbek Raiymkulov or Kid Diamond as they call him. And we will cos I can almost spell that. After losing his title bid to Robbie Peden at Jr. Lightweight, Campbell it seems is now campaigning at Lightweight. Kid Diamond’s backers obviously thought this would be a good, competitive, name bout for their boy who, though rated number 7 by Ring magazine, and undefeated, isn’t exactly a household name. With a name like that is it any wonder? I saw Diamond’s fight against Casamayor where he slugged out a hard fought draw and was impressed with his guts and stamina although I thought then he was fairly one dimensional (and lucky). Nothing has changed. Raiymkulov favours the old ‘hit me and I’ll hit you back’ routine ‘only harder’. This can work but not forever. Just ask Kostya Tszyu. Campbell came out swinging, ducking and outpunching Diamond. He was relentless and I think surprised Raiymkulov and his corner. Sure, he copped some punches back but Campbell just seemed stronger. In the fifth round he had Diamond down twice and was damn close to a KO win but to Kid Diamond’s credit he fought back, weathering the storm and the doctor’s attempts to stop it in round seven. Finally though, attrition took its toll (and the hits to the head and gut that he was taking) and in round ten the referee wisely called a halt after Raiymkulov went down as much from exhaustion as the blows to the body. Kid Diamond’s first defeat and obvious signs of a weakness in his armour. He has very little defence, he doesn’t tie up, he just relies on a granite chin and hitting the other guy harder. It worked for the first 21 fights but how will he come up now? As for Nate Campbell, he looked fairly ordinary against Peden, easy to hit and not really in control. Against Diamond though it was an entirely different fighter. He’s just taken out the ring magazine’s number seven lightweight, where does that put Nate? And who amongst the lightweights is going to be willing to risk fighting him now?
It was a good lead up to the main event with Roy Jones Jr taking on his nemesis and thorn in the side, Antonio Tarver. Let me say off the bat that I’ve never been a big fan of Jones, finding him too flashy, too smarmy and I’ve always had that nagging doubt about his avoidance of anyone who could maybe hurt him. Sure he was fast, and no doubt good but against some of the chumps he handpicked he couldn’t look bad could he? He beat Tarver the first time, but only by a whisker so I was looking forward to seeing what he had left in the tank for this bout. It’s interesting to note that though both men are 36 years old, Jones still looks the elder. I guess though he has had a lot more fights. The crowd love the man though and cheered ecstatically for him whilst booing the champ Tarver. Strange crowd. Tarver seemed a bit lost early with the first round being possibly the dullest I’ve seen since … hell, I don’t know, probably one of Ruiz or Rahman’s battles I guess. Neither deserved the points for this pawing, tentative opening but you can’t give 9/9 can you? It opened up in the second with Tarver starting to throw them while Jones seemed intent on showing that he still had the moves, the style. Well yeah he did but he wasn’t throwing any punches and when he did it was pretty obvious that Tarver wasn’t intimidated, wasn’t in awe of the legend of Roy Jones Jr. I made a note to that effect in the third round and then in the fourth and fifth Jones comes out like the man of old dancing, throwing, scoring. As I wiped the egg off my face though he went back into his shell and started mugging and showing off to the crowd. Nice cheers but no points from the judges. Tarver took control from the sixth on with Jones content to show his dance moves and to throw the odd flurry (which usually missed) but not seeming to want to get hurt again. And in the eleventh he did get hurt. It was only Tarver’s excitement that saved Jones with Tarver rushing in and screwing up his opportunity to lay Jones out. I’ll give Jones credit though, he came back fighting in the twelth and I even gave the round to him. He certainly offered no excuses. He was beaten by the fighter who was prepared to throw punches not just dance. I had it 117/112 to Tarver . The judges saw it 116/112 (twice) and 117/111 so I wasn’t far off. (It’s easy when it’s this obvious!)
Now though where does Jones go? He’s lost three in a row, sure he looked better this time out than the last two (he finished on his feet for a start) but Tarver really did come close in the eleventh to stopping him again. Does Jones want to risk besmirching his reputation, his record with maybe another loss or does he get out now while he’s still seen as a great who’s maybe hit the age barrier. He could still beat most of the current crop below him although fighters like Briggs or Adamek would probably beg to differ and with the power they possess they may have a point; does he wait and see how Hopkins fairs in his rematch… maybe look for a big bang with the Executioner to round it all off… and where now for Tarver? He seems to have cemented his claim as the man in the light heavys but what now? A third fight with Johnson? Or does he take on some of the pretenders to the throne? At 36 himself he must feel that time will soon catch up with him too. He seems willing to take on all comers, I guess that’s the best we can hope for in this alphabet soup system. At least he is willing to do just that, precious few others seem to want to risk their moment in the (alphabet) sun.

The Big What If....

2005-10-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

Levander Johnson died five days after his title losing fight against Jesus Chavez. Now the finger pointing starts. Opponents of boxing have another statistic to wave in our faces, fans of boxing will be rehashing the fight, officials will be trying to work out what could have been done differently, his trainer and father will wonder if he could have prevented his son’s death. It’s a sad fact that this sport will always have it’s tragedies, it’s losses. These men (and women) are not statistics though. They are boxers, sportsmen; they chose a sport that is sometimes brutal, sometimes dazzling, always challenging. We shouldn’t forget Levander Johnson but nor should we dwell on his death. He was a boxer, he was a world champion (at least alphabetically), now it’s over. The sport will continue, we will still watch it, we will still bay for blood, for the big punch, some of us will feel a bit sadder for a few days, maybe tentative about our love of this often vicious sport, but we won’t stop watching it, so let’s not pretend any different. That pretence is a slur on Johnson’s character, on the character of all the boxers who have died from boxing injuries. Let’s enjoy the sport as they did.
Let’s get rrrrready to rrrrrumble.
RIP

Barrera beats on the brat

2005-09-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

So where was Robbie Peden? I guess we all knew realistically that his step up to face Barrera was going to result in a loss but I for one expected a little bit more fight from Robbie. He just didn’t get going at all, content to wait for something to happen but never forcing it to happen. And we can’t blame his corner, they could see what needed to be done and they were telling him. Maybe Robbie was overawed by the occasion, maybe it was just one of those nights where your body and brain aren’t on speaking terms, I don’t know. Kudos to Peden for wanting to take on the best rather than just coasting and keeping his title but I hope we see the warrior rather than the wimp next time he steps in the ring.
Shane Mosley looked pretty impressive in his fight though against previously unbeaten Jose Luis Cruz. Another fighter who could have taken an easy bout but wants to (re) prove himself, Mosley was just too fast, too slick for the tough Mexican.
While there is all this talk about Zab Judah and Mayweather or Kostya or Hatton facing off, Mosley seems to have been forgotten. I wouldn’t underestimate him at 147. He could be the one to take the shine off the current pound for pounder.
The first title fight of the night didn’t finish well with new IBF lightweight champ Levander Johnson losing his title to Jesus Chavez in a fight he was never really in. Chavez outbustled him and outfought him. Unfortunately Johnson then collapsed in his dressing room and is in an induced coma. A very tough night at the office and it makes our day to day whinging about carparks or the bosses foibles or the price of a sandwich look as pathetic as they really are. Let’s hope he comes through this okay.

Hopkins Gored

2005-08-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Well, the hit them again curse strikes again. It looks like 2005 is going to be the year that the new regimes begin. Personally I thought Hopkins did just enough to shade Taylor (115/114) and retain his title but the judges didn’t and hell, it was a close one, you couldn’t really argue too much against the decision. I thought Hopkins finished the stronger taking the last 4 rounds after an even first and Taylor taking the next couple but those lapses in the middle rounds (6,7 & 8) cost him. So Hopkins only has himself to blame, he just went too easy at times, giving Taylor the early part of the fight and easing off in the middle when he had Taylor in trouble (well, if not in trouble, he had him bothered) but I’m sure the executioner knows that anyway.
I would like to know though what happened to the old maxim – you have to win it from the champion because as good as Taylor was (and he was pretty good early) I don’t believe he ever really posed a threat to Hopkins.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the rematch. Will Hopkins come out harder this time? Will his age show against him? Will Taylor make the mistake of taking it easy ala Rachman/Lewis 2 or will he still go in fast and relying on his youth and speed? Let’s hope that we do get to see the fight and that politics and paydays don’t get in the way.

Hopkins V Taylor

2005-07-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

Well, in only a couple of hours Bernard Hopkins faces young lion Jermain Taylor in yet his millionth defence of the middleweight crown. Whent he fight was first announced i ddin't even pay that much attention - it was a money spinner after all, Taylor is far too young and inexperienced to be facing the greatest p4p fighter on the planet right now - but then Kostya lost and i realised once again that nothing is certain in boxing. I still think Bernard will win but i wouldn't be surprised if Taylor managed to upset him. But hell, Hopkins is a professional, he takes nothing for granted and he is still despite his age, in his prime. I don't believe Taylor is quite ready to step up but who else is there anyway? (Interesting to note that only a couple of years ago Kostya said that Hatton wasn't ready and to wait a year or two - he must hate it when he's right!) Hopkins won't blow Taylor out of the water - he's too cautious for that - but he will give the kid a boxing lesson. Some of the fans will probably be bored but i'm bettting the afficionados amongst us will see a display of pure boxing skill. (And i hope i'm right this time because lately i just can't pick a winner - i'm even having trouble picking my nose)

contact

2005-07-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

It's dawned on me that it's kinda hard to respond to my blather if you don't have a name, password etc but you can always reply direct and tell me i know nothing... cammy@arcom.com.au let's get ready to rrrrrumble

Top Ten Heavyweights of all time?

2005-06-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

This Top Ten Heavyweights list was inspired by Boxing Digest's May/June issue where they compiled a list and asked for readers to contribute.
For what it’s worth here’s my list … of course it’s hard to be subjective about some of the old timers with the limited footage and knowledge I possess but I’ve been digging around through the old mags and Ring record books in an attempt to make this ‘legit’. Send me yours and we'll post it.

The scariest thing though is just how bad today’s heavyweights are when you look back at a list like this and then think of the fighters who didn’t make it! Who can you see in today’s crop that is ever going to be lauded as a ‘great’ in years to come? Lewis maybe, Tyson probably when the passing of time has dimmed people’s memories of his stupidity outside the ring but as for the others – hah? Golota, Ruiz, Brewster… where’s that next hungry heavyweight prospect? The one who isn’t just running on a record of no-hopers and has-beens, the one who is prepared to risk a loss in order to step up? I hope to hell he hurries up. Until then we’ll just have to reminisce and be glad that the lighter divisions are getting stronger and stronger.
Top Ten Middleweights anyone?

Rocky Marciano – The only undefeated heavyweight champion in the history of boxing – 49-0 with 43 ko’s. Lots have tried to emulate him, they’ve all fallen short. My first real boxing hero, discovered whilst pouring over the pages of my father’s boxing magazines. The reports, the photos of this bloodied warrior, how could I not worship him? (It probably helped that Ring Magazine did the "computer fight" with Ali too which Marciano won.)
Muhammad Ali – Did we ever really get to see Ali at his best? That three year lay off may well have robbed us of seeing one of the greatest boxers ever at his peak. Regardless, the dazzling braggart who walked the talk was pretty damn fine anyway. And when he came back, he may have been a touch slower but he was still the smartest man in the ring. My earliest television boxing memories are of watching Ali in action. I was hooked after that.
George Foreman – He destroyed Frazier in his prime and did the same to Ken Norton. Ali couldn’t manage that. Underrated perhaps because of his celebrity now and his surliness then. But even at 45 years of age, George still had that one punch power. Who else even comes close?
Joe Frazier – On the strength of the Ali trilogy alone he has become a legend but when you look at who else he battled you realise just how good he was in an era of greatness. (And you have to feel sorry for Ken Norton, Ernie Shavers et all who had the misfortune to be boxers in an era that gave us Ali, Foreman and Frazier)
Joe Louis – A record 25 title defences, the brown bomber was fast, smart and could punch. Sure there were bum of the month fights amongst those defences but who doesn’t have a few bums on their resume? And don’t forget he racked up 21 ko’s in those 25 defences. The man was and is a legend.
Jack Johnson – Who can argue with Nat Fleischer? His ‘hit and not be hit’ style of fighting obviously inspired Ali’s own techniques and his battles with discrimination and the expectancies of white America were a huge influence on the likes of Miles Davis and the sixties black power movement.
Mike Tyson – Forget his trouble outside the ring for just one moment and the farces of the last few years and cast your mind back to when he was the meanest, scariest, ugliest and biggest thing in boxing. He had his opponents beaten before they even stepped into the ring. A genuine one punch monster, who knows how far he could have gone if his life outside the ring hadn’t attracted so many vultures?
Harry Wills – Whilst Jack Johnson chased down his chance in a racist society for the heavyweight crown, others like Langford, Jeanette, McVey and Wills were not so lucky. Whilst the others though have been rediscovered in recent years Wills seems to have remained forgotten despite the ledger being on his side against both Langford and McVey. (In fact at his peak he knocked both out twice within a five month stint). Jackson has justifiably taken his place amongst the greats but when will Wills and the others get their story told?
Jack Dempsey – Is the myth bigger than the man? Whilst some lord him as the greatest others say he was a thug who just got lucky. Regardless, his battering of Jess Willard was certainly not the work of a myth.
Larry Holmes – Wrong place, wrong time. Larry was good, damn good but he made the mistake of following "the greatest" – nothing he ever did was going to be as good. And then to have the audacity to chase Marciano’s record… well, that was just not on.

Hatton V Tszyu - The hangover

2005-06-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s taken a couple of weeks (and a battle with the blackdog) but I’ve finally managed to make it thru the Tszyu/Hatton fight. On the morning of the battle I was passed out drunk after my own battle with a bottle of nelson county bourbon and on hearing the result of the fight that afternoon just didn’t want to watch it. The last fight I ever watched with my father was the last fight Kostya lost, on the anniversary of my father’s death (and the reason the bourbon got to me) he lost again. It took me a couple of weeks to want to see the fight but I’m glad I did, it was a bloody good fight. A tight, hard fought affair you can see how Hatton had prepared himself by crowding Kostya and not letting him get off those hard shots. Hatton looked remarkably fit and prepared to take Kostya’s shots to get his own in. Age certainly helped too with Kostya visibly tiring near the end, though the blatant low blow didn’t help his cause. I was surprised that his corner called it quits because it was still a very tight fight with maybe only one or two points in it (though I haven’t seen what the score cards said – I suspect the crowd may have ballooned them – I should find out hey). But you could see that Ricky was getting his shots off near the end of round 11 and obviously Johnny Lewis had Kostya’s health as his main concern. Maybe Tszyu could have rallied in the last and knocked Hatton down but I doubt it. It was looking like a points decision anyway to the challenger so why take more punishment?
And hats off to Paul Upham in the commentary chair who had to put up with some amazingly biased commentary from his English counterpart who, like the crowd, screamed for every Hatton punch but never saw Kostya’s blows land, well done Paul, a more patient man I don’t think I’ve ever heard. All in all, a disappointing result but a damn fine fight. I’ve heard various rumours about Tszyu’s retirement and the selfish side of me hopes he comes back to try and re-assert himself as the topman but if this is the end, it’s certainly not a disgraceful way to go. He’s probably still got it in him to be the best but whether the drive, body and hunger are still there remains to be seen.

Wright On!

2005-06-21T02:31:00.000-07:00

Once again Winky Wright surprised everyone, except maybe himself, with an amazingly one-sided blow out against Felix Trinidad. In hindsight of course it’s easy to say that Trinidad isn’t as good as the pundits thought he was and that Mayorga was a handpicked opponent who suited his style (in fact some did say that Mayorga was just that) but who seriously thought that Winky would have it so easy? I wish I could say I did but truthfully I didn’t. Sure I thought Winky would win a close one because he could stay out of the way for most of the fight whilst counterpunching and picking Trinidad off somewhat but I didn’t expect it to be so easy for him. And neither did any of the major boxing journals. Sure some folk picked Wright to win, but no one picked it to be a walk over, hell, Boxing Digest didn’t even give Winky a chance! When the big middleweight battle was first touted way back then I can truthfully say that I picked Hopkins from the word go, I knew he was better than Trinidad. Winky though, I wasn’t as confident about. I was wrong. And maybe, just maybe we’ve all been wrong about Trinidad. Could be he ain’t as good as we all think he is.

You Can Leave Your Hatton

2005-06-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

A quick pick for the Kostya / Ricky fight – only twelve or so hours away now – I’m going for Kostya (surprise, surprise) but I think it may be a little tougher than we all expect. Hatton will have the home crowd pumping him up early so I expect it to be a tough early going for Kostya until he gets his range-finder working – maybe five rounds, could even take one or two more. But then again if Ricky hits him early and gets him mad it may be over in two ala Zab Judah. No, I’ll stick with tko fifth round victory to Kostya Tszyu.

3 Strikes for Golota - you're out?

2005-06-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I wanted someone to step up and make the heavyweight division exciting and I got my wish. Who would have picked Lamon Brewster to demolish (3 strikes) Golota in less than a minute of the first round? Nobody and anyone who says they did are lying through their gums. Was it the new trainer? Was it knowing how lucky he was against Kali Meehan last time out? Or was it just knowing that Golota never should have been there in the first place? I mean who else can lose two shots at the title and still get a third? I’m sure ‘lectric hair wasn’t expecting the fight to go this way but then since he owns both he was covered anyway. You get the feeling though that Brewster just screwed up some of King’s plans. How else did 3 strikes get those shots… cos King wanted him to win, he wanted the polish crowd, the underdog vote. Well, instead he got Brewster and just maybe the division is alive again. Rahman (if he’s fit), Brewster, Klischko (if he survives his surgery) hell, even Lights Out… maybe, just maybe we could be about to see some decent fights. Time, and old ‘lectric hair will tell.

Well, Paul Briggs finally got his shot at the WBC Lightheavyweight title but unfortunately for him, the unheralded Tomas Adamek was a better fighter than he or any of the boxing pundits expected. Adamek’s long reach and strong jab kept Briggs away for most of the fight, preventing him from really getting those power punches in that could have made the difference. Paul’s counterpunching role just didn’t work and his lack of consistency certainly went against him. He rarely strung rounds together (possibly the 8th & 9th but that would be it) and didn’t follow up when he was doing damage. Still, it wasn’t a bad fight from Briggs and he wasn’t too far off the mark. We had him 113-115 in the hitthemagain househole and you could see the swelling around Adamek’s right eye that showed Paul was on the mark more often than not. Now I guess it comes down to his self-belief and whether he can get himself another shot. In that regard he may have been better off looking like a bunny, a strong though losing performance may well have put off some of his would-be opponents, time will tell.

land of the giants

2005-05-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

Don King can fuck the heavyweights if he wants to but he ain’t fucking me. Remember the good old days when Tyson could still strike fear into people in the ring as opposed to people who are unlucky enough to cross his path in the street? Remember when the heavyweight division was exciting? Sure there were still the usual schmucks, ‘white hopes’ and talentless lard-arses but there was also a killing machine raised on Jack Dempsey and pure fear. And there was Holyfield the younger (as opposed to the wreck we now see). There was excitement, power, there were guys who threw big punches, who tried to knock each other down. I know there’s some big punchers now but back then they could actually put the punches together, they could throw a hook, an uppercut, they didn’t just close their eyes and fucking swing and pray. The guys at the top now just pitter patter, cling on and hope the other guy will drop dead with boredom. The last decent fight amongst the so called top echelon was probably Kali Meehan and Lamon Brewster and we all know how that finished. Good old ‘lectric hair.
When will it end? Will we see someone step up? Klitschko ain’t bad but he ain’t got my vote yet. He can throw a big punch but christ it’s like watching one of those toy robots on a 60’s cartoon sometimes. And the new crop are all getting handpicked opponents so they have perfect records but none of them have proven a thing yet. No one is game enough to actually lose a fight or to step up. To be fair though that problem is not just in the heavyweights, all of the divisions seem to have the same problem now. No one is willing to risk anything. Christ you can lose and still get another shot at the top. Just look at Golota, he makes his living out of it!
I mean the biggest thing in the heavyweights right now is James Toney and he’s a blown up cruiserweight for christsake. And he still beat Ruiz! Of course now he’s looking like a drug cheat (or an idiot). I’m not sure if I accept his excuse, it seems feasible if not stupid, as does he right now. And it is stupid cos that means we have to put up with Ruiz again and he is the worst fighter I’ve been bored to tears by in a long time. Thanks James. Let’s hope someone else steps up, maybe one of the young guns can do it or maybe good ol’ Iron (rusty) Mike can get another shot. He can’t be any worse than the current bunch can he?

let's get ready to rumble

2005-05-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

First of all let’s make one thing clear – this is a fan’s eye view of boxing. I have no hidden agenda, I’m on no one’s payroll, hell, I can’t even box! But I am a fanatic, I love the damn sport and have for a long time. I watch it, I read it, I study it and I’m opinionated about it. You don’t have to agree with me, I don’t expect you to but I’m going to voice my views and most of the time I’ll be right! (Maybe I will have to learn some self defence skills)
Hit Them Again is purely fan-based, self-opinionated and a chance to let of some steam. I love the sport of boxing and I don’t like to see the bullshit that goes on both within the sport and against it. Bad decisions, lousy matchmaking and Don King make it a hard sport to love sometimes but I still sit there watching card after card, ppv after ppv, because for every Fenech/Nelson ripoff there’s a Hopkins/Trinidad or a Barrera/Morales. There’s a lot more good fights than bad it’s just that we always remember the bad. Yes Danny Green was completely ripped off the first time he fought Beyer but he was outboxed and outsmarted the second time. (Sorry Danny, it was just the first example that came to mind.) Who’s going to really remember the second fight though in years to come? The first will go into boxing’s (potted) history, the second is destined to be just another statistic. At least until/if Danny gets another shot at him. Sorry, the point I was trying to make was that there is plenty of good stuff happening, there are plenty of damn good fights out there and we shouldn’t just dwell on the bad decisions or the hometown judges or the bad match ups. Of course, I’m probably just as guilty as anyone else for doing just that but I’m trying to change my ways, honest. So, let’s get rrrrrrrready to rumble and see what happens.