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Spadafora relinquishes lightweight title to become junior welterweight By Dan Rafael, USA TODAY After nearly four years as champion but in a constant battle to make the 135-pound limit, Paul Spadafora relinquished his version of the lightweight title on Thursday. Spadafora (No. 6 USA TODAY, 36-0-1, 14 KOs), coming off a bloody draw in a May 17 unification fight against fellow titlist Leonard Dorin, will move up to junior welterweight. "I'm anxious to see how I'll do at 140 pounds. I'll be stronger and healthier," Spadafora told USA TODAY. "I'm not able to fight to my potential (at 135). I started to get tired and weaker in the latter rounds of my fights. I did well when I had (the IBF title). I fought good guys, had it for almost four years and now I'm looking forward to 140 and trying to get another title." Promoter Mike Acri supported his fighter's decision. "I was concerned and thought he should move up a year-and-half ago, before the (Angel) Manfredy fight," Acri said. "It's too much of a physical struggle for him to make 135. He felt it was disgraceful to give up his title, but I told him he wasn't doing it because he was avoiding anybody. He was doing it for his health." Spadafora said doctors have advised him that he should no longer try to make 135 because of dangers to his health. Before the Dorin fight, Spadafora said he was urinating blood because his weight loss was having an adverse effect on his kidneys. Spadafora would get down to 140 during training for his lightweight fights but the last five pounds were "really torture for me," he said. Acri said he hoped Spadafora would make his junior welterweight debut in October or November, possibly on a small pay-per-view card, before a potential Dorin rematch. The first Spadafora-Dorin fight was a bloody, all-action fight and HBO wants the rematch with or without titles involved. "I want to fight Dorin again and prove I can beat him and then go after anyone at 140 pounds," said Spadafora, who is still healing from cuts suffered against Dorin. "I really believe I will be a lot better at 140 pounds. It's better for my life and for my boxing." Beyond a Dorin rematch, Spadafora's biggest fight at 140 would be a match with division money man Arturo Gatti. A fight with undisputed champion Kostya Tszyu would appear unlikely because of Tszyu's contract with Showtime and Spadafora's regular appearances on HBO. Spadafora, often referred to as the fourth franchise in Pittsburgh behind the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins because of his immense popularity in his hometown, won the vacant lightweight title against Pito Cardona with an easy decision on Aug. 20, 1999. He made eight defenses, including wins over Manfredy, Victoriano Sosa and Billy Irwin. Now that the IBF title is vacant, contenders Levander Johnson and Javier Jauregui, who scored a spectacular fourth-round knockout of Juan Gomez Trinidad in an elimination bout last week, are expected to meet for the belt. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

BIG GEORGE TO RETURN ? June 18, 2003 -- EXCLUSIVE By ANDREW MARCHAND - New York Post At age 54, George Foreman is strongly considering another comeback, he told The Post yesterday. "I'm very serious," Foreman said. In hopes of winning the heavyweight title for a third time, Foreman doesn't want to fight current champion Lennox Lewis or Mike Tyson. However, if 6-foot-7 Vitali Klitschko upsets Lewis on Saturday, Foreman said, he'll become even more focused on his quest. "I've been serious about this all along," said Foreman, who will call the Klitschko-Lewis fight for HBO. "I've told people for the last five or six years, that at 55 I'm coming back. "At my 55th birthday [in January], it's going to take a lot of persuasion and a lot of hard work for me not to come back." Foreman last fought on Nov. 22, 1997, when he lost to Shannon Briggs. Earlier this month, Foreman was inducted into Canastota, N.Y.'s International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was let in, even though he has never officially retired. "I told them if they are putting me in the Hall of Fame with the hope that I'm never going to come back, don't do it," Foreman said. Foreman said he works out all the time in Kingwood, Texas, a suburb of Houston. "I've never given up my training," he said. "I don't spar. I figure no one should hit you for free." Foreman said he must drop down to 225 pounds, which is a weight he probably hasn't seen for three decades. He said he is "a lot over that" weight right now. "I want to be examined properly by my doctors," Foreman said. "I'm always given a clean bill of health." Foreman, of course, has come back before. In 1987, after 10 years away from the ring, he returned as a sideshow. Seven years later, and two decades after he lost his title in Zaire to Muhammad Ali, the 45-year-old Foreman was the main event, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion by knocking out Michael Moorer. Foreman wants to take advantage of an inexperienced fighter to claim the title for the third time. He wouldn't fight Lewis. "He's too big," Foreman said. "He's experienced and he has the reach . . . Get Lennox Lewis out of the business, I could come back tomorrow." He doesn't want to fight Tyson for other reasons. "I wouldn't even feel right fighting Mike Tyson," Foreman said. "Too many guys look like they decide if they want to get famous just go hurt Mike Tyson. For the first time, when Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson, I said, ‘Why is that big guy beating on Mike Tyson like that? Why doesn't he finish him off?' I felt sorry for Tyson." Foreman the commentator gives Klitschko a chance against Lewis Saturday. If the upset happens, look for the conversation to turn to Foreman."If you see me in January, you watch my weight is [coming down,] you know there is danger George is coming back," Foreman said. http://www.nypost.com/sports/36835.htm ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

Mirovic stops O'Hello! from www.fightnews.com By Ray Wheatley -- World of Boxing Australian heavyweight champion Bob Mirovic scored a third round knockout over Mitch O'Hello at the Metro City Night Club, Perth, Western Australia on June 27. O'Hello caught the 6'5 champion with solid combinations in rounds one and two. In round three Mirovic found the range and despatched O'Hello at 2:31 of the round. In Mirovic's previous bout, he was stopped by world rated Danny Williams in a Commonwealth heavyweight title attempt. In other action, Daniel Dawson impressed with a third round stoppage win over Chris Collard at junior middleweight. PABA interim jr welterweight champion Dowdi Buhari of Indonesia stopped Brandon De Niro in round three. Commentators Mark Warren and John Kizon. Promoter Craig Christian. Saturday, June 28 2003 ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

By Patrick Kehoe and Paul Upham: In his latest message to his fans through his website www.ktcrew.com, undisputed junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu (left) described how important winning in front of his home fans is to him when he defends against James Leija on Showtime Championship Boxing. “My number one goal is to put on the best performance that I possibly can on the 19th of January in Melbourne against Jesse James,” wrote Tszyu. “Many people ask me how much does it mean to me to be fighting on home soil and the answer is it makes all those times that I have gone overseas to fight for world titles worth it. A dream come true for me and all my supporters. I know how special it will be when I enter the stadium with over 30,000 people supporting me.” The fight will be held on Sunday afternoon local time in Australia to accommodate a live feed back to the USA on Showtime. The coverage will commence on Saturday January 18 at 10pm ET with Muhammad Abdullaev vs. Philip Holiday in the main support bout. [TOP] Tszyu: This one is for Australia By Adrian Warren January 5 2003 The Sun-Herald Kostya Tszyu regards his long-awaited return to an Australian ring in Melbourne, the city where he started his stellar professional boxing career, as a "gift" to his legion of loyal followers. The undisputed super-lightweight world champion flies into Melbourne this afternoon to prepare for the January 19 defence of his three titles against tough Texan and former WBC super-featherweight champion Jesse James Leija at the Telstra Dome. Now accustomed to top billing, Tszyu entered the paid ranks with relatively little fanfare, buried on the undercard of the momentous Jeff Fenech-Azumah Nelson rematch outdoors at Melbourne's Princes Park, now known as Optus Oval. If you arrived just before the main event or scurried off for some refreshments between bouts, there's a fair chance you missed the Russian-born boxer's pro debut. Tszyu needed only about 70 seconds to polish off 1988 Olympian Darrell Hiles. It is part of Australian boxing folklore that the interpreter misunderstood trainer Johnny Lewis's instructions for Tszyu to win the first round. The boxer thought he was being told to finish the fight in the first. It was probably Australian boxing's biggest day ever as two future legends in Fenech and Nelson slugged it out, though some historians might argue the historic 1908 heavyweight title clash in Sydney between Tommy Burns and Jack Johnson was more significant on a global scale. While he had been living in Australia for only a couple of months, Tszyu recognised how big a day it was. "It was a very big fight; I saw Jeff's picture everywhere, the excitement through people. It was a tremendous day and how sad it was for everybody," Tszyu said. "I've seen thousands of people just walk and cry, it was very, very sad." Back then, Tszyu and his partner, Natasha, who later became his wife, thought they would only be having an extended holiday here. At that time, it was like a little dream. We just came and enjoyed ourselves. It wasn't really serious at all for us. I never took the [Hiles] fight lightly but it was part of a holiday at that time. "In the beginning, I thought it was going to be three, four or five years of my boxing career, and then I'd retire and come back [to Russia]."Eventually, of course, I changed my mind and I thought this is the country we're going to stay in. But in the beginning, it wasn't in my mind that I'm going to stay here for long." The greater economic clout of big boxing cities such as Las Vegas and the wishes of his American television paymaster Showtime have denied local fight fans the chance to see Tszyu campaign at home since his April 1998 first-round demolition of Calvin Grove in Newcastle. After almost five years and nine successive fights in America, the 33-year-old will again grace a local ring. "I believe I can say this is my gift back to all the fans in this country who have supported me for a long time," Tszyu said. "It was very difficult to encourage the Showtime people to bring this fight here. "There were lots of negotiations, lots of difficulties, to convince the promoter, to convince many parties to come here and eventually we've done a good deal, even [though] financially for me it would be better to fight over there [in the US] than here, but I decided to go with this risk and come and fight here." A pragmatic businessman outside the ring, Tszyu thought it unlikely he would fight again in his adopted home city of Sydney, where he last fought in May 1996. The blackout of the numerous pay-for-view outlets in the harbour city which would accompany a local show would make fighting in his own backyard a less attractive financial proposition. Asked if he would ever come back and fight in Sydney, Tszyu replied: "I don't think so, it's just too difficult, but we'll see how this fight is going to go." At least this time he will be spared the rigours of having to adjust to different climates and time zones as he does every time he journeys overseas. "It's very difficult to acclimatise - it slows your sparring a lot," he said. "Here, it's only a one-hour flight and it won't affect me at all." Most experts believe Tszyu will be too strong for 36-year-old Leija. Not that you will get Tszyu to make any boastful pre-fight pronouncements. "He [Leija] has got a good right hand and an excellent left hook, good body punches and he throws good combination punches. He's tough." ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP] Kostya has brilliant power: Leija January 5 2003 - The Age James Leija, a soft-spoken family man known for his boxing ability, spoke to Peter Mitchell about his upcoming fight with Kostya Tszyu Bookmakers say "Jesse" James Leija doesn't have a chance against Kostya Tszyu when the pair fight for three super-lightweight titles next Sunday week. Boxing experts agree with the bookies. But the Texan, a former super-featherweight world champion with rocks for fists, says he has a few surprises for Tszyu. Leija has recruited former Tszyu insider, hard-hitting American welterweight Golden Johnson, as a sparring partner. Tszyu hired Johnson earlier this year to prepare for his May world-title fight against Ghana's Ben Tackie in Las Vegas. The Leija-Tszyu contest is a bout between two of boxing's smartest veterans. Leija, 36, has fought three of the best middleweights of the past decade - Americans Oscar De La Hoya and "Sugar" Shane Mosley and Ghana's Azumah Nelson. Tszyu, 33, holds the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation super-lightweight titles. Outside the ring, Leija and Tszyu are remarkably similar. Their lives don't revolve around nightclubs and celebrities. Both are family men, happily married and with young children. The quietly spoken Leija has been with his wife, Lisa, a marathon runner, since both were 12-years-old. The Sunday Age recently spoke to Leija in San Antonio to see how he was preparing for the biggest challenge of his career Q: James, you've fought three of the greatest - De La Hoya, Nelson and Mosley. Obviously you haven't fought Kostya Tszyu yet, but how would you rate him with these guys? LEIJA: To tell you the truth, I hope Kostya is nowhere near those guys. But if I had to say today, I'd say Kostya would be up there riding with those guys. Q: Australian sports fans don't know too much about you. What's your biggest weapon in the ring? LEIJA: I would say my intelligence and my boxing ability. I don't do anything spectacular but I get things done. Q: Are you expecting the fight to go the full 12 rounds? LEIJA: I hope I knock Kostya out in the first round with my first punch. But I've prepared myself for anything to happen because I know I have a tough challenge on my hands. Q: What's Kostya's biggest weapon? LEIJA: Definitely his right hand. Everyone knows he can give a good punch. And his heart. He's also an intelligent fighter. Q: So tactics will be key to who wins this fight? LEIJA: Exactly. I have no idea what he's going to come up with because Kostya changes his style and can fight any style. Q: Have you devised a strategy. If so what is it? LEIJA: We've worked on a strategy but I'm not about to reveal it. Q: With less than a month until the fight, how is your preparation? LEIJA: We're still working on certain things, working on the sparring and working on cutting my weight down. Q: So it'll be tough for you to make the official 63.5-kilogram weight for the fight? LEIJA: People think that because I was a featherweight (early 1990s) in the past that I won't have a problem with the weight, but that was years and years ago. I'm 36 years old now so I've outgrown that weight limit. It's not going to be easy for me to make that 140 (pound) mark; I'm really going to have to work at it. Q: So you stayed away from the turkey and beer at Christmas? LEIJA: I had a little bit of turkey but none of the good stuff. No dressing, no pies or beer or anything like that. Q: You didn't have a break from training on Christmas Day? LEIJA: No, it was business as usual with the training. Q: Is it true that you've recruited Golden Johnson as a sparring partner. LEIJA: Yes, it's true. Q: Strategically, that's a bit of a coup. LEIJA: Yeah, Golden Johnson sparred with Kostya Tszyu for six weeks. But I've been friends with Golden for years. He's helped me with sparring for something like 10 years for certain fights, like the Azumah Nelson fights. Q: Has Golden given you any tips about any weaknesses Kostya might have? LEIJA: Golden knows Kostya and has fought with Kostya and tells us, just like a friend would, what we need to do. But no matter what he tells me, it's never going to be the same as what I face in the ring on January 19. Q: So Golden hasn't revealed too many secrets about Kostya? LEIJA: No, not really. We already knew what Kostya was about. You know, Kostya has brilliant power, he leans back and has that European style. Q: You've also flown in a Russian sparring partner who has fought Kostya? LEIJA: Yeah, we've got a Russian guy. He fought Kostya in the amateurs, in the world championships. He's helped me a lot. Q: Kostya says by the time he steps in to the ring against you he would have completed about 200 rounds of sparring. LEIJA: Yeah, I read about that. I think that's a lot. I discovered a long time ago that I'm not going to learn anything more from 200 rounds than what I'd learn from 100 rounds. Everybody has their own style. Q: So how many rounds of sparring will you complete? LEIJA: About 120 or 130. Q: What was your assessment of Kostya's second-round knockout of Zab Judah back in 2001? LEIJA: I thought Kostya was getting beaten easily in the first round and I was worried. Kostya looked like he was hurt in the first round. But then Kostya ended the show in the second round with that one big punch. Q: Judah says that one punch was a lucky punch. LEIJA: I don't believe in luck. Kostya aimed with that right hand, it landed right where he wanted. Q: What was your assessment of Kostya's fight with Ben Tackie back in May? LEIJA: I saw Ben Tackie as a one-dimensional fighter. Kostya just picked him apart with his jabs and outboxed him brilliantly. Q: You're 36-years-old. Is this your last fight, win or lose? LEIJA: I just take it one fight at a time. In 1998, I was thinking of retirement but I'm still in the game. I know this fight could be my last fight but what a way to go out than go fighting for three world title belts. Q: It's a big challenge to go to Australia. And you've never fought outside the United States. LEIJA: It's a long flight. It's a different country, different time zone, everything is different. I just have to make sure I have my head screwed on straight when I'm down there and keep focused and maintain the same training program I've been doing in San Antonio. But everyone who I speak to says Australian people are so nice and are a lot like Texans and I'll feel at home. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

Ottke unifies half super-middleweight division by Paul Upham : www.secondsout.com In a rare unification battle between rival super-middleweight champions, German IBF title-holder Sven Ottke eked out a split points decision over WBA king Byron Mitchell. Fighting in front of 10,000 fans at the Max Schmeling Halle in the German capital of Berlin Ottke, now unbeaten in 30 pro contests, was given custodianship over two portions of the world title by a scoreline of 116-114, 115-113 and 112-116. However, a great many of the rounds were extremely difficult to score and it was one of those fights where neither fighter established any real dominance. A lot of the rounds were very similar, too. As always, Ottke defused a more powerful puncher’s big shots but Mitchell was clever enough not to allow the 35-year-old German to land a great many clean shots of his own. American Mitchell was regarded as the weakest of the four main world champs at this weight, and the new double champion is near retirement and has signalled he has no intention of travelling outside of his native land (and why should the highest paid fighter in the division give up home advantage?) so tonight’s events have done little to clear up just who is the best super-middle in the world. The other two world champions at this weight, WBO king Joe Calzaghe and WBC title-holder Eric Lucas, will both be in action shortly. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

Ottke wins unanimous decision over Markussen Saturday, November 16 Associated Press NUREMBERG, Germany -- Unbeaten German Sven Ottke defended his IBF supermiddleweight title for the 16th time Saturday, winning a unanimous decision over Denmark's Rudy Markussen. Ottke didn't take control of the fight against the little-known Dane until the sixth round in a tougher than expected fight. Then his combinations began slipping through Markussen's gloves and helped him pile up points. All three judges ruled the fight 116-112 for Ottke, who improved to 29-0 with six knockouts. ''It was a hard piece of work,'' Ottke said. ''I really had to run around and throw some punches.'' It wasn't one of Ottke's better performances against Markussen, who didn't have the means to really hit the experienced German. But the German also had trouble solving the Dane's style and failed to flash much of the speed and boxing ability that had won most of his fights. Markussen, 27-1 with 16 knockouts, had his best moment in the first round, charging out and catching Ottke with a hard right uppercut. Markussen who owns a fitness center, won the round clearly. Afterward, there were some sluggish rounds as neither fighter seemed to be able to land punches. Starting in the sixth round, Ottke began landing enough combinations to claim most of the remaining rounds. In the 12th, Markussen came out swinging wildly, vainly seeking and failing to find the knockout he needed. ''I think I won this fight,'' Markussen said. Ottke, 35, extended his contract earlier in the day with Sauerland Productions, adding another year in hopes of several big fights, with WBA champion Byron Mitchell on the list. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

Villoria retains his NABF flyweight title Associated Press Nov 23 LAKE GROVE, N.Y. -- Undefeated Brian Viloria of Hawaii eked out a majority 12-round decision over Alberto Rossel of Peru to retain his North American Boxing Federation flyweight title Sunday. The bout was a rematch between the two former Olympians who fought to a no-contest last July 26. Rossel was unable to continue in that match after he was cut when the two knocked heads in the third round. In Sunday's bout, judges Judy Lederman voted 115-113 and John McKay 116-112 in favor of Viloria, while Fred Ucci had it even at 114-114. Viloria, 114 and a 2000 Olympian who turned 22 on Sunday, boosted his record to 10-0 with six knockouts. Rossel, 113 and a 1996 Olympian, dropped to 8-5. There were no knockdowns, as opposed to their first bout when Viloria floored Rossel in the first round. ''Brian came in here with the idea that this was going to be a quick fight and that he'd win easily,'' said Freddie Roch, Viloria's trainer. ''He was flat and couldn't get going. ''His biggest problem was not throwing enough combinations. They are what got him this far. After the seventh round, I got on him and that definitely helped. No question, he was in danger of losing.'' Viloria said he planned to use the combinations right away, but strayed from that. ''For some reason, I was sluggish and forgot about the strategy,'' Viloria said. ''When Freddie jumped on me, I went to my strength and fortunately was able to pull it out.'' The 27-year-old Rossel said he wanted to make sure this fight was different from the last. ''The last time, I ran away from him,'' Rossel said through an interpreter. ''I learned a lesson and was determined to stay close and challenge him. The change in tactics worked well. I thought I did enough to win. I'm very disappointed.'' Undefeated Clarence Vinson of Washington, D.C., who was fighting 10 rounds for the first time in his career, pounded out a unanimous bantamweight decision over the outclassed Indelfonso Martinez to extend his winning streak to 11. The 24-year-old Vinson, 119 and a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, used left-right combinations to the head to prevent Martinez from mounting any kind of attack. Vinson landed 246 punches as opposed to only 194 for Martinez. There were no knockdowns.Martinez, 118 of Laredo, Texas, never fought more than six rounds previously and lost his second straight to drop to 9-3 ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

Surgery for Arturo Gatti By Paul Upham: After his impressive 10 round points win over Micky Ward on Saturday night on HBO in Atlantic City, junior welterweight Arturo “Thunder” Gatti will enter hospital for an operation next week after sustaining a hand injury in the third round. Click for full article by Paul Upham at SecondsOut.com WARD vs GATTI : Third-round knockdown sets tone for Gatti's win Associated Press Saturday, November 23 ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Junior welterweight Arturo Gatti won a unanimous decision Saturday over Micky Ward, dropping him in the third round and dominating from then on to avenge an earlier defeat. Gatti, 30, of Jersey City, clubbed Ward with an overhand right that knocked him to his knees, falling forward until his face hit the turnbuckle. Ward, who beat Gatti six months ago in a slugfest considered by many to be one of the best fights of the year, was never the same after that, though his steely chin never gave out. Gatti (35-6) seized the opportunity. Sticking and moving, with spring in his step and power in his punches, he chose his spots carefully, waiting until Ward (38-12) was vulnerable and then teeing off on him with two- and three-punch combinations.The fight, a rematch of a May 18 bout won by Ward in a majority decision, was held at 142 pounds -- two pounds over the weight class limit -- by mutual agreement of the fighters. From the start, it featured the same no-holds-barred style. Ward, 37, of Lowell, Mass., broke from his corner and missed with a wild roundhouse right and the fight was on.The first two rounds were even, but after the third round knockdown, it was all Gatti. Fighting in front of a partisan home-state crowd of 12,238 at Boardwalk Hall, his scoring triggered choruses of "Gat-ti! Gat-ti! Gat-ti!'' from the crowd.But he took his lumps. His left eye was swollen shut by the eighth round and he had a small cut on his right cheekbone. Ward could do no right after the knockdown. He was rubber-legged and weak, although he absorbed knockout punch after knockout punch from Gatti without going down. Ward made $1.5 million, Gatti $1.2 million. What's more, they set the stage for a third showdown.''It's one to one, and I wouldn't mind a third,'' Gatti said. ''I boxed the way I was supposed to in the first fight. I didn't lose my energy like I did in the first fight.'' Ward, a part-time steamroller operator who quit boxing in 1991 because he was so discouraged, knew he lost this one.''He fought a great fight, he was the better man,'' he said.Of the knockdown, he said: ''He caught me behind the ear and it threw my equilibrium off.'' The scores were 98-91, 98-91 and 98-90 for Gatti, a former junior lightweight champion known for rallying to victory when he looks like he's ready for the emergency room.On numerous occasions Saturday, he bent at the waist as Ward threw punches at him and then responded with uppercuts and jabs. ''We worked on that in practice, staying low and then coming up to hit the body,'' Gatti said. ''Ward stands there with his hands up like two pillows in front of his face and I have to pick my shots.'' READ THOMAS HAUSER'S FIGHT REVIEW AT SECONDS OUT ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP] Ward, Gatti determined to top their epic first bout Associated Press NEW YORK -- In a tiny ring set up at a new Times Square sporting goods store, Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti embraced on Wednesday, a couple of boxing warriors preparing for a rematch. There is mutual respect between them after Ward won a bloody 10-round decision last May. Now they'll go at each other again Saturday night at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall in a fight to be televised by HBO. "If you saw the first fight,'' Gatti said, "the second fight will be just as good. Maybe we'll top the first one.'' That would be a tall order for these two tough guys, a pair of perpetual motion junior welterweights. They put on what many view as the Fight of the Year last May at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., an action-filled bout that earned them a bigger stage for the rematch. "We're happy to be involved with this historic rematch,'' promoter Lou DiBella said. "Micky and Arturo deserve a huge showcase and we're thrilled HBO is giving it to them.'' The cable network promises to dress up the production with special touches to mark the 500th fight since it began broadcasting boxing with the 1973 heavyweight fight between George Foreman and Joe Frazier from Kingston, Jamaica. For Ward and Gatti, a couple of throwback boxers, the frills are not necessary. "I think of nothing but being a fighter,'' Gatti said. "It's a tough sport. You got to love this sport. I don't give up. I will not quit.'' Ward is near the end of his boxing trail. "It's been a long road getting here,'' he said. "Sometimes too long. I'm 37. I've got to make these fights count. This is not long term for me. I'll have one or two more fights and that'll be it. '' He has walked away from the sport before. Ward turned pro in 1985 and was becoming a journeyman fighter when he left the game in 1991 after losing six of nine fights. But he wasn't finished. "Being away brought the hunger back,'' he said. "At first I said, `I'm done. I'm not coming back.' But I found out it was still in me. The comeback was the best move I made. I wanted to do it while I was still young enough. I saved three years of punishment.'' He won his first eight fights back and brings a 38-11 record with 27 knockouts into Saturday's match. Gatti, who is 34-6 with 28 knockouts, remembered their first fight very well. He cut Ward above the right eye in the first round but was knocked down in the ninth round after a brutal toe-to-toe exchange. The knockdown turned the decision Ward's way. "He's a strong guy,'' Gatti said. "He's physically well-conditioned. I need to be prepared and do my homework. I was surprised he took the blows I landed for 10 rounds."I always thought the day I fought my twin would be a pretty good fight and it was.'' Gatti is the former IBF junior lightweight title, a title he won in December 1995 with a decision over Tracy Patterson. Ward has never held one of the major world titles, though he did win the World Boxing Union light welterweight championship in March of 2000 when he went to England and stopped previously unbeaten Shea Neary. Saturday night's undercard includes a 10-round junior lightweight bout between undefeated Nate Campbell and Renor Claure Rojas. Also on the card is the American debut of Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Audley Harrison, who will face Shawn Robinson in a six-rounder. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

KELLERMAN ON BARRERA vs TAPIA Just did the first installment of Around the Horn. Had a lot of fun. Especially when we went around the horn on the topic "what was the best sporting event you watched over the weekend?" Notre Dame losing to B.C. seemed to be the consensus selection of our esteemed panelists. Needless to say, my pick was Marco Antonio Barrera's unanimous decision defense of his featherweight world championship against Johnny Tapia on Saturday night. And, of course, they all gave me the business for shoehorning in a boxing reference. But what was I supposed to do, lie? Should I have said that watching unbeaten college football teams fall one after the other was the best stuff I watched? It was good, but better than Barrera-Tapia? No way. What about the Nets-Wizards showdown, or Kobe Bryant giving the league back-to-back monster triple-doubles? All good stuff. Not Barrera-Tapia. And the funny thing is, Barrera-Tapia was not even a Superfight. The outcome was a little too predictable. That's right, I am admitting that everyone else was right about this one and I was wrong. I thought going in that this match might win a retro-historical judgment as a Superfight. I thought that Tapia had a chance to outbox a boxing-conscious Barrera by keeping his hands busy, by outhustling the champion. I even thought, in light of Barrera being hurt in the body by Erik Morales in their last fight, and Tapia's bodyshot knockout win over Cesar Soto in his first fight at 126 pounds, that Tapia had an outside chance of doing the unthinkable -- stopping the great Marco Antonio. Conventional wisdom held that Barrera has been too good in recent years and would be too big for the supposedly naturally smaller Tapia. I don't know that any natural size advantage manifested itself in their fight, but one thing is for sure -- Barrera was too good for an in-shape and very game challenger. From the opening bell of the first round till the final bell of the last, Barrera -- once upon a time an offensive-minded but utterly defenseless fighter -- outboxed Tapia, who was once upon a time a fleet-footed but relatively light-punching boxer. Tapia constantly moved his hands, but not his head. Barrera did that for him. Sporting a stiff jab, and countering Tapia's rushes beautifully, Barrera turned in a smart, economical and not uninteresting performance. Imagine it's three years ago, and someone predicts that Marco Antonio Barrera will outbox Naseem Hamed, Erik Morales and Tapia in big-fight succession? Absurd! Hamed's athleticism and unorthodox style were sure to give Barrera fits; Morales' height and reach (and Barrera's past trouble with the rangy Junior Jones) would certainly allow Morales to keep the fight at his chosen distance; Tapia's mobility and hand-speed figured to force Barrera to brawl with Johnny in order to win. Barrera outbox these guys? Couldn't be! And yet it be. Marco Antonio Barrera has transformed himself from a seek-and-destroy Mexican assassin with a murderous left hook to the body and no semblance of any defense whatsoever, into a brilliant counter-puncher capable of dominating world-class winners with his left jab. Elite athletes are sometimes able to adapt, to make adjustments that enable them to get better and prolong their careers. What Barrera has done, however, is totally transform his identity as a fighter. Few athletes in history have done that. Remarkable. Max Kellerman is a studio analyst for ESPN2's Friday Night Fights and the host of the new show Around The Horn. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

GREEN WINS IN FRONT OF HOMETOWN CROWD From Paul Upham www.secondsout.com IBF Pan Pacific super middleweight champion Danny Green, 13-0 (13), pleased his fans with a third round knockout win over Indonesia’s Nico Toriri at the Challenge Stadium in Mt. Claremont in front of a vocal crowd of over 5,000 people in Perth on Saturday night. Fighting as a professional in front of his family and friends in his hometown for the first time, 29 year-old Green dropped Toriri with a powerful right hand to the side of the head. The Indonesian struggled up at the count of eight but was in no condition to continue and referee Brad Vocale waved off the contest. Green will return to the ring on December 13 against an opponent to be determined on the next Fenech Fight Night, live on Fox Sports and will then appear on the Kostya Tszyu-James Leija undercard on January 19 in Melbourne. Full article by Paul Upham at http://www.secondsout.com/world/news_48719.asp [TOP] Green makes welcome hometown debut By Paul Upham: IBF Pan Pacific super middleweight champion Danny Green makes a welcome debut in his hometown of Perth on Saturday night when he faces Indonesia’s Nico Toriri over 12 rounds at the Challenge Stadium in Mt. Claremont. Following his move across the country to Sydney on the Eastern seaboard of Australia to train under Jeff Fenech, the 29 year-old Green finally gets to show his stuff as a professional in front of his family and friends. “No, everything is fine,” said Green, 12-0 (12), when asked if there was any extra pressure fighting in his hometown for the first time. “I’m just really looking forward to the fight. Getting into the ring and getting the win. I’ve been doing a lot of media work promoting the night and now I just want to concentrate on the fight and winning.” Green’s trainer and manager Jeff Fenech has been very impressed with the support for the Australian 2000 Olympian from the locals in the lead-up to this fight. “The interest has been unbelievable,” said Fenech. “The venue will be sold out. They are expecting over 5000 people.” “I expected it. I’ve got a very good following here in Perth and it is unreal. I’ve been the only boxer in Perth for a long time. It’s going to a great night,” said Green. Picture & Full story by Paul Upham at Secondsout.com ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

NDOU - QUINONEZ Table Mountain Casino, November 3 : Ndou fought well but lost in a controversial round 8 points decision after dropping Quinonez to the canvas in the first round. ~~~~ooo~~~~~ From Duncan Management Services Lovemore departs for the USA Lovemore Ndou this week departs for California where he is scheduled to meet with Steve Quinonez on November 3 at Table Mountain Casino. "Quinonez will be a difficult opponent for me who has been in the ring with the likes of Ward - Castillo - Corrales - Juarez to mention a few. He is a tough southpaw who I don't underrate for one minute. I am looking forward to this fight of which a win should see me re-enter the world ratings again. I need to beat quality opponents like Steve if I am going to get a shot at a world title. I have Spadafora in my sights and no one will stop me on my way to him. My management is already speaking with unbeaten Dindo Castanares camp in the hope that we can fight for an IBF Pan Pacific Title in Melbourne in December. Hopefully a win against Quinonez & Castanares this year will place me in a better position to get to him some time next year. My preparation in training for this bout and support from my team has me more focused and determined than I ever have been." BACK TO TOP ~~~~ooo~~~~~ NDOU - QUINONEZ It's on! November 3 in California We today signed a contract for Lovemore Ndou to meet with Steve Quinonez in California on November 3rd. Quinonez is a quality opponent who has entered the ring with some of the best Lightweight boxers going around, including ; Jose Luis Castillo ; Mickey Ward ; Diego Coralles ; Jose Luis Juarez to mention a few. In the event that Lovemore beats Quinonez the Goosens have offered a 3 fight contract with a possible world title shot inside 12 months. Lovemore leaves Sydney next week to start sparring and preparing under the watchful eyes of Ray Giles & Dave "the rock" Hedgecock at Melbourne's Underworld Gymnasium. Lovemore is looking forward to the fight saying "I have never been better prepared both mentally & physically than I am for this fight", I have my own trainers and team coming with me including Julian Holland who will be in my corner for the first time this year. I put my first loss back, down as ring rust not to mention a tough opponent in Juarez. This was my first fight back in 14 months and in hindsight probably shouldn't have met with that caliber of boxer, however we have offered Juarez back into the ring now that I have had some activity and a win under my belt to no avail. He knows how dangerous I can be and I am particularly happy about this fight with Quinonez as he beat Juarez 2 months ago over in the US. I feel now I have the team environment and support behind me that I will be bringing back a world title belt sometime next year. " ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS BACK TO TOP

Sam "King" Soliman defeats Sakio BikaOctober 15 in Melbourne The fight Australians said they wanted to see. Soliman-Bika goes close over the distance From Paul Upham, Contributing Editor www.secondsout.com: IBF Pan Pacific middleweight champion Sam “King” Soliman (pictured), handed Cameroon Olympian the “Scorpion” Sakio Bika, 10-1 (6), his first defeat over 12 close rounds on Tuesday night at the Powerhouse on Albert Park Lake in Melbourne.In a tight fight, Soliman won a majority decision with judges scores of 114–114, 116–112 and 117–112 .“I never underestimated Sakio’s ability for one minute, my manager Stuart Duncan told me it was going to be a tough fight and that he was coming with one thing in mind and that was to take my belt,” said Soliman. “A tough fight he gave me and I’m sure the world of boxing is going to see a lot more of him. I’ve been in the ring with some tough contenders in Eastman, Joval and Mundine to mention a few and I rate Bika as one of my toughest opponents.” Neither fighter was hurt during the bout with not many clean punches being landed. Soliman’s awkward style and more consistent aggression probably getting him the nod on two of the judge’s cards.“Sakio started out really well, but he tired in the ninth and tenth rounds. He had never been past round six before,” said co-trainer Billy Hussein.“We thought it was a close fight and we could accept either fighter winning by one point, but to have four and five point margins was hard to understand. ”While disappointed with the loss, Hussein believes that Bika will learn greatly from the experience.“Sakio can see what it takes to fight 12 rounds now and he will be a much better fighter. There is no doubt that Sam Soliman is a very good boxer and his experience showed through tonight. Sakio had only been through 29 professional rounds in his career before this fight. ”“ Sakio Bika looked the goods throwing and landing some clean shots, however in the usual Soliman style his awkwardness and unorthodox manner of fighting saw him cross the line a winner,” said Soliman’s manager Stuart Duncan. The undercard saw Matt Shaw win a point’s decision against Paul Le while Craig Eden drew with Mike Cope in an exciting close fight. Lovemore Ndou and Julian Holland put on a three round exhibition, with Ndou in the final stages of his preparation for his bout against Steve Quinonez in the USA on November 3. Duncan, who also promoted the card, was extremely pleased with its success.“The show was a sell out and we had a standing ovation at the end of each fight. It turned out a promoters and matchmakers dream with each fight going the distance,” he said. Duncan made a special mention of three-time world champion Jeff Fenech who trained Bika and willingly gave his time to make the night a success. “Jeff Fenech was my idol when he was boxing, and I’ve got to tell you, he is close to being the most professional person I have dealt with in boxing to date,” said Duncan. “He honoured his word and was an absolute gentleman in every way. He spent time with my sponsors having meals with them. He just basically went out of his way to do anything he could to help the show. He didn’t agree with the judges score cards, however again was professional about the defeat.”“ Sakio is a sensational boxer who nearly got across the line. He is definitely a talent and Jeff has one hell of a prospect on his hands.”The 28 year-old Soliman would now like to face Team Fenech’s Ian McLeod, “They want me to fight in Sydney, but I’m defending my title so they’ll have to come to Melbourne,” he said.Duncan will also be investigating some fights for Soliman in the USA.“My dream is to fight for the world title and stepping up against Bernard Hopkins would be the ultimate,” said Soliman. “I just want to stay busy and win my way in the IBF top 10 and hopefully one day my time will come.” Paul Upham's article & pictures at SECONDSOUT ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [ TOP] FROM FIGHTNEWS Soliman outpoints Bika! By Ray Wheatley -- World of Boxing IBF #14 Sam Soliman (16-7, 5 KOs) defended his IBF Pan Pacific middlweight title successfully with a hard fought twleve round majority decison over 2000 Olympian Sakio Bika (11-1, 7 KOs) at the Powerhouse Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Soliman was the aggressor in all the rounds contested with the challenger Bika scoring with accurate punches while boxing on the back move. Soliman took charge in rounds ten, eleven and twelve to receive a majority points decision. "As the manager of Sam Soliman, I would like to challenge the WBC/IBF/WBA champion Bernard Hopkins to make an optional title defense," stated Stuart Duncan. "I am hopeful that the Soliman vs Hopkins bout can happen in the next twelve months. I am ready to jump on the plane tomorrow and make the 20 hour trip to Philadelphia to meet with Mr. Hopkins and negotiate this fight." 10/16/2002 Sam "King" Soliman Vs Sakio Bika The fight Australians said they wanted to see. Sam Soliman has again cemented his reputation as a triple A (Anyone -Anytime - Anywhere ) fighter in taking this bout. Sakio who has an unbeaten record with an impressive 6 KO (3 of inside 2 rounds) will be coming to Melbourne to challenge Sam for his IBF Pan Pacific title. The hard hitting Sakio will be coming to Melbourne with one thing in mind and that is to be wearing a belt at the end of the fight. Having represented his country in the Olympics and been 5 times Cameroon champion, he is sure to put up a great challenge. Sam's comments were pretty simple " I respect Sakio, he is a real talent and probably the best challenger for me inside Australia. I admire his courage in wanting to fight me, however I will let my gloves do the talking on the day. Im really looking forward to this bout as I don't underestimate him for one minute, I know he's coming to Melbourne for one thing and one thing only ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

MUNDINE STOPS THORNBERRY ON AN ELECTRIC NIGHT! By Tony Nobbs For Eastside Boxing 03.11 - Anthony Mundine captured the WBA Fedelatin Super Middleweight Title by stopping tough Ricky Thornbery at 1 min.15 of the eleventh round in an excellent fight in front of a packed audience of an estimated 5000 on the Gold Coast tonight. The win will see Mundine (16-1, 13 KO) move into the WBA top 5, with a number two rating mooted. He entered the ring holding the WBA's PABA and PAFBA Belts and ranked #9 while Thornberry (27-5,12KO) came in a position below. In describing the action, it must be said, the fight was a barnstormer and the atmosphere ELECTRIC! Before the fight, supporters of both fighters took turns chanting their favourite's name and both entered to a rocking reception. This continued for the entire fight. The opening round saw the faster Mundine fighting in spurts and establishing his left lead which snapped Thornberry's head back. Thornberry bustled forward and pinned Mundine to the ropes where he let go with a steady body attack. After splitting the first four rounds, Mundine's flashy combinations and snaky right hands began racking up the points. Even a brawl in the crowd during round four did not disrupt the fan interest in the real fight. Early in round six, Mundine had to have some tape replaced on his right glove and this gave both fighters time to get some condition back. Ricky also took the time to rev the crowed up and a chant of "Thorn-berry" rang through the arena. The bout had been fairly even to that point, Anthony having an edge. In round seven a solid right to Ricky's ribs knocked him side on and seemed to noticeably slow him down. And then the chants of "Mun-dine" started up again. Rounds seven, nine and ten were good rounds for the once beaten 27 year old from Sydney. He gradually wore the older Thornberry, 34, down with some telling body shots and sharp rights to the head. Though Thornberry kept trying to apply pressure and landed some clean shots of his own throughout, he lacked the power to threaten a knockout. There were terrific exchanges all the way, especially along the ropes (where Mundine more than held his own) and Ricky had started giving ground, exposing himself to Mundines ever increasing arsenal. In the eleventh Mundine went to the body and head making Thornberry grimace and cover up.A follow up saw him touch the canvas only to be back shaping up immediately. Thai referee Charlerm Prayadsab correctly applied a count and then stopped it as a distressed Thornberry leaned over the ropes attempting to recover. Several Mundine supporters quickly entered the ring in jubilation before being composed by elder Team Mundine members...In the ring after the fight Mundine said "I thank God. I thank Ricky for giving me the opportunity. He has fought some good fighter's. He came to fight tonight, he tried to pressure me and thought I'd tire. But I got stronger and that is from all the hard training and sparring I've done. This fight will get me high up in the rankings". He continued on that he would like to keep fighting in Australia if it can force a World Title shot against American banger Byron Mitchell, promoted by Don King. At the end of the tenth round Mundine was ahead by 100-90, 100-91 and 99-92. This writer, who didn't bother taking notes as the fight was so enthralling and didn't want to risk missing a thing, had it 98-92. Before leaving the ring to a huge ovation from supporters of both fighter's, Thornberry was asked by announcer Andy Raymond what he thought of Mundine's ability. He jokingly replied "He's hopeless", before saying "No seriously I always respected Anthony's ability, right from when he started out. He just needs experience. He needs more fights, more time and I think he can win the World Title". When asked about his future "I'm not sure. I'll sit down with (brother and trainer-manager) Noel and decide". Undercard results: Solo Egberime W8 UD Ernie Artango, Super Welter. Simon Patterson W6 MD Danny Buzza, Cruiserweights. Matt Shaw W6 UD Ty Allen, Welterweights. Dion Marr TKO 3 Yazawa Kazomasa, Middleweights Geoff Kanofski TKO3 Simon Ali Adem, Middleweights. Promoter: Tony Mundine Snr. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

Morales too big, too good for Ayala Saturday, November 16 Updated: November 17, 3:15 AM ET Associated Press LAS VEGAS -- An old adage in boxing is a good bigger fighter will usually beat a good smaller fighter. On Saturday night, Erik Morales was both too big and too good for Paulie Ayala. Morales, showing little respect for Ayala's punching power, scored repeatedly with right hands against his smaller opponent to win the vacant WBC featherweight title with a unanimous 12-round decision that he punctuated with a devastating final round. Ayala, of Fort Worth, Texas, fought hard until the end, but his left eye was swollen shut and he paid the price by taking some vicious right hands from Morales. Ayala never went down but he took a beating in the 12th round as Morales pinned him on the ropes and landed punches almost at will. With just a few seconds left in the final round it looked like referee Kenny Bayless might stop the fight with Ayala taking a beating on the ropes, but it went to the final bell for a decision. ''He has a strong chin,'' Morales said. ''I hurt my left hand early and right hand late. At the end of the fight I couldn't really use my right hand.'' Ayala was fighting for the first time at 126 pounds and, although he and Morales weighed the same, Morales, who lost the same title in his last fight to Marco Antonio Barrera, looked like a bigger fighter and clearly landed the harder punches. Morales had come into the fight with 31 knockouts, while Ayala had only stopped 12 opponents in his career as a bantamweight and didn't add any extra punching power with the heavier weight. ''He's a very heavy hitter, punches very hard. He also had a reach advantage over me and was catching me at the end of his punches,'' Ayala said. ''By far my toughest fight.'' Two judges scored it 117-111 for Morales while the third scored it 116-112. The Associated Press had Morales winning 118-110. Punch stats recorded by Compubox showed the dominance of Morales, who was credited with landing 422 of 961 punches to 185 of 852 for Ayala. Morales landed 74 power punches in the final round despite complaining he hurt both his hands. Ayala (34-2) earned his biggest purse -- $1 million -- to move up in weight, but it was Morales (42-1) who looked the most comfortable and it was the big right hand of the once-beaten Mexican that made the difference. Ayala was game and had his moments, landing effectively with his left hand behind a right jab. By the sixth round, however, Morales was walking through Ayala's punches and landing right hands, seemingly unconcerned with his punching power. Ayala's left eye was swelling midway through the fight, but that didn't stop him from trying to slug it out with Morales, much to the pleasure of the crowd at the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino. By the eighth round, Ayala's eye was nearly closed, and his chances of winning the fight were all but gone. He didn't have the power to hurt Morales and was taking a beating from right hands he couldn't see. Morales was a 3-1 favorite to win back the same WBC belt he lost June 22 when he dropped a disputed 12-round decision to Marco Antonio Barrera. Barrera refused the title, but is generally regarded as the best featherweight in the world, a claim he bolstered two weeks ago with a lopsided win over Johnny Tapia. Morales said he would welcome a third fight against Barrera, who he beat the first time they met. ''If HBO wants a third fight and pays me enough money there will be a third fight,'' he said. In another fight, welterweight prospect Dmitriy Salita remained unbeaten by stopping an outmatched Ron Gladden midway through the first round of a scheduled four-round fight.Salita, who follows orthodox Jewish guidelines and will not fight before sundown on Saturdays, won for the ninth time in as many fights and scored his seventh knockout. Salita, a Ukranian native who moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., as a child, had no trouble against Gladden, knocking him down with a left hook a minute into the fight and then finishing him off with a double hook that put him on the canvas for a second time.Referee Tony Weeks counted Gladden (11-7-1), of Murray, Ky., out at 1:25 of the first round. In the semi main, Mexico's Guty Espadas won a split decision over Clarence ''Bones'' Adams, who was bloodied by a head butt midway through the fight.Espadas (36-5) landed the cleaner punches to win on two of the three scorecards over Adams (41-7-3) in the featherweight fight. Previous (lead up) articles on the fight ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

HUSSEIN HUSSEIN WAITS FOR TITLE SHOT Article by Paul Upham at Seconds Out ~previously... HUSSY VICTORIOUS... UNANIMOUS DECISION IN PERTH GETS HIM HIS SHOT AT THE TITLE From the Perth West Australian, Feb 22 (AAP) Hussein earns world title shot AUSTRALIAN flyweight Hussein Hussein can finally look forward to a guaranteed shot at a world title after convincingly beating Thailand's Wande Chor Chareon on points in Perth last night. Hussein won a unanimous decision from the three judges after totally dominating his opponent and can now expect his next bout to be against WBO champion Omar Narvaez. After waiting 18 months for a world title shot as the WBO's number one contender, Hussein had recently dropped to number three in the rankings but tonight showed his class. Chareon, a former holder of the WBC minimum weight title at just 19 and with a 38-4 record before tonight, showed nimble footwork and fast hands at times but was helpless to stop Hussein's relentless jab from hitting home. The unbeaten 27-year-old Sydney fighter, trained by Jeff Fenech, started cautiously but by the third round had found his range. The Thai was warned in the fourth after two blows strayed below the belt, and by the fifth the Bankstown man was in complete control. In a fight which had plenty of action to admire but not much to excite, Hussein continued to pick his younger opponent off at will. Becoming desperate, Chareon stormed off the stool in the ninth, only to be docked a point for another low blow. A flurry of do-or-die punches from both men in the dying seconds of the tenth was the only threat to the new number one contender, whose trainer Fenech will fly back to America tomorrow to watch friend Mike Tyson's latest bid to resurrect his career. Hussein remains undefeated in his 22 bouts since his professional debut in February 1998, with the judges in this fight scoring it 99-91, 99-90, 99-89. Australia's 1996 Olympic flyweight representative now becomes the WBO and WBC's number one ranked flyweight, which guarantees him a world title shot. The WBC title is held by Thailand's Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, while the WBO belt is currently worn by Argentinean Narvaez HUSSEIN HUSSEIN WEBSITE TEAM FENECH WEBSITE ~~ previously..... TEAM FENECH’S HUSSEIN HUSSEIN IN WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2003 in PERTH, AUSTRALIA Hussein faces Chareon Friday Night in Perth By Paul Upham: WBO No.3 and WBC No.6 flyweight Hussein Hussein will face Thailand’s Wande Chor Chareon, 39-3 (9), over 10 rounds in a flyweight world title eliminator sanctioned by the WBC and the WBO at the Metropolis City Nightclub in Perth, Australia on Friday night. “It’s a big fight and this can make you or break you,” said Hussein, 21-0 (17). “You want everything to be perfect, but I know I’ve trained hard enough and I’m ready for the fight and hopefully things will come out the right way for me.” One of Australia’s best hopes for a world title, 27 year-old Hussein remains undefeated after making his professional debut in February 1998, having represented Australia at the 1996 Olympic Games. He is trained and managed by Australia’s great three-time world champion Jeff Fenech. A resident of Bankstown in Sydney, Hussein will be fighting in Perth for the first time. The winner of the bout has been promised the No.1 flyweight ranking by both the WBC and the WBO, which will guarantee them a shot at the world title. The WBC flyweight title is currently held by Thailand’s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, while the WBO world title is held by Argentina’s Omar Narvaez. 22 year-old Chareon from Thailand who arrived in Perth on Monday, is rated No.4 by the WBC and No.5 by the WBO and he previously held the Interim WBC minimumweight world title before losing to current WBC minimumweight world champion Jose Antonio Aguirre by very close split points decision over 12 rounds in February 2000. “It’s more excitement I guess, knowing that I am going to be fighting. It’s nerve racking a little, but it doesn’t bother me who he is,” said Hussein. “The preparation has been very good and Hussy is feeling great,” said co-trainer and older brother Billy Hussein. “The fans really love their boxing here in Perth and are making us feel very welcome.” After having held the WBO No.1 position for nearly 18 months, Hussein has been waiting a long time to secure an opportunity to become a mandatory defence for the world champion. “I’ve done all the preparation and the homework. I’ve watched the tapes and I’m ready to fight. Nothing is missing except the win. I’m just ready for the chance to be able to do it,” said Hussein, who is enjoying the hospitality of the fans in Perth. “Everyone is excited here, it’s like they have never had boxing here before in their lives. They really love the sport and are big supporters. Hopefully I can put on a great show for them.” Paul Upham ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS Team Fenech’s undefeated 1996 Australian Olympian Hussein Hussein faces Thailand’s Wande Chor Chareon over ten rounds in a flyweight (112 lbs) world title eliminator sanctioned by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) in Perth on Friday 21st February 2003. The winner of the bout has been promised the No.1 flyweight ranking by both the WBC and the WBO, which will guarantee them a shot at the world title. The WBC flyweight title is held by Thailand’s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, while the WBO world title is held by Argentina’s Omar Narvaez. "No doubt this is the toughest fight of my career, but I was ready for a world title fight a year ago," said Hussein. "I have been ready for the challenge and I should have had the opportunity to do so. I have been waiting for this opportunity a long time. Now I have the chance to make things happen." One of Australia’s best hopes for a world title, 27 year-old Hussein remains undefeated after making his professional debut in February 1998 and now has a record of 21 wins from 21 fights with 17 wins by knockout. 22 year-old Chareon from Thailand is rated No.4 by the WBC and No.5 by the WBO. His record stands at 39 wins and 3 losses, with 9 wins coming via knockout. He previously held the Interim WBC minimumweight (105 lbs) world title before losing to current WBC minimumweight world champion Jose Antonio Aguirre by very close split points decision over twelve rounds in February 2000. "Chareon has got the experience, but he has been coming up in weight and I will be much stronger than him. I can see by his record that he is not a big puncher and that is an advantage to me," said Hussein. "We have a video tape of him in action, his last fight and another fight where he went the twelve round distance. Judging by his last performance, I am feeling very confident. It is a fight I need against this quality of opposition. This fight will toughen me up and then hopefully I will be successful and get a chance at the world champion." Hussein is trained and managed by Australia’s great three-time world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Jeff Fenech. Team Fenech train at Fenech’s Marrickville, Sydney gymnasium and whose members include great young talent such as undefeated junior featherweight Nedal Hussein, undefeated junior middleweight Nader Hamdan, undefeated 2000 Australian Olympian Danny Green and undefeated 2000 Armenia Olympian Vic Darchinian. Information regarding the venue for the fight, ticket sales and the undercard will be announced shortly. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

Sanders stuns Klitschko with second- round knockout -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press HANOVER, Germany (AP) _ Corrie Sanders knocked out Wladimir Klitschko 27 seconds into the second round Saturday to take the WBO heavyweight title in a major upset. Sanders caught the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Klitschko with a short hard left with 33 seconds left in the first round, then sent him down to the canvas three more times. It was Klitschko's sixth defense of the lightly regarded World Boxing Organization belt. He was regarded by many as a top contender in the weight class and had just signed a nine-fight deal with HBO. The outcome drew boos from a crowd of 11,500, angered over the brevity of the fight and the unexpected result. Klitschko remained confident despite the loss. ``I'm certain I will come back, I'm certain I will be world champion,'' he said. ``All great champions have been beaten, then came back. It happened to Ali, it's happened to Lennox Lewis too.'' Klitschko's brother, Vitali, is ranked No. 1 by both the WBC and WBA and is in limbo waiting for a possible fight with reluctant champion Lennox Lewis. The brothers are from Ukraine, but spent much of their early careers in Germany, where they are hugely popular. They have been trying to build up their fan base in America. Saturday's result won't help. Klitschko (40-2) went down twice in the last minute of the first round, reeling around the ring as he tried to avoid Sanders' blows and then was dropped twice in the second. Sanders, a 37-year-old South African, jumped into his trainer's arms when the scheduled 12-round fight ended. ``I gave myself big chances to beat him. I knew I could do it,'' the 6-4 Sanders said. Before this victory, Sanders had fought only three rounds since being knocked out by Hasim Rahman nearly three years ago. After a slow opening minute, Sanders (39-2, 29 knockouts) went right after Klitschko. ``I wasn't planning that _ it just happened that way during the fight,'' Sanders said. Klitschko hadn't fought since December, when he stopped Jameel McCline. In the buildup to Saturday's fight, Klitschko said he needed to knock out Sanders to make a statement that would back his claim of being one of the top heavyweights in the world. ``To win the fight is important. To really dominate the fight is important, too,'' Klitschko said during the week. ``To win by knockout _ no one questions the winner.'' Klitschko learned a hard lesson about boxing. He appeared on the verge of finally conquering the U.S. market, carving out a name for himself with impressive knockouts of McCline and Ray Mercer. But in a pre-fight interview he conceded that all massive media attention means nothing once a boxer steps into the ring. ``I read what's written about me, that the future belongs to me, how I'll dominate the heavyweight division for the next years,'' the 26-year-old fighter said. ``But I know how fast that can be over _ it just takes one blow.'' Indeed. Klitschko never recovered from the first left that sent him down. After the third knockdown, he was saved by the bell. But Sanders was all over him in the second round. The Ukrainian was defenseless when another left crashed against his head. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

KLITSCKO VICTORIOUS - TKO ROUND TEN Round by Round at HBO: Previous articles: McCline makes up for late start By ROYCE FEOUR REVIEW-JOURNAL    Photo: Amy Beth Bennett Heavyweight Jameel McCline is one fight from reaching his goal of being a champion, though he had the benefit of just one amateur fight. McCline will challenge WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday in the second half of an HBO-televised doubleheader at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. WBC lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather will meet Jose Luis Castillo in the first title fight. McCline was arrested for transporting and selling stolen firearms in 1989 at age 18 and spent five years in prison, including 14 months in solitary confinement. After his prison term, which included stretches at Sing Sing and Attica, he turned to boxing. McCline was 25 when he turned professional after his one amateur bout -- a first-round knockout victory -- and was 2-2-1 after his first five fights. But McCline was a sparring partner for various heavyweights between fights, which helped to provide him with an education in the ring. He sparred with Lennox Lewis, Hasim Rahman, Larry Holmes, Ray Mercer, Andrew Golota and Zeljko Mavrovic, among others. "That was my amateur career," McCline said. "I sparred with everybody who was anybody between 1995 and 1999." McCline said the best fighter he was in the ring with before he began sparring with Lewis was Mavrovic, a Croatian who went 12 rounds with Lewis in losing a decision in a 1998 title bout. Ironically, McCline helped Lewis prepare for his fights against Michael Grant and David Tua after McCline had imitated Lewis for Mercer and Golota when they trained for their fights against Lewis. The 6-foot-6-inch, 260-pound McCline (28-2-3) hasn't lost since 1996. He has been on a roll the last two years, especially in his past three fights. McCline, 32, was supposed to be a confidence builder for Grant when they fought at Caesars Palace in July 2001, but McCline knocked down Grant with the first punch he landed. Grant, a 7-1 favorite, injured his right ankle going down from the left hook and told referee Tony Weeks he was unable to continue 43 seconds into the fight. McCline continued his run in December 2001 by taking a 12-round unanimous decision over Lance Whitaker in New York. In McCline's most recent fight, he won a one-sided 10-round decision over Shannon Briggs at New York's Madison Square Garden on April 27. McCline won the Briggs fight 99-90 on all three scorecards and scored a fifth-round knockdown. Even so, McCline, trained by veteran Jimmy Glenn, said it was "my so-called timid showing" in the Briggs fight that led the Klitschko camp to take him as the opponent for Saturday's fight. "I showed a certain amount of professionalism in adapting to boxing him instead of staying in his face," McCline said. "Jimmy and I decided to box. You know how it is in boxing -- you are only as good as your last performance." Klitschko (39-1) was a 5-1 favorite Tuesday at the Mandalay Bay sports book. The eight-fight card is scheduled to start at 4:45 p.m. The HBO telecast will start on a tape-delayed basis at 10. ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

Lennox Lewis speaks The World Heavyweight Champion, Lennox Lewis, has confirmed yesterday’s SecondsOut story that he will fight WBC No.1 contender Vitali Klitschko in March, and that details of the bout will be finalised in the next few days. In a statement to the to the press, the Briton said: “There have been a number of reports in the media about my future plans and also my relationship with Don King. I want my fans to know that I am intending to defend my WBC title against Vitali Klitschko on March 8, 2003. My negotiating team has a preliminary agreement in place for that fight, as well as fights against Mike Tyson and Wladimir Klitschko in the event that I decide to continue fighting after the Vitali Klitschko fight. I expect the contract for the Vitali Klitschko fight will be finalized in meetings that will be scheduled during the week of December 9. “I also want to make it clear that Don King is not part of my promotional or management team, and that he does not have the authority to speak on my behalf.” Lennox Lewis On line - www.lennox-lewis.com From Paul Upham : SECONDSOUT.COM ARCHIVESINDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- David Tua stopped Russell Chasteen in the second round of a scheduled 10-round tuneup Saturday night, opening a fight card that mixed hip-hop music with three-round exhibition matches. Tua (42-3) was fighting for the first fight since Aug. 17, when the 30-year-old New Zealander stopped former champion Michael Moorer in 30 seconds. This time, Tua actually broke a sweat, feeling out the flabby Chasteen for a round before putting him away. Chasteen (19-6) was game enough. He threw more punches than Moorer did, and followed them by lunging and grabbing Tua, to keep him from hitting back. But in the second round, Tua found his range. The knockout came with a hard right to the head followed by a left that toppled the 247-pound Louisville, Ky., heavyweight at 1:41 of the round. He didn't get up until a ringside physician shined a flashlight into his eyes. The knockout didn't surprise many, although not many saw it: The fight, the first bout on a card that was otherwise exhibitions, was held before a couple hundred people at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, an hour before the pay-per-view telecast of the exhibitions began. The 252-pound Tua, who made $40,000 for the knockout, took the fight for the practice -- in the ring and in the gym preparing for it. He hopes his next opponent is former champion Hasim Rahman. "I need to stay busy,'' he said afterward. "The preparation is the thing.'' But he said it felt strange to be fighting in front of an empty house. "I don't remember the last time I had to open a show. It was like going back to the beginning,'' he said. The "Fistful of Dollars'' fight card's biggest name was 44-year-old grandfather Tim Witherspoon. It featured eight heavyweights in a single-elimination tournament, but the results didn't count against their records. In between matches, DJs on an adjoining stage rapped and spun discs, and live performances were planned. Check out all the TUA News at www.davidtua.net Rahman signs for fight vs. Tua Winner of bout would get shot at IBF title By KEVIN IOLE REVIEW-JOURNAL Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman signed a contract Tuesday to fight David Tua in a bout that will guarantee the winner a shot at the IBF title. Tua and his manager, Kevin Berry, had called Rahman out in the Review-Journal on Nov. 5, with Barry calling Rahman "a dog with no teeth," for failing to sign for a rematch. The boxers fought Dec. 19, 1998, in Miami, and Tua won on a 10th-round technical knockout. But the ending was controversial because Rahman led on the judges' scorecards and was initially hurt when he was hit by a punch after the bell. After signing for the rematch, which HBO would televise early next year, Rahman proceeded to belittle Tua, who has yet to sign. "The same thing is going on now that was going on then when we fought the first time," Rahman said. "He knocked out Michael Moorer in 30 seconds, and he's been knocking all these guys out and everybody's on the Tua bandwagon. Well, you know what? I know his weakness. "I'll knock him out. Tell the midget I'm coming to knock him out. He's never been down, let alone knocked out, but I'm going to take the midget and knock his (butt) right out." Barry was pleased to hear Rahman signed. Barry said his side has gone to extraordinary lengths to get the deal done. He said Rahman, who is 6 feet 2 inches, should not be mocking Tua, who is 5-9. "David Tua still has a granite iron jaw and nobody has ever put him on the canvas," Barry said. "We'll be fighting a fighter who has been knocked cold three times and who has been knocked down and been hurt many other times. I hope Hasim Rahman remembers that he's fighting the guy who, without a doubt, is the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division, a guy who also happens to have the sport's best chin. "If I were in Rahman's shoes, I wouldn't be saying too many smart things about Dave's height. He may be short, but he's not small." Barry said he envisions the deal being finalized quickly. The winner of the fight will be guaranteed a shot at the winner of the Dec. 14 fight in Atlantic City between Las Vegan Chris Byrd and Evander Holyfield for the vacant IBF title. Rahman said he thinks Tua hit him late intentionally because he knew he was behind. "I gave him a thorough butt kicking and I totally outclassed him," Rahman said. "If you watch the tape, you'll hear his corner telling him to do whatever he has to do. They knew he was in a lot of trouble. When do you hear a corner that was experienced like his was talk that way? You don't, which tells me the punch he threw was definitely intentional. "But that was then and this is now. And I kicked his butt once and, believe me, I'm more than happy to do it again and get rid of this midget once and for all." Tua targeting massive payday 24 November 2002 By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE David Tua is up for another seven-figure payday for his long-awaited rematch with Hasim Rahman, a fight which will give the winner a title shot for the IBF's heavyweight boxing crown. The deal is all but sewn up for a March clash although Tua's manager Kevin Barry is still nervously waiting for Don King's signature. Once that is inked the fight will go to tender. It's likely to be held in Las Vegas and it is certain to involve huge money given its high anticipation and the long history between the two warriors. "It will be a seven figure sum for us," said Barry, adding that the position the winner would enjoy was more important than the money. If Tua can get past Rahman, he will line out against the winner of the Evander Holyfield-Chris Byrd fight in Vegas next month and a world title would again be within his grasp.Tua beat Rahman in their only previous bout in 1998 but got there with what was labelled a deciding blow after the bell. The result left Rahman furious and refusing to fight Tua again. Circumstances have forced a rethink for Rahman, especially as he tries to get his career back on track after losses to Lennox Lewis and Holyfield. "We've hunted him down in the media here, putting pressure on him, he has had no place to hide," said Barry from the US. "We're on the rise again and he's at the crossroads after his stoppage against Holyfield and knockout by Lewis . . . it's three strikes and you're out in this business." Even being in the stronger bargaining position, there was talk Barry was prepared to make some prizemoney concessions to entice Rahman. The fight is that important to Tua. But Barry said he would work out a guaranteed purse with King. Barry is shielding Tua from the hype of the Rahman fight. That bout is conditional on Tua beating the unheralded Russell Chasteen, 19-5 (13 knockouts), from Louisville, Kentucky, in a 10-rounder at the Trump Casino in Atlantic City next Sunday. It's little more than a conditioning fight for Tua to keep him busy before he returns home for Christmas. He has had a good training camp in Vegas, awaiting the outcome of negotiations outside the ring. Barry says his charge is itching for a fight. "I expect David to go out and rip him (Chasteen) apart. He has been training well, is in great shape and in a beautiful place mentally. "That's important because we can't afford any hiccups and David knows that." Tua's fight will be shown live on Sky TV in New Zealand as the curtain-raiser to the final of a "Fistful of Dollars" promotion that has eight heavyweights fighting three round eliminators towards a grand prize of $200,000. 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