AFTER
a month training on the Sunshine Coast, Robbie Peden has travelled
to Melbourne for Wednesday night's showdown with Nate Campbell
for the IBF world super-featherweight title.
Peden, who had sparring sessions with world-ranked super-bantamweight
Nedal Hussein and featherweight Jackson Asiku this week, described
his preparation as ``perfect''. ``Jimmy (Hussein) and Jackson
came up from Sydney last Friday and it's been great sparring
because they're both very quick,'' Peden said.
``I've sparred lots of rounds against the heavier guys since
I've been here, but the speed men are important close to a
fight. I started training for this fight last November in
America and there hasn't been a hitch.'' Peden, who fancies
a bet, has already snapped up plenty of the $2.60 odds on
offer with bookies who have installed Campbell a hot favourite
at $1.45.
``I'll keep taking those odds as long as they want to bet,''
Peden said.
The flashy Campbell was knocked out by Peden early last year
in a world title eliminator in California.
In the fifth round of a frenetic fight, Campbell unleashed
a wicked body shot that almost snapped Peden in two.
But the 31-year-old Australian refused to buckle as Campbell
inexplicably dropped his hands, seemingly ``showboating''
as he invited Peden to take a shot.
Peden obliged, knocking out Campbell with a searing left hook
which was shown on television sports shows worldwide.
While promoters Tony Caradonna and Glenn Wheatley have their
reasons for staging the world title bout in Melbourne, it
is disappointing for Queensland fans that US-based Peden's
first appearance in his home country is not in Brisbane.
Peden's trainer, respected American Roger Bloodworth, predicts
a tough night against Campbell.
``Nate lost his air of invincibility against Robbie last time,''
Bloodworth said.
``He knows he can be knocked out . . . that will either make
him more aggressive or it will make him more tentative.
``But it's going to be a good fight. Nate will be out for
revenge and Robbie's at home fighting for a world title. He's
waited a long time for this chance.''
Toowoomba
lightweight Mick Shaw has secured a re-match against Filipino
Renee Ganoy on May 20.
Shaw's streak of five wins ended last Friday night when he
was stopped in the fifth round by Ganoy in Brisbane.
