Paul Upham is a senior boxing writer for SecondsOut.com and writes regular weekly articles for AussieBox.com.au. In 2003 he was rated No.11 amongst the worlds best boxing writers. He has appeared on air as a boxing analyst for Main Event Pay-Per-View, Sky Channel, Fox Sports, Sky News Australia, SBS television and radio 2UE and writes monthly for The Fist magazine...

by Paul Upham

At the end of another calendar year, what better time to undertake the always controversial task of rating Australia’s best boxers. With two new world title holders in Anthony Mundine and Danny Green to complement Kostya Tszyu, our boxing ranks are seemingly very healthy indeed. On paper, 2004 seems to be headed towards a break-out year for Australia’s best on the world scene and who’s to say we won’t have four or five world champions in twelve months time? But with an average age of 29, Australia’s leading boxers need to step up now and make a statement over the next twelve months.

The following list takes into account both ability and achievement. While winning is influential, standard of opposition, location of the bout and the quality of performance are important measurement tools.

1. Kostya Tszyu 30-1 (24) 1 NC, junior welterweight – the undisputed champion returns to the ring with a Sharmba Mitchell rematch on February 7 in Moscow, Russia. While his only win over James Leija in January 2003 was unspectacular by his own high standards, Tszyu soaked up a lot of out of the ring pressures going into the fight and broke down Leija on the inside. Up there with Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the best in the world pound for pound, an impressive win over Mitchell may set up a busy year for 34 year-old Tszyu who will be looking for some big USA fights to finish his career on.



2. Danny Green 17-1 (17), super middleweight – While he destroyed Markus Beyer in Germany only to come home empty handed, 30 year-old Green showed his performance was no fluke with an even better one to stop Eric Lucas in Canada to win the WBC Interim super middleweight title. Victory overseas against quality opposition is never an easy task. Green and trainer/manager Jeff Fenech have proved they are willing to take a risk and gamble on the Australian Olympian’s ability. The quality of his winning performances outside of Australia gives the “Green Machine” a slight edge over arch rival Anthony Mundine in the ranking’s. Next up for Green is a February or March rematch with Beyer to settle their score once and for all.

3. Anthony Mundine 19-1 (14), super middleweight – No one can deny the accolades that Anthony Mundine deserves. To fight for a world title twice in just over three years after his professional debut without any amateur career and to beat Antwun Echols to win the WBA world title is a special achievement. While he has his critics, 28 year-old Mundine is an improving boxer and is still some way away from his peak. The more training camps and fights he has the further he will improve and he has indicated that he would like four appearances in 2004. We are more than likely still yet to see the best of the “Man”, who defends his WBA title on January 19 against Yoshinori Nishizawa in Wollongong.

4. Vic Darchinyan 20-0 (15), flyweight – The 27 year-old Armenia Olympian has oozed class with his brutal wins over Alejandro Montiel and Wandee Chareon (twice) in 2003. The hard-hitting fan favourite is the new IBF No.1 and is now guaranteed a shot at champion Irene Pacheco in 2004. The tough Mexican Montiel was coming off a twelve round loss to Pacheco but was battered every round by Darchinyan and was never in the fight from the opening bell. If there is one man who has the power to take the judges out of the equation and win the IBF title by knockout against Pacheco in Colombia it’s the “Raging Bull” Vic Darchinyan.

5. Hussein Hussein 23-1 (17), flyweight – While he lost to WBC champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in November in Bangkok over twelve rounds, Hussein was far from disgraced and proved that he is a genuine world title contender. Facing a great world champion in hot and humid conditions, more was learned about 28 year-old Hussein from his first career defeat than any of his previous wins. He has the skill, the strength and the heart to win a world title one day and will be a much better fighter from the losing experience.

6. Robbie Peden 22-2 (12), junior lightweight – 30 year-old “Bomber” Peden showed in August that he is still a genuine top ten contender with an impressive stoppage win over former world title challenger Lamont Pearson. Playing the waiting game whilst basing himself in the USA has seen Peden rarely in the ring over the last two years and hopefully 2004 will afford him better opportunities for a world title shot. Training with close friend Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy keeps Peden in the promotional mix and provides excellent training opportunities to advance his cause.

7. Paul Briggs 21-1 (17), light heavyweight – After a classy win over former world champion Jorge Castro in April, Briggs found out first hand how the best contenders can sometimes be frozen out of the picture. He can control what happens in the ring, but outside the ring it is all about boxing politics. While he waits for his shot at the WBC title, there is no doubt that whomever he faces will be in for one hell of a battle. Over the last twelve months 28 year-old Briggs’ hard work in the gym has seen him add boxing skills and patience to the destructive punching power that he has always been famous for.

8. Sam Soliman 22-7 (5), middleweight – The unorthodox and busy style which could see him be a handful for anyone in the top ten is the same reason that makes it so hard for Sam Soliman to get the fights he wants. Since his controversial loss to Anthony Mundine in September 2001, “King” Soliman has won ten straight with the motto, ‘any one, any time’. Two classy wins in Japan and an impressive performance against Nader Hamdan in 2003 again showed that 30 year-old Soliman is a live opponent against any of the leading middleweights.

9. Nedal Hussein 31-1 (18), junior featherweight – The classy 26 year-old could be one of the most talented boxers in the country, but so rarely do we see his skills unless he is pushed inside the ring. His best career performance to date was his controversial cut eye stoppage loss to the now world pound for pound top ten Manny Pacquiao in October 2000. Hussein more than matched the Filipino in that fight, dropping him to the canvas early with a long count from the local referee. Now rated WBC No.1, a world title shot in 2004 seems likely and then and only then may we finally see the very best of “Skinny” Hussein.

10. Nathan Sting 27-6-1 (13), bantamweight – Two UK wins over Johnny Armour and Nicky Booth in 2003 proved Sting’s credentials as a contender in the bantamweight division. The improving 30 year-old southpaw now appears to be basing himself in England and hopefully further local television opportunities will lead to a world title shot.

Others in contention, Gairy St.Claire, Lovemore Ndou, Shannan Taylor, Glen Kelly, Michael Katsidis, Sakio Bika, Nader Hamdan, Naoufel Ben Rabah, Ercument Aslan, Tommy Browne, Jason Delisle and Daniel Dawson.

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