Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Meehan on Chagaev-Valuev undercard
WBA No.1 heavyweight contender Kali "Check Mate" Meehan from Australia will appear on the Ruslan Chagaev-Nicolay Valuev WBA world title boxing undercard at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland on May 30.A win against an opponent to be confirmed, will hopefully see 39 year-old Meehan 35-3 (29) get a shot at the winner of the Chagaev-Valuev rematch later in 2009.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Chris McCullen retires
Australian Light Welterweight Champion and People’s Champion Chris “Little Big Man” McCullen has decided to hang up the gloves. McCullen 12-1-1 has beaten the best in Australia including Brad Hemming and the former WBF World Lightweight Champion Johnny Coterill Jnr on 2 occasions and feels that the time has come to put the gloves on the shelf.
“My body started catching up with me, it's not the fight that is the problem, it's the 10-12 weeks preparation that hurts, each fight I have to loose around 8 or 9kgs and at my age that’s not an easy thing. For a while now I've had a few injuries and have had to take them into the ring come fight night. I never wanted to pull out from a fight, probably on a few occasions I should have but I didn't think that was fair on the Promoter (Angelo Di Carlo) or the boxing fans so I just went through with it. Everything is catching up on me now so I guess my time was up, plus I want to live a normal life with my family.” He said.
McCullen also had amateur fights witch included a Senior Golden Gloves title. Due to the strict rules embodied by the Amateur boxing board here in Australia, Chris was forced to turn Professional back in 2004 when he was banned from having another Amateur fight after cornering one of his friends who was having his professional debut at the time.
“I had around 20 or so amateur fights, nothing special, then I took over coaching at our club as our coach was moving back to England. Then I thought I'll have 1 pro fight so I can see what it's like and the rest is history so to speak. So I've been juggling coaching and fighting since.” “Actually just went to a boxing gym to lose some weight in the football off season around 10 or 11 years ago, from that day I was hooked and have boxed since. I didn't know a thing about boxing, and the challenge was too much to walk away from. I'm glad I stuck with It.” said Chris
Talking about the greatest moment in his pro career he said,
“I would say winning my first Australian Title back in 2006 and also my first fight with Cotterill as I'd had a little break after loosing a tough fight to Dean Byrne and went straight into a tough opponent in Cotterill, a lot of people up here said I was silly for taking him first up but I knew my head was clear again and I always train hard so the ingredients were there to win that fight. Plus I liked the challenge.”
Chris had a lot of great entertaining fights but the one that stands out for a lot of people is the war that ended in a draw with Paul Walberg who was involved in a horrific motor vehicle accident a few months after the fight, he survived but suffered server head and facial injuries from the crash.
“Paul was excellent boxer and along with Dean Byrne the best I'd faced without disrespecting anyone else. I saw fighting someone of Paul’s calibre as a challenge because I knew everyone would have had me the underdog but I like that. He was trained by the great Billy Hussein and I knew Billy wouldn't have sent Paul up here to fight if he didn't think they could win, once again a challenge for me and fuel to train hard.Paul is a huge loss to boxing but I can say I was in the ring with a real champion, person and boxer and I hope he's doing ok.”
Not only an excellent boxer but an outstanding trainer at the Logan Boxing Club in Brisbane, this club has produced a large number of state and National champions and will continue to do so with Chris in charge.
Ask what he plans to do with himself now, he replied. “At the moment I'm enjoying coaching my team of boxers. In the gym we have Omar Shaick just turn pro, and the amateurs have got a busy year ahead of them. Kane Cassells is off to the world Championships; Trent Broadhurst makes his comeback from injury on May 1 so the gym is flowing well. I'm back out working a normal job doing roof restoration and enjoying that too so life is going well for me for now. I'm enjoying my life with my family, my kids keep me very busy, I get married in September so I have some busy times ahead.”
You meet a lot of characters in the boxing game and it would have been a lot more challenging without the help of family, friends, promoters and sponsors would you like to thank anyone? “Yes I've defiantly had a lucky run with the great people I've met through boxing, my trainers Mark Wilson and Gareth Williams were always there for me. They both run their own gyms and made time for me when ever I had training at their gym. Angelo Di Carlo and Brian Kirwan have promoted my fights and have done so much for me in and out of the ring. I rate Angelo as the best promoter in the country. I've had many great sponsors and as all boxers would know we all need help through out our time. Dobbo and Ash out at Madison Sport, Struddys sports at Browns Plains, Butch Buderis, Kenny Hamer, Greg Wallace, Steve Long at Supernova Contracting are just to name a few that have helped me out during my career, Madison Sport still help me out with my gym so I've been very lucky and without all these guys I couldn't have achieved what I did. My family are the best.
I also spoke to Brian Kirwan and Phil Austin about Chris and this is what they had to say;
Chris made his debut on my first professional show. He has been a constant in the events ever since. If any young fighters are looking for the best way to carry themselves in the sport of Professional boxing Chris is the perfect role model.His involvement with Red Corner's TV show has also been a lot of fun. I wish him the best of luck in his future within boxing but he doesn't really need it! Good things happen to good people.Brian KirwanRed Corner & Ace BoxingI have known Chris since refereeing his second pro fight through to his successful defence against John Cotterill Jnr. I guess what sticks out most for me is not his championship qualities inside the ring but his qualities outside of it. Chris is a fantastic father to three very lucky children and gives of himself completely, not just to family but to other boxers and charity. Nothing has ever been too much for Chris and he gives his all with no thought to self.Refereeing Chris has always been a pleasure due to his skill level and sportsmanship and he has given me many memorable moments, especially his fight against Paul Walberg which was a war. Boxing is lucky to have a man such as Chris within it's ranks and I am proud to know him - he is a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
Phil Austin
To finish up I would just like to say I watched Chris fight live on many occasions and always knew he would be in very good shape and super fit because he has a great work ethic he always showed he has a lot of heart and is a very determined person I would like to wish him well in the future.
I would also like to thank Angelo and Nathan Di Carlo who contributed information to this article.
Scott Edwards
“My body started catching up with me, it's not the fight that is the problem, it's the 10-12 weeks preparation that hurts, each fight I have to loose around 8 or 9kgs and at my age that’s not an easy thing. For a while now I've had a few injuries and have had to take them into the ring come fight night. I never wanted to pull out from a fight, probably on a few occasions I should have but I didn't think that was fair on the Promoter (Angelo Di Carlo) or the boxing fans so I just went through with it. Everything is catching up on me now so I guess my time was up, plus I want to live a normal life with my family.” He said.
McCullen also had amateur fights witch included a Senior Golden Gloves title. Due to the strict rules embodied by the Amateur boxing board here in Australia, Chris was forced to turn Professional back in 2004 when he was banned from having another Amateur fight after cornering one of his friends who was having his professional debut at the time.
“I had around 20 or so amateur fights, nothing special, then I took over coaching at our club as our coach was moving back to England. Then I thought I'll have 1 pro fight so I can see what it's like and the rest is history so to speak. So I've been juggling coaching and fighting since.” “Actually just went to a boxing gym to lose some weight in the football off season around 10 or 11 years ago, from that day I was hooked and have boxed since. I didn't know a thing about boxing, and the challenge was too much to walk away from. I'm glad I stuck with It.” said Chris
Talking about the greatest moment in his pro career he said,
“I would say winning my first Australian Title back in 2006 and also my first fight with Cotterill as I'd had a little break after loosing a tough fight to Dean Byrne and went straight into a tough opponent in Cotterill, a lot of people up here said I was silly for taking him first up but I knew my head was clear again and I always train hard so the ingredients were there to win that fight. Plus I liked the challenge.”
Chris had a lot of great entertaining fights but the one that stands out for a lot of people is the war that ended in a draw with Paul Walberg who was involved in a horrific motor vehicle accident a few months after the fight, he survived but suffered server head and facial injuries from the crash.
“Paul was excellent boxer and along with Dean Byrne the best I'd faced without disrespecting anyone else. I saw fighting someone of Paul’s calibre as a challenge because I knew everyone would have had me the underdog but I like that. He was trained by the great Billy Hussein and I knew Billy wouldn't have sent Paul up here to fight if he didn't think they could win, once again a challenge for me and fuel to train hard.Paul is a huge loss to boxing but I can say I was in the ring with a real champion, person and boxer and I hope he's doing ok.”
Not only an excellent boxer but an outstanding trainer at the Logan Boxing Club in Brisbane, this club has produced a large number of state and National champions and will continue to do so with Chris in charge.
Ask what he plans to do with himself now, he replied. “At the moment I'm enjoying coaching my team of boxers. In the gym we have Omar Shaick just turn pro, and the amateurs have got a busy year ahead of them. Kane Cassells is off to the world Championships; Trent Broadhurst makes his comeback from injury on May 1 so the gym is flowing well. I'm back out working a normal job doing roof restoration and enjoying that too so life is going well for me for now. I'm enjoying my life with my family, my kids keep me very busy, I get married in September so I have some busy times ahead.”
You meet a lot of characters in the boxing game and it would have been a lot more challenging without the help of family, friends, promoters and sponsors would you like to thank anyone? “Yes I've defiantly had a lucky run with the great people I've met through boxing, my trainers Mark Wilson and Gareth Williams were always there for me. They both run their own gyms and made time for me when ever I had training at their gym. Angelo Di Carlo and Brian Kirwan have promoted my fights and have done so much for me in and out of the ring. I rate Angelo as the best promoter in the country. I've had many great sponsors and as all boxers would know we all need help through out our time. Dobbo and Ash out at Madison Sport, Struddys sports at Browns Plains, Butch Buderis, Kenny Hamer, Greg Wallace, Steve Long at Supernova Contracting are just to name a few that have helped me out during my career, Madison Sport still help me out with my gym so I've been very lucky and without all these guys I couldn't have achieved what I did. My family are the best.
I also spoke to Brian Kirwan and Phil Austin about Chris and this is what they had to say;
Chris made his debut on my first professional show. He has been a constant in the events ever since. If any young fighters are looking for the best way to carry themselves in the sport of Professional boxing Chris is the perfect role model.His involvement with Red Corner's TV show has also been a lot of fun. I wish him the best of luck in his future within boxing but he doesn't really need it! Good things happen to good people.Brian KirwanRed Corner & Ace BoxingI have known Chris since refereeing his second pro fight through to his successful defence against John Cotterill Jnr. I guess what sticks out most for me is not his championship qualities inside the ring but his qualities outside of it. Chris is a fantastic father to three very lucky children and gives of himself completely, not just to family but to other boxers and charity. Nothing has ever been too much for Chris and he gives his all with no thought to self.Refereeing Chris has always been a pleasure due to his skill level and sportsmanship and he has given me many memorable moments, especially his fight against Paul Walberg which was a war. Boxing is lucky to have a man such as Chris within it's ranks and I am proud to know him - he is a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
Phil Austin
To finish up I would just like to say I watched Chris fight live on many occasions and always knew he would be in very good shape and super fit because he has a great work ethic he always showed he has a lot of heart and is a very determined person I would like to wish him well in the future.
I would also like to thank Angelo and Nathan Di Carlo who contributed information to this article.
Scott Edwards
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Hopoate finds softer side as he prepares for Atomic Bull
INCLINATION for the inflammatory is a noted trait of John Hopoate, and he was in full swing fronting a media throng yesterday to promote his fight against former heavyweight world champion Oliver McCall in Las Vegas in two weeks.
Of his comical Dora the Explorer sleeveless hoodie, he said: "It's also another ploy [for] Oliver McCall to look at me and think, 'Who is this poof coming over to fight me?' He will be very surprised."
And then: "I put rugby league on the world stage with my finger antics, the NRL should be paying me for that."
Vintage Hoppa, and head-shaking from all in earshot. It is difficult to comprehend, but there was a time he was afraid to leave his house, and ashamed his children had to endure taunts such as "John Stop-a-farty".
The father of eight regrets his dishonourable discharge from league in 2005, found guilty of deliberately elbowing opposing forward Keith Galloway in the head.
And he will never escape the fallout of his "finger antics", when he poked opposing players in the anus during a 2001 match.
"I wouldn't be who I am if none of those things happened, but in saying that I wish my career didn't end the way it did," he said. "When I got suspended the media were at my house from 6am to 6pm … All I did was sit inside.
"And the stuff the kids copped - it was through my actions. I didn't like that. They were very tough times. One thing I did have in those tough times was my family - and my faith. As the scripture says, everything comes to pass."
Hopoate (11-2, 11KO) said now the darkness had passed, his family had been blessed with this shot at McCall and the vacant IBA Intercontinental heavyweight title, as well as the success of his son William, 17 this week, who last year signed a $300,000 deal with the Sea Eagles.
Hopoate's mother, Melesisi, describes her 34-year-old son as a committed family man who "has the biggest heart in the whole wide world".
She revealed that he bought her a new car with his first pay cheque from Manly in 1995 while on a $50,000 contract.
"To receive bad publicity all his life and still come back, doesn't that mean anything?" Mrs Hopoate said. "It means he comes from a good family. We went through hell. We don't care, we know our son is the best. He is my life, my son."
Now leader of his church youth group, steering youngsters away from his own mistakes, Hopoate said: "People don't want to know about that side of me, they just want to know the bad side. Away from the field or the ring, I am a completely different person.
"Once I get over that sideline or jump in the ring, I am there to win and I do anything in my power to make that happen."
McCall, 44, a father of seven whose 20-year-old son Elijah will fight on the undercard to the coming bout, is best known for his breakdown during a bout against Lennox Lewis in 1997. He refused to engage and began to cry before the referee stopped the contest.
McCall's own transgressions are significantly more serious. He has served jail time for robbery and fought alcohol and drug addiction. Police were forced to use a stun gun to subdue him during an arrest in 2006.
McCall (51-9, 36 KOs) was Mike Tyson's sparring partner and has never been stopped in his lengthy pro career.
Hopoate believes that McCall is too old to deal with his power, adding: "I don't think he will come as the same guy that cried for this fight, he is older now and he wants a payday and they won't pay him if he does that."
Of his critics, he said: "They've kicked me when I was down, but I have always got back up on my feet. I'm always going to get up. This is for my family, and I will never lie down when it comes to my family."
Of his comical Dora the Explorer sleeveless hoodie, he said: "It's also another ploy [for] Oliver McCall to look at me and think, 'Who is this poof coming over to fight me?' He will be very surprised."
And then: "I put rugby league on the world stage with my finger antics, the NRL should be paying me for that."
Vintage Hoppa, and head-shaking from all in earshot. It is difficult to comprehend, but there was a time he was afraid to leave his house, and ashamed his children had to endure taunts such as "John Stop-a-farty".
The father of eight regrets his dishonourable discharge from league in 2005, found guilty of deliberately elbowing opposing forward Keith Galloway in the head.
And he will never escape the fallout of his "finger antics", when he poked opposing players in the anus during a 2001 match.
"I wouldn't be who I am if none of those things happened, but in saying that I wish my career didn't end the way it did," he said. "When I got suspended the media were at my house from 6am to 6pm … All I did was sit inside.
"And the stuff the kids copped - it was through my actions. I didn't like that. They were very tough times. One thing I did have in those tough times was my family - and my faith. As the scripture says, everything comes to pass."
Hopoate (11-2, 11KO) said now the darkness had passed, his family had been blessed with this shot at McCall and the vacant IBA Intercontinental heavyweight title, as well as the success of his son William, 17 this week, who last year signed a $300,000 deal with the Sea Eagles.
Hopoate's mother, Melesisi, describes her 34-year-old son as a committed family man who "has the biggest heart in the whole wide world".
She revealed that he bought her a new car with his first pay cheque from Manly in 1995 while on a $50,000 contract.
"To receive bad publicity all his life and still come back, doesn't that mean anything?" Mrs Hopoate said. "It means he comes from a good family. We went through hell. We don't care, we know our son is the best. He is my life, my son."
Now leader of his church youth group, steering youngsters away from his own mistakes, Hopoate said: "People don't want to know about that side of me, they just want to know the bad side. Away from the field or the ring, I am a completely different person.
"Once I get over that sideline or jump in the ring, I am there to win and I do anything in my power to make that happen."
McCall, 44, a father of seven whose 20-year-old son Elijah will fight on the undercard to the coming bout, is best known for his breakdown during a bout against Lennox Lewis in 1997. He refused to engage and began to cry before the referee stopped the contest.
McCall's own transgressions are significantly more serious. He has served jail time for robbery and fought alcohol and drug addiction. Police were forced to use a stun gun to subdue him during an arrest in 2006.
McCall (51-9, 36 KOs) was Mike Tyson's sparring partner and has never been stopped in his lengthy pro career.
Hopoate believes that McCall is too old to deal with his power, adding: "I don't think he will come as the same guy that cried for this fight, he is older now and he wants a payday and they won't pay him if he does that."
Of his critics, he said: "They've kicked me when I was down, but I have always got back up on my feet. I'm always going to get up. This is for my family, and I will never lie down when it comes to my family."
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Hatton urged not to fight Katsidis in farewell bout
A leading British newspaper has urged Ricky Hatton to quit the sport rather than have a farewell fight in Manchester with Aussie Michael Katsidis.The Scottish based Daily Record says the talk before Hatton’s devastating defeat to Manny Pacquiao on the weekend was that if Hatton lost there might be a 48th and final fight in Manchester in November against Michael Katsidis.``Such a contest after this brutal beating seems totally pointless and he would only be risking further injury,’’ the paper said.``Hatton, 30, has wrung every last ounce of glory out of his career and can be proud of four world titles at two different weights. Reputations that have taken years to establish can quickly be undone when fighters carry on too long and these two harrowing rounds prove he should quit.``Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum told Hatton he shouldn't be discouraged because no fighter in the world could beat his man.``But he should be and the unavoidable truth is Hatton couldn't move his head or feet and was wide open for Pacquaio who peppered him from every angle.’’Pacquaio said: "I was surprised to win so easily. It was nothing personal. I was just doing my job."I respect Ricky and he's still a great fighter. He's big and strong and I'm just lucky I hit him first.Hatton, who battered the great Aussie Kostya Tszyu to defeat in 2005, had planned to go out in a blaze of glory against Katsidis if the Pacquiao fight did not go as planned.But he never expected to hit the deck twice in the opening round and finally for keeps in the second against the rampaging Filipino.Hatton temporarily suffered lockjaw but when he could eventually speak he said: "It hurts but I'm OK. I didn't really see the punch coming.It was a great shot but I know I'll be OK." Hatton's fans, loyal to the last, sang "there's only one Ricky Hatton" as he left the ring, possibly for the last time.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Darchinyan challenges Pacquiao
Vic Darchinyan wants to meet the world's best pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao at an intermediate weight and believes he's suited to the Filipino superstar's style. Pacquiao underlined his status as the planet's finest pugilist on Sunday by demolishing Kostya Tszyu's conqueror Ricky Hatton in two rounds at Las Vegas. The power-hitting 30-year-old southpaw added a light welterweight world title to the championship belts he had previously collected at flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight and lightweight. Like Darchinyan, Pacquiao started his rampage through the divisions as a flyweight and the Australian is also eyeing world belts in several divisions. Sydney-sider Darchinyan will shortly challenge for a bantamweight world title having previously earned a couple of flyweight belts before unifying the super flyweight division. The 33-year-old Armenian-born fighter will join Jeff Fenech as the only Australia-based boxer to win world titles in three divisions if he overcomes Ghana's IBF bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko in Florida on July 11. Darchinyan reiterated his desire for a dream match-up with Pacquiao, though the Filipino is currently fighting five divisions up and ten kilos heavier than the Australian. While he was more immediately focused on winning world titles in the next two or three divisions up, Darchinyan suggested Pacquiao could drop two or three classes for a fight featuring two of the most exciting boxers in the world. ``It is one of my dreams to fight him, I don't want to say I am going to go and knock him out,'' Darchinyan said of Pacquiao. ``I want to fight him and prove I'm very strong, but before I'm going to fight him I have many people I want to fight first. ``I can go up (in weight) and he can come down. I don't think I can make it up to junior welterweight, I will go up to super featherweight and I could challenge him at that weight and he could come down,'' Darchinyan said. Both are renowned for their explosive power, with Darchinyan tallying 26 KOs in his 32 wins while Pacquiao has achieved 37 of his 49 victories inside the distance. Each is a southpaw and Darchinyan was adamant he had the style to be competitive against a man fast rising up the list of boxing's all-time greats. ``I see his style is very suitable for me, I would love to fight him, you cannot believe how much I want to fight him,'' Darchinyan said. He started his sparring preparations for the Agbeko fight on Monday and will head to the United States early next month. ``He (Agbeko) is not bad, everyone is saying he is a good puncher,'' Darchinyan said. ``I am going to show people I am stronger than him and faster than him. ``I am going to prove to everyone my punches can be faster and harder as a bantamweight.''
Saturday, May 2, 2009
What a Workout!
5 Rounds for time
10 reps 40kg Push Press
20 reps 10kg Wall balls
30 reps 24" Box Jumps
40 reps 20kg Kettlebell Swings
400m Run
Time = 1h11m33sec
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