Kostya Tszyu rates Vic Darchinyan as Australia's best boxer -- FOXSports

By Max Abbott, foxsports.com.au

Boxing legend Kostya Tszyu rates Vic Darchinyan as Australia's best pound-for-pound boxer, despite the recent success of Danny Green and Anthony Mundine.

Speaking on the Fox Sports News' Long Lunch, Tszyu said that Darchinyan had proven that he could fight on the world stage.

"He is fighting not in his territory," Tszyu said.

"He is fighting in the States on US television and I think from that point of view he is a bigger star than Danny or Anthony."

Tszyu also hinted that his decorated boxing career may not be over, suggesting that a big enough offer could lure him back into the ring.

"Something big, something (with) big interest that I would talk to my family and they will say ‘look Kostya you are not ready to retire, do it’ and then I will say yeah I will," he said.

"Maybe fight against big names, maybe, that can be exciting,"

"We’ll see this weekend Floyd Mayweather against Shane Mosely, this can be good challenge for me, you never know."

Despite Australia’s recent boxing success, Tszyu said more financial support was needed from the government to allow the sport to continue to flourish.

"We have to create a system where kids can train for free.

"If we do this then more kids come for boxing, more kids going to go away from the street

"It is important for us to do it."

Tszyu suggested maybe he might night need to push envelope in parliament to get the wheels in motion.

"Maybe one day I go and put the suit and tie on and go and do it," he said.

Source: foxsports.com.au

Kostya Tszyu urges Anthony Mundine to take on Danny Green -- Daily Telegraph

By Nick Walshaw, The Daily Telegraph

AUSTRALIAN boxing legend Kostya Tszyu has urged Anthony Mundine to forgo the scales and accept the one bout every Aussie sports fan wants to see - a rematch with Danny Green.

Among the most popular fighters this nation has ever produced, Tszyu yesterday told The Daily Telegraph Mundine should ignore the 10kg separating him from the IBO world cruiserweight champion.

"Because it would be a great fight, great for Australian boxing," Tszyu insisted.

"We've always known Danny is big hitter. Has a strong punch.

"But to see what he did against Roy Jones, then the way he knocked out Manny Siaca ... it shows Danny Green is now capable of doing great things."

Asked about the obvious sticking point of weight, Tszyu added: "I don't want to see Danny lose weight because to drop weight as you get older, it's not natural. Not right.

"And I think they can still make the fight. Anthony needs to put some quality opposition against himself again.

"He's already fighting here in Australia and doing a good job for himself."

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the rival Green and Mundine camps have already spoken several times without success since the Perth brawler's comprehensive three-round win against Puerto Rican Siaca.

"Because it seems like Choc is content to keep chasing fights at light middleweight and middleweight," Green's manager Justin Manolikos conceded.

"To be honest I can't see why there would be any fuss about weight anyway.

"When Anthony played for the Dragons he was up around 95kg wasn't he?

"And after Dan beat Roy Jones Jr he came out to say he'd fight him at cruiserweight. Fight him at heavyweight.

"But if nothing changes, so be it. We'll keep chasing names like Roy Jones Jr while he keeps chasing cab drivers named Roy."

An undisputed junior welterweight champion in his prime, Tszyu now splits his year evenly between Australia and his homeland, Russia - where he boasts both a series of business interests and charity programs for underprivileged children.

The Thunder from Down Under was back in Sydney yesterday to help launch a limited edition Kostya Tszyu watch range - with each of his 270 limited edition pieces going for a cool $9900 each.

Source: dailytelegraph.com.au

Anthony Mundine links with top US trainer Freddie Roach at famous Wildcard Gym -- Daily Telegraph

By Josh Massoud and James Phelps, The Daily Telegraph

ANTHONY Mundine will hit America next week to link with world-renowned trainer Freddie Roach in a bid to shake off cobwebs from a three-month injury lay-off.

Since his scrappy points win over Robert Medley in January, The Man has been laid low by a painful groin problem that's required surgery.

But we can reveal Mundine is booked on a flight to Los Angeles this weekend, bound for Roach's famous Wildcard Gym where boxers including Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr have all become champions.

With trademark black-rimmed glasses and spiky hair, Roach is one of the most charismatic figures in world boxing and is a four-time winner of the Trainer of the Year Award. The Parkinsons' disease sufferer previously worked with actor Mickey Rourke and his current stable includes Pacquiao and British WBA light welterweight champ Amir Khan.

Mundine has previously trained in the USA with Roy Jones Sr. It's not certain how long he will stay abroad, but it's understood The Man is still some way from a return to the ring after cancelling a planned fight in May.

He's scheduled to take on The Contender winner Garth Wood in December.

***

IT'S little wonder Parramatta Eels CEO Paul Osborne survived for years as a politician, because he sure knows how to say a lot without giving anything away.

We last night contacted Osborne about yesterday's item regarding his club's interest in off-contract Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston, and the former ACT parliamentarian boxed very clever when asked if he'd spoken to the player's manager Sam Ayoub.

"I speak to Sam all the time, but I don't think much will come of it," Osborne said. "He's staying with the Cowboys, isn't he?"

All we know is that, despite Osborne's hot shoe shuffle, Parramatta are dancing closer to making Thurston an offer to rival North Queensland's $1.8 million, three-year bid.

***

GREG Waddell - the teenage sensation who inked a $100,000-a-season deal with Penrith while still in school uniform - will return to rugby league this weekend.

Regarded as one of the best up-and-coming backs in rugby league, the product of St Dominic's College in Kingswood is expected to play Toyota Cup after a horror two years plagued by injury.

In 2008 Waddell busted his knee and returned only to injure his arm.

Source: dailytelegraph.com.au

Danny Green sees red on fight -- Herald Sun

By Tony Sheahan, Sunday Herald Sun

DANNY Green has come out swinging ahead of his bout with Puerto Rican Manny Siaca.

Green took a swipe at the sport's governing body as well as former trainer Jeff Fenech, and fired another shot at arch-enemy Anthony Mundine.

Green fights for the IBO cruiserweight title on Wednesday week in front of a home crowd at Perth's Challenge Stadium.

Opponent Siaca is the boxer who knocked down Green's great rival Mundine in 2004.

Green said he faced a formidable fighter.

"He has 22 victories, 18 KOs and is a former world champion," Green said.

The Australian public, however, is more interested in a rematch with Mundine.

"I don't want to look past my next fight, but why would the public want to wait any longer? You can't hype it up any more. It's ready to pop," Green said.

"His confidence is gone, his power has gone and I think he is well past his best. Mundine is going to try and cash in and milk the public of their money."

Green is desperate for revenge following his loss to Mundine in 2006 in front of 32,000 fans in Sydney.

There may be a new threat to Green's crown as the country's best boxer.

Dandenong fighter Jamie Bogovic is destined for stardom according to his new trainer, former world champion Fenech.

"He is Australia's next big thing," Fenech predicted.

"One day he will be world champion. And he will beat Danny Green in 12-18 months."

Green, 37, was more than happy to counter his former trainer's sparring.

"I'm glad Jeff is not coming out of retirement to fight again, because obviously boxing has affected his health," Green said.

Bogovic next fights on April 19, in Keysborough.

Green's camp turned to 34-year-old Siaca for his title defence after US veteran Bernard Hopkins turned down a deal to fight Green to instead stage a re-match with Jones in Las Vegas today.

Siaca has not fought since March last year.

Source: heraldsun.com.au

Q&A: Danny Green -- FightNews

By Craig Watt, FightNews.com

IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green (28-3, 25KO’s) is in the final stages of his training camp in Sydney for his upcoming title defence on April 14th. He takes on Manny Siaca (22-6, 19KO’s) from Puerto Rico in a bout that is sold out at the Challenge Stadium in Green’s hometown of Perth, Western Australia. This is a “homecoming” fight for the popular Australian who is a three weight world champion having previously won the WBA light-heavyweight and interim WBC 168 pound titles. The 5,500 capacity crowd was sold out in just two hours in his hometown city when tickets went on sale last month.

The 37 year old “Green Machine” comes off his most impressive win to date when he stopped future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Junior in 122 seconds in December which shocked the boxing world. After possible fights against Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver fell through he turned his attention to a lucrative potential rematch with two time WBA super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine.
Siaca holds a win over Mundine when he outpointed him for the WBA 168 pound title in May 2004 and Green is hoping an impressive win will “smoke” out the fellow Australian and ink a rematch. Their first fight in 2006 drew a live gate of over 30,000 and was the richest fight in Australian boxing history generating an estimated $8m.

In the background to Green’s preparation is the upcoming rematch between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Junior this weekend in Las Vegas– a match up that Green feels lacks boxing credibility because of his personal 122 second destruction of Jones Jr at the Acer Arena last December. Danny spoke to Fightnews today from his camp in Sydney.

Danny, what are your thoughts on the upcoming fight between Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins this weekend?

People keep asking me who I think is going to win but it is a difficult fight to call. People were so shocked when I knocked out Roy in just 122 seconds and in boxing you never know what will happen. Roy could fight out of his skin and pull off an upset win. The form book would see Hopkins as favourite but Jones is a boxing legend and could spring a surprise. I think Bernard Hopkins will win but it may not be much of a spectacle for the fans. We will see what happens at the weekend. It is just a shame that it is not me in there with Hopkins after I destroyed Roy Jones Jr.

Why are you so upset about the way Roy Jones Jr dealt with the defeat after that fight?

I thought that Roy Jones was just a bad loser and tried to take away my moment of glory by accusing me of cheating with my hand wraps. All the investigations exonerated me and everything was in order but the Jones camp tried to dishonour my win by accusation after accusation – all of which had no facts behind them. The bottom line was I knocked him out fair and square. He first said the referee stopped it too early but if you watch the replay he took 46 unanswered punches without throwing anything back – Is that too early ? He complained about the gloves which everyone needs to know he supplied himself. Now how can that be my fault ?

What about the issue of the hand wraps?

Again – excuses. These hand wraps were the same ones I used in five previous world title fights all over the world. I used them against Marcus Beyer in Germany, Eric Lucas in Canada and also in Mississippi when I won the IBO title. All were happy then and on December 2nd they were inspected by the NSW Combat Sports Commission – 3 independent people gave them the all clear. I think when Team Jones realised the magnitude of the loss in financial terms with a Hopkins re-match pencilled in the calendar and rushed to discredit my result and try and rescue the situation from a financial perspective. It wasn’t about boxing – he lost fair and square.

How close are you to a rematch with Anthony Mundine?

Mundine gives me a good payday but won’t really cement my legacy in the support. What people must remember is that he called me out of retirement for a rematch. I came out of retirement and accepted his challenge and he then runs off to the hills. I recently called his bluff again and challenged him to the rematch but he has gone into hiding and obviously is not man enough to accept my challenge and the multi-million dollar pay day it will bring him. I don’t need Mundine and if the answer is no then we will move on and I will go in a different direction. This silence cannot go on – Mundine must either decline or accept my offer. The clock is ticking and we will soon move on to pastures new and bring more big fights to Australia.

Would you like to fight the winner of the Jones-Hopkins rematch?

I would like to fight Hopkins as he is a respected fighter all over the world and a match in Australia would be another big fight and a big payday for Hopkins. If Jones Jr was to win then we would have to see. I do have a sour taste in my mouth after the last fight and after knocking him out so dominantly I don’t really think I have anything to prove.

How is training going for the Manny Siaca fight?

I just completed an open training session today and in my camp I have been in the best shape of my life. I have broken three noses in sparring and Angelo Hyder has built me up into great shape. I cannot wait to get back in the ring and knock Siaca out. Siaca dropped Mundine to the canvas and beat him on points and my job is to send a message to Mundine – I will knock him out.

How excited are you to be back in Perth for this fight?

After my win over Roy Jones in Sydney at the Acer Arena it was so good to be able to come back to see my hometown fans. They have supported me all the way in my journey and it is great to put some back and give them a good night. Amazingly all 5,500 tickets sold out in just two hours which gives me a fantastic lift to see than the people of Perth are still 100% behind me. I will put on a top performance for all my fans on April 14th.

* * *

Danny Green’s IBO title defence against Siaca will be shown in Australia on Main Events PPV on April 14th.

Source: fightnews.com

Siaca flies in to fight Danny Green -- Sydney Morning Herald

By ADRIAN WARREN, AAP

Manny Siaca has beaten Australia's boxing kangaroo and now he is after a "crocodile", as he turns his attention from Anthony Mundine to Danny Green.

Puerto Rican Siaca arrived in Sydney on Thursday morning in preparation for his April 14 challenge to IBO cruiserweight champion Green in Perth.

While Siaca was settling into his hotel, Green was busting up Dominic Vea in a torrid sparring session across town.

A sharp-looking Green pounded rising cruiserweight star Vea, who shed blood and possibly broke his nose under Green's fire.

Siaca, who beat Mundine on a split points decision in Sydney in 2004, was hoping to secure a rematch with "The Man" provided he could upset Green.

"It was one of the great moments of my life, I enjoyed it," Siaca told AAP regarding his win over Mundine.

"At the weigh-in I said to Mundine he is a kangaroo and I'm the hunter and I will be hunting him.

"Now I am going to hunt a crocodile (Green).

"When I win this fight, maybe I'm going to move down (in weight) and look forward to fighting Mundine again.

"We tried to fight him again but he didn't want to fight any good people, he fights only bums he can beat."

Ranked tenth in the WBC middleweight division, nine places below leading contender Mundine, Siaca (22-6, 19KOs) was adamant he couldn't defeat Green on points.

"I've come here to knock him out because they have Australian judges and an Australian referee, if I don't knock him out, I'm not going to get a decision in his backyard in Perth."

Green (28-3, 25KOs) said he felt fantastic and predicted Siaca would provide tougher opposition than American legend Roy Jones Jr, who he took just two minutes to destroy in his previous bout.

"I think this is going to be a much tougher fight for me because Siaca is going to be hungry," Green told reporters.

"It's a massive opportunity for him, if he takes my world title it opens up big doors for him worldwide.

"I'm preparing to be very impressive, I want to be devastating in there and give the fans a good show."

Green said he expected this weekend's fight in America between Jones and fellow American boxing legend Bernard Hopkins to be a fairly boring and tactical matchup.

He responded to Jones' complaints following their fight by declaring the multi-world title winner had damaged his own reputation and sullied his good name by showing a lack of graciousness in the aftermath of his defeat.

Jones had complained that the gauze under Green's fist wraps used during the fight was illegal and the decisive blow to win the fight was to the back of his head. Although a firm favourite against Siaca, Green said he would try and adopt an underdog mentality.

© 2010 AAP

Source: news.smh.com.au