chop
04-13-2008, 01:34 AM
Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech will fight arch rival Azumah Nelson in his proposed comeback bout and says he doesn't give "a rat's arse" whether people think it will affect his sporting legacy.
Fenech's third fight with Nelson is scheduled for June 24 in the Thai city of Pattaya.
Triple world champion Fenech, who hasn't fought since 1996, was originally scheduled to fight another former foe Thai Samart Payakarun.
However, Payakarun, who Fenech stopped in a WBC super featherweight title fight in May 1987, opted against going ahead with the rematch.
Instead, Fenech has lined up a more attractive rematch against Ghanaian legend Nelson, who fought two unforgettable WBC super featherweight contests with Fenech.
They slugged out a controversial draw in Las Vegas in June 1991, when Fenech and many observers were adamant the Australian deserved a victory.
A March 1992 rematch at Melbourne's Princes Park drew almost 40,000, with Nelson stopping Fenech in the eighth round.
It would be Nelson's first fight in ten years.
Fenech wasn't totally sure why Payakarun had opted out of their proposed contest, but thought the bout with Nelson was a more attractive proposition.
"I don't know what happened, what they said to him (Payakarun) but somebody got in his ear," Fenech said.
"Perhaps it was because he had seen how fit I was.
"One door closes and a bigger one opens that is much better," he said.
"We've just about finalised everything, we've already agreed and we've just got to get a contract."
Asked if there had been any problems in the negotiations with Nelson, who at 49 is six years older than him, Fenech joked "quick as a wink for Azumah, mate.
"He said he would love to fight again and give me an opportunity to get what I think I deserved, evening the ledger."
Fenech said the fight would take place at a weight between 65 and 70 kilos and he had already shed 16 kilos.
He wasn't concerned at all about critics who suggested his legacy would be affected by a comeback bout so long after his retirement.
"To be quite honest, I don't give a rat's arse what anybody says," Fenech said.
"They've said enough about me, whether it's good, bad or indifferent.
"I'm doing something I want to and people who want to support me can support me and people who want to bag me can bag me.
"I've learnt one very important lesson in life, you can't control people's thoughts or emotions.
"I'm trying to do something for Australia as well, because I believe that a lot of people who watched my (first) fight with Nelson when I got robbed, would like me to seek revenge and that's what I am going to do."
Fenech said he was very surprised by the recent retirement announcement of his former charge Danny Green, but pointed to his own experience about never saying never to a comeback.
"One thing I know about Danny Green is he's hard-headed and I believe that he will stick at what he said, but again I never thought I would fight again, so who knows?" Fenech said.
© 2008 AAP
This is gonna be sweet
Fenech's third fight with Nelson is scheduled for June 24 in the Thai city of Pattaya.
Triple world champion Fenech, who hasn't fought since 1996, was originally scheduled to fight another former foe Thai Samart Payakarun.
However, Payakarun, who Fenech stopped in a WBC super featherweight title fight in May 1987, opted against going ahead with the rematch.
Instead, Fenech has lined up a more attractive rematch against Ghanaian legend Nelson, who fought two unforgettable WBC super featherweight contests with Fenech.
They slugged out a controversial draw in Las Vegas in June 1991, when Fenech and many observers were adamant the Australian deserved a victory.
A March 1992 rematch at Melbourne's Princes Park drew almost 40,000, with Nelson stopping Fenech in the eighth round.
It would be Nelson's first fight in ten years.
Fenech wasn't totally sure why Payakarun had opted out of their proposed contest, but thought the bout with Nelson was a more attractive proposition.
"I don't know what happened, what they said to him (Payakarun) but somebody got in his ear," Fenech said.
"Perhaps it was because he had seen how fit I was.
"One door closes and a bigger one opens that is much better," he said.
"We've just about finalised everything, we've already agreed and we've just got to get a contract."
Asked if there had been any problems in the negotiations with Nelson, who at 49 is six years older than him, Fenech joked "quick as a wink for Azumah, mate.
"He said he would love to fight again and give me an opportunity to get what I think I deserved, evening the ledger."
Fenech said the fight would take place at a weight between 65 and 70 kilos and he had already shed 16 kilos.
He wasn't concerned at all about critics who suggested his legacy would be affected by a comeback bout so long after his retirement.
"To be quite honest, I don't give a rat's arse what anybody says," Fenech said.
"They've said enough about me, whether it's good, bad or indifferent.
"I'm doing something I want to and people who want to support me can support me and people who want to bag me can bag me.
"I've learnt one very important lesson in life, you can't control people's thoughts or emotions.
"I'm trying to do something for Australia as well, because I believe that a lot of people who watched my (first) fight with Nelson when I got robbed, would like me to seek revenge and that's what I am going to do."
Fenech said he was very surprised by the recent retirement announcement of his former charge Danny Green, but pointed to his own experience about never saying never to a comeback.
"One thing I know about Danny Green is he's hard-headed and I believe that he will stick at what he said, but again I never thought I would fight again, so who knows?" Fenech said.
© 2008 AAP
This is gonna be sweet