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kenyan_cheena · 01-28-2006, 03:24 AM

(continuation)

"That will just be a war," said Mexico's premier amateur boxing observer, Emmanuel Marquez. "They're both eighteen years old and for their whole lives, have lived just an hour away from each other: Sanchez in Tianguistenco and Saldivar in Mexico City. Now, if you know anything of the history between these two cities, you'll know that there will be a tribal-like atmosphere when these two men fight. It's really something to look forward to."

*

Australia is bristling with excitement over their proud Olympians Les Darcy and Jeff Fenech, who both accepted the IBL's invitation to turn pro.

Darcy, a native of Stradbroke, New South Wales (on the state's central coast), was only 17 years-old at the time of his Silver medal winning effort at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and said today in an interview with a local newspaper that he's excited about the prospect of redeeming himself.

"Losing to Mike McCallum in the Gold medal match was just a huge disappointment," Darcy said. "I'm really hungry to show how I've grown as a fighter since then. I want to make Australia proud."

Meanwhile, Fenech, born and raised in the tough Sydney suburb of Marrickville, will be out for redemption of a different kind. It was clear to see that the tough Featherweight was robbed of a spot in the Gold medal match when Canada's George Dixon was awarded a 23-18 verdict, thanks entirely to incompetent scoring by the three ringside judges.

"That did break my heart a bit," said the 20 year-old. "I was denied the chance to fight for Gold in my own country, so it tore me up. But now, I've got a new challenge ahead of me. Seeing Peter Jackson start his professional career so well has inspired so many Australians, including me. I hope I can do the same thing."

Although a nation of less than 20 million, it's conceivable that Australia could be the home to three World Boxing Champions by 2004, something that would be an admirable achievement.

*

Without a doubt, Japan has been the most enthusiastic international supporter of the Heavyweight Boxing Federation during its short life to date, and the news that the nation's Olympic Middleweight Bronze medallist Koichi Wajima would be fighting as a professional in the International Boxing League was the opening story on every news bulletin in the nation last night.

Wajima is a national celebrity, but it's certain that he will not be the only Japanese fighter to be numbered amongst the ranks of the IBL. Lightweight Olympian Jaguar Kakizawa, knocked out in the tournament's quarter-final stage, will almost surely be selected to participate in the league's World Championship qualifiers, as will Featherweight Mitsunori Seki.

"It's all people are talking about today," said Hiroshi Nakajima, a journalist with the Japan Times. "We all love this sport, that's well known. But now, we'll have some of our own guys to cheer for. That will make it even more special for us."

Boxing may have already been popular in Japan, but there's no telling what heights it will reach once the IBL kicks off...

*

Back here in the United States, the unveiling of the IBL has been lauded from New York to Los Angeles and everywhere in between.

As in Japan, the story was an early feature on most evening news programs. It was given considerable airtime on ESPN's SportsCenter and adorns the front and back pages on many of today's newspapers.

On a management-enforced leave of absence for the past week, New York Age sports journalist James Reynolds used his return article to more or less pledge his allegiance to the IBL.

"The International Boxing League will be a sporting competition like no other," wrote Reynolds. "And just judging by the well-groomed appearances of Pernell Whitaker, Michael Spinks and Ray Leonard at yesterday's press conference, Chief Director James Molk won't have to deal with any Elmer Ray-like headaches from his boxers. I wouldn't be surprised if, in a few years from now, Michael Vincennes will be just begging James Molk to take the HBF off his hands."

This is certainly a statement that will hit a raw nerve with the Heavyweight Boxing Federation president. He has yet to speak publicly since yesterday's IBL announcement, so we can only wait and see what type of response he'll have in store for Molk and Reynolds...

01-28-2006, 03:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,178	(continuation) "That will just be a war," said Mexico's premier amateur boxing observer, Emmanuel Marquez. "They're both eighteen years old and for their whole lives, have lived just an hour away from each other: Sanchez in Tianguistenco and Saldivar in Mexico City. Now, if you know anything of the history between these two cities, you'll know that there will be a tribal-like atmosphere when these two men fight. It's really something to look forward to." * Australia is bristling with excitement over their proud Olympians Les Darcy and Jeff Fenech, who both accepted the IBL's invitation to turn pro. Darcy, a native of Stradbroke, New South Wales (on the state's central coast), was only 17 years-old at the time of his Silver medal winning effort at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and said today in an interview with a local newspaper that he's excited about the prospect of redeeming himself. "Losing to Mike McCallum in the Gold medal match was just a huge disappointment," Darcy said. "I'm really hungry to show how I've grown as a fighter since then. I want to make Australia proud." Meanwhile, Fenech, born and raised in the tough Sydney suburb of Marrickville, will be out for redemption of a different kind. It was clear to see that the tough Featherweight was robbed of a spot in the Gold medal match when Canada's George Dixon was awarded a 23-18 verdict, thanks entirely to incompetent scoring by the three ringside judges. "That did break my heart a bit," said the 20 year-old. "I was denied the chance to fight for Gold in my own country, so it tore me up. But now, I've got a new challenge ahead of me. Seeing Peter Jackson start his professional career so well has inspired so many Australians, including me. I hope I can do the same thing." Although a nation of less than 20 million, it's conceivable that Australia could be the home to three World Boxing Champions by 2004, something that would be an admirable achievement. * Without a doubt, Japan has been the most enthusiastic international supporter of the Heavyweight Boxing Federation during its short life to date, and the news that the nation's Olympic Middleweight Bronze medallist Koichi Wajima would be fighting as a professional in the International Boxing League was the opening story on every news bulletin in the nation last night. Wajima is a national celebrity, but it's certain that he will not be the only Japanese fighter to be numbered amongst the ranks of the IBL. Lightweight Olympian Jaguar Kakizawa, knocked out in the tournament's quarter-final stage, will almost surely be selected to participate in the league's World Championship qualifiers, as will Featherweight Mitsunori Seki. "It's all people are talking about today," said Hiroshi Nakajima, a journalist with the Japan Times. "We all love this sport, that's well known. But now, we'll have some of our own guys to cheer for. That will make it even more special for us." Boxing may have already been popular in Japan, but there's no telling what heights it will reach once the IBL kicks off... * Back here in the United States, the unveiling of the IBL has been lauded from New York to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. As in Japan, the story was an early feature on most evening news programs. It was given considerable airtime on ESPN's SportsCenter and adorns the front and back pages on many of today's newspapers. On a management-enforced leave of absence for the past week, New York Age sports journalist James Reynolds used his return article to more or less pledge his allegiance to the IBL. "The International Boxing League will be a sporting competition like no other," wrote Reynolds. "And just judging by the well-groomed appearances of Pernell Whitaker, Michael Spinks and Ray Leonard at yesterday's press conference, Chief Director James Molk won't have to deal with any Elmer Ray-like headaches from his boxers. I wouldn't be surprised if, in a few years from now, Michael Vincennes will be just begging James Molk to take the HBF off his hands." This is certainly a statement that will hit a raw nerve with the Heavyweight Boxing Federation president. He has yet to speak publicly since yesterday's IBL announcement, so we can only wait and see what type of response he'll have in store for Molk and Reynolds... __________________ The Heavyweight Boxing Federation The Heavyweight Boxing Federation: Tournament Group Standings The International Boxing League MLB: 1958 and Beyond... Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 01-29-2006 at 08:54 PM.