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kenyan_cheena · 05-17-2006, 10:32 PM

"LIKE CAMPING OUT FOR MICHAEL JACKSON TICKETS"

Friday 3 May 2002

It's now just three days until the first of the International Boxing League's selection trials for their regional World Championship qualifying tournaments start and in Osaka, Japan, boxing fever is in full swing.

Almost 300 people are currently camped out near the Osaka Dome, the venue for the IBL's Japan trials. They started turning up on Wednesday and the number has steadily grown during the past couple of days. Perhaps half of them are deadly serious about their ambitions to become professional boxers. They are fully aware of not just the strict physical fitness criterias they will have to pass, but also the criteria in regards to pure boxing talent. The other half are mainly family and friends of those who plan to audition, happy to share in the excitement and communal atmosphere that comes with the anticipation of next week's events.

"It's like camping out for Michael Jackson tickets back in the '80s," said Saruwatari Tsubasa, whose 19 year-old son Yamada will be endeavouring to gain selection in the Lightweight division. "Everyone here is so excited about next week, about the future of boxing here in Japan. Personally, I'm very hopeful that my son will be successful."

It must be assumed that these 300 people will just be the tip of the iceberg when the IBL's trials start here next week, leading one to wonder if one week will be enough for the league's officials to evaluate all the talent that will be on show.

"That won't be a problem," said IBL Chief Director Raymond Bell, who will oversee the league's Asian selection trials. "We've got twenty scouts who will be working on this twelve hours a day for the whole week, aswell as close to 100 support staff. Believe me, if you present yourself here and you have the talent, you will be noticed."

05-17-2006, 10:32 PM	#31 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,137	"LIKE CAMPING OUT FOR MICHAEL JACKSON TICKETS" Friday 3 May 2002 It's now just three days until the first of the International Boxing League's selection trials for their regional World Championship qualifying tournaments start and in Osaka, Japan, boxing fever is in full swing. Almost 300 people are currently camped out near the Osaka Dome, the venue for the IBL's Japan trials. They started turning up on Wednesday and the number has steadily grown during the past couple of days. Perhaps half of them are deadly serious about their ambitions to become professional boxers. They are fully aware of not just the strict physical fitness criterias they will have to pass, but also the criteria in regards to pure boxing talent. The other half are mainly family and friends of those who plan to audition, happy to share in the excitement and communal atmosphere that comes with the anticipation of next week's events. "It's like camping out for Michael Jackson tickets back in the '80s," said Saruwatari Tsubasa, whose 19 year-old son Yamada will be endeavouring to gain selection in the Lightweight division. "Everyone here is so excited about next week, about the future of boxing here in Japan. Personally, I'm very hopeful that my son will be successful." It must be assumed that these 300 people will just be the tip of the iceberg when the IBL's trials start here next week, leading one to wonder if one week will be enough for the league's officials to evaluate all the talent that will be on show. "That won't be a problem," said IBL Chief Director Raymond Bell, who will oversee the league's Asian selection trials. "We've got twenty scouts who will be working on this twelve hours a day for the whole week, aswell as close to 100 support staff. Believe me, if you present yourself here and you have the talent, you will be noticed." __________________ The Heavyweight Boxing Federation The Heavyweight Boxing Federation: Tournament Group Standings The International Boxing League MLB: 1958 and Beyond... Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 07-28-2006 at 10:35 PM.