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MORRISON HAS NO FEAR
AHEAD OF ZALE BOUT
Monday 23 September 2002
In one week from tonight Wisconsin Middleweight Jake Morrison steps in the ring against Chicago-born Olympic bronze medallist Tony Zale. It's a bout that could very well be the highlight of series two of the International Boxing League's regional qualifiers, a matchup of two aggressive sluggers that should provide plenty of fireworks and probably won't last the full six-round distance. The fact that it has the regional rivalry aspect attached to it makes it all the more interesting but that's something that means little to Morrison.
"Maybe the fans and you media guys see some significance in that, but I don't give a damn," said Morrison, speaking yesterday. "Tony Zale is as tough as nails and I'm gonna have to be at my best to beat him. That's all that matters to me and it's what I'm focusing on. I've trained harder during these last four weeks than ever before. I've pushed myself beyond what I thought I was capable of and I'm ready for the fight. There's not a measure of fear inside me. I'm ready to destroy Tony Zale."
Morrison is one of the more controversial figures in the IBL, his bad temper and aggressive nature earning him a reputation as a man to steer clear of. It's something a couple of locals in his hometown of Chippewa Falls found out the hard way some weeks ago when they goaded Morrison into a fight while he was out on a morning run and emerged with a number of injuries for their troubles. Morrison was cleared of any wrong-doing in the incident but it served as an example that he's not someone to be messed with.
In his professional debut last month Morrison stopped Wilfie Greaves on cuts in the 3rd round but it's a performance he was unsatisfied with, saying afterwards he was annoyed the fight ended as it did and that he'd be carrying that disappointment into his next fight. If that's the case, Tony Zale will have to be on his guard from the opening bell come next Monday night. The North American Central regional group is regarded as perhaps the most talented in the entire IBL so if Morrison can score a victory over the Olympian it will be a huge boost for his chances of qualifying for the World Championship tournament. As was the case back on August 26 the card will be held at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena with the talented local duo of Harry Greb and Charley Burley scheduled to clash in the main event.
Morrison earned the ire of the Pittsburgh crowd at the conclusion of last month's bout when he refused to acknowledge their applause before actually snapping back harshly at a young child who had called out to him. The 19 year-old said that he couldn't wait to get back into the confrontational atmosphere of the arena, hoping that everyone would be against him.
"I really feed off the energy from the crowd," he said. "Whether it's negative or positive, it doesn't matter. But I have to say that it gave me a rush last month hearing them all boo me, so I won't mind at all if it happens again. I'm looking forward to being their bad guy."
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