14 July 2008

At start of July, long-retired boxers being the nutty flavour of the month, and Fenech v Nelson having droned past, the papers reported that now Lester Ellis wanted to fight Fenech. Jeff said no to the idea, as he’d been doing since that remarkable spar in Sydney 20-plus years ago.

Ellis’ people have always claimed Less knocked Fenech down. Fenech’s people strenuously denied it.
Anyway Fenech turned down Ellis’ latest proposal.

Next thing, on 13 July Lester Ellis and Barry Michael announced they were ’negotiating’ to fight each other for $1 million each. Lester is nearly a year younger than Fenech, and Michael nearly ten years older than either of them.

Said Michael, "I really want to fight Fenech. I think fighting Lester will be harder."

The last good fights by the Victorian rivals were at lightweight limit: Lester losing by a whisker to Calvin Grove and Michael stopped on his feet by Rocky Lockridge. Barry retired; whereas Lester, seven fights in nine years later and 30 pounds above lightweight, dissolved against Anthony Mundine.

Old as the challengers are, no way will Jeffrey Fenech fight either oldie, Baz or Less. Jeff was kayoed in three of his last five real fights.

An Ellis stable hand said: "Fenech said he got sore ribs against Nelson; the trademark Lester left rip would surely do him damage." And Michael’s best punch was his right drive to the body.

Back Melbourne to whip Sydney in that fantasy match.

As for Michael v Ellis II? Lester trains boys in his garage, Michael is a personal trainer: in the long run they could get fighting fit.

Can you see any promoter putting up two million for starting purses? A better investment, at any rate, than June 24, "The Final Round."

If you must match oldies, suggests Perth correspondent John Murphy, let’s have a real settler. Tony Mundine vs Charkey Ramon.

Plenty of rubbish talked about our sport recently. NSW mouths say that ’Big Bad’ Barry Hall, Sydney Swans footballer, can make millions as a heavyweight in the boxing ring. Hall swung a bare fist with abandon in two AFL matches.

Barry Hall’s father, Ray, said he coached his son Barry to "Victorian amateur boxing champion." The historian of the amateurs remembers Barry Hall. "He had two schoolboy bouts."

Big Bad Barry would not last two rounds against Australia’s real heavyweight, Kali Meehan.

In fact there’s a four round heavyweight who would take Hall out.

Adam Forsyth of Perth has won his first two professional four rounders in round one.

The ’amateur Marciano’ was rated world #5 by AIBA after 2004 Olympics.

Forsyth broke even in an epic series with Brad Pitt, Commonwealth Games Gold medalist and Beijing Olympic hope. Adam is more pro style.