Fox Sports, Australia
Sydney Morning Herald
Nov 15 2004
Fenech praises Hussein
By Adrian Warren
November 15, 2004
JEFF Fenech is confident his charge Nedal Hussein will join him this
month in becoming a super bantamweight boxing world champion.
The duo flew out of Sydney today ahead of Hussein’s title challenge
against Mexico’s World Boxing Council super bantamweight champion
Oscar Larios in Las Vegas on November 27.
Fenech was the first, and so far only, Australian to win a super
bantamweight world title.
That was back in 1987, when Fenech KO’d Thailand’s Samart Payakaroon
to win the same WBC crown coveted by Hussein.
It was the second of three world titles for Fenech, who was today
optimistic 26-year-old Nedal would follow in his footsteps.
“I’m glad I’m not fighting him (Hussein) for the title, he’s one of
the best body punchers ever,” said trainer Fenech.
“If he’s on his game, he will win.”
Larios, 28, has a record of 53 wins, three losses and one draw and
has held the WBC crown for two years, making four successful
defences.
Hussein said Larios was taller and bigger than him, but felt the
Mexican might have problems making the weight after having his last
two bouts in a higher division.
He said he wasn’t too excited yet as his first world title shot draws
near.
“To be honest, the closer the fight gets, the more confident I am
getting,” Hussein said.
“Larios is very beatable these days, because he’s struggling to make
the weight, he’s had a few fights this year when he went up in
weight.
“Jeff (Fenech) saw him at the WBC convention and said he couldn’t
believe Larios could make super bantamweight.
“He’s a busy fighter, he throws between 90 to 100 punches a round.
“He keeps going, he’s not going to sit there and let me just throw
punches, he’s a good mover.
“I’ve just got to be able to cut off the ring and keep calm.”
Hussein said he had no intention of deviating from his favoured
method which had earned him 36 wins from 37 professional bouts.
“I’ve just got to sit there and work off the jab,” Hussein said.
“If my jab starts landing then I’m able to rip and hook. I’m just
going to fight like every other fight and I’m not going to change my
style.”
Hussein said he would spar three times in Los Angeles next week
before heading to Las Vegas.
He will spar with Armenia’s Artyom Simonyan, who will challenge
International Boxing Federation super bantamweight title holder
Israel Vazquez on December 4.
Hussein said he also hoped to get some sparring with Vazquez, who is
trained by Australian Justin Fortune.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress