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Volatile boxing veteran Shannan Taylor supplied the heat, but star turns Daniel Geale and Lenny Zappavigna remained ice-cool at Wednesday’s press conference for the dual world title eliminator on Sunday.
Geale (23-1, 14 KOs) is determined to show his patient side against Russia’s former IBF light middleweight world champion, Roman Karmazin (40-3-2, 26 KOs), in their IBF middleweight eliminator at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.
Likewise Zappavigna (24-0, 16 KOs), is equally determined not to get drawn into a war with tough Korean Ji-Hoon Kim (21-6, 18 KOs) in their IBF lightweight title eliminator.
While the four fighters involved in the two eliminators kept their cool on Wednesday, former world title contender Taylor became extremely animated.
Taylor (50-8-3, 36 KOs) was telling reporters his super middleweight opponent on Sunday, Junior Talipeau (16-1-1, 5 KOs), would be better off trying to discard his bad boy image, when the younger man interrupted the 38-year-old veteran in mid-sentence.
“The only bad boy is you,” Talipeau interjected.
Taylor fired back, “did I speak when you were speaking? You want to fight me in the street? … what a wanker you are.”
Taylor got up from his chair and unleashed some expletives but didn’t move towards Talipeau.
Triple world champion Jeff Fenech, who trained Taylor and now handles Talipeau, described Taylor as: “one of the greatest Australian fighters of all time,” but was adamant he had added punching power to his new charge, who has logged just five KO wins.
The composed Geale declared he was even fitter than when he suffered his sole loss to Anthony Mundine back in May 2009.
“When I fought Mundine I was in great condition, now I’m even better, I’m going to be able to work harder and going to be faster and stronger,” he said.
Karmazin, who drew with current IBF middleweight world champion Sebastian Sylvester in the title holder’s home state in Germany back in June, admitted Geale had several great qualities and conceded it was hard to win in enemy territory.
“I fought in many different countries and it’s true, when you are on foreign soil you are at a great disadvantage and you may not be able to win on points as easily,” Karmazin said through an interpreter.
Zappavigna wanted to avoid being lured into an all-out war against his Korean opponent.
“My plan is to box and be smart and not to go in and get caught with anything stupid,” Zappavigna said.
Speaking through an interpreter Kim said he wasn’t worried by Zappavigna’s impressive knockout percentage and renowned power.
The star-studded bill features a number of other prominent fighters including light middleweight Robert Medley (29-3, 19 KOs) who fights American Jason LeHoullier (21-3-1, 8 KOs), light welterweight Ranee Ganoy (30-11-2, 26 KOs) up against Guillermo Mosquera (41-9-3, 22 KOs), and former Olympic boxing captain Jamie Pittman (19-2, 8 KOs) fighting Samoan Togasilimai Letoa (11-4, 6 KOs).
The Sunday afternoon card will also feature female water skiing champion Lauryn Eagle (1-0, 1 KO) in her second professional boxing bout, against New Zealander Christina Tai (4-8, 1 KO).
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