Boxing: World rated cruiserweight Mohamed Azzaoui

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Algeria's Mohamed Azzaoui is on right of picture

A great card featuring world rated fighters and exciting prospects looks set to provide plenty of fireworks on April 1 in Auckland, New Zealand. The main even features New Zealand's world rated cruiserweight Mohamed Azzaoui 14-0-2(6 ko’s), squaring off against Australian hard man Costa Chondros 10-4 (8ko’s)..

Azzaoui, who was born in Algeria, is hoping to launch onto the world stage this year and become a major player in the exciting and talented cruiserweight division. Fighting as a cruiserweight and a heavyweight, Azzaoui has cleaned up the domestic scene with his smooth boxing skills but looks to have his hands full in the big punching Chondros....

Big boys of the pacific square off

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Mohamed Azzaoui fought the 'Australian hard man' Costa Chondros on Saturday, April 1st, and was awarded a win on points by a unanimous decision.

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May 3, 2007 -- Granite-tough Adelaide cruiserweight Nermin Sabanovic has shelved retirement plans for a triple title shot against New Zealand's highly-rated Mohammed Azzaoui in Melbourne on Sunday.

The Olympians turned professionals will fight for the WBF Asia Pacific, the IBF Pan Pacific and Pan Asia Boxing Association cruiserweight crown in one massive 12-round bout.

Also, almost-forgotten Elizabeth cruiserweight Jamie Wallace, 32, will return to the ring after two years, on the undercard against Victorian Costa Chondros (16 fights, 11 wins, nine knock-outs).

Wallace has 25 wins (five ko's) from 47 bouts and now trains with Sabanovic, under Terry Fox.

Fearless Sabanovic, 42, ranked No. 37 in the world-class WBC, considered retirement after what he considered were two rough "home town" points decisions against him since December.

The chance to fight for a triple crown brought the Bosnia-born triple-Olympian hardman back to the ring against the wishes of his family.

"I got ripped off twice and I was very sad but when I got this opportunity I couldn't resist," said Sabanovic, who had 340 amateur bouts but boasts a modest pro-record of seven wins and two draws from nine fights. "It's not good for my family but what can I do?

"This is a dream for me. To be champion of the WBF and IBF at 42, it's something special. It's not about proving anything to anybody, I've done that before."

The stylish Azzaoui (19 wins, seven ko's) represented Algeria at the 2000 Olympics and is yet to lose in his 21-bout professional career.

About four centimetres taller and with a longer reach, Azzaoui, 31, is not comfortable with a hard-punching opponent always in his face, Sabanovic said.

So that's exactly what he can expect on Sunday.

"I just have to hit him hard and keep the pressure on," Sabanovic said.

"He's a very skilful boxer but he doesn't like it if somebody punches him.

"My tactic has to be to fight him at half-distance and in close to frustrate him.

"He'll want to go the distance but if I can get him . . ."

Sabanovic, who works with the Aboriginal Sobriety Group, said he has put thoughts of retirement out of his mind until after what is close to the biggest fight of his boxing career.

Azzaoui versus Sabanovic in triple title bid

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Mohamed Azzaoui won the fight, and the three titles, by a unanimous decision.

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.....June 8 will be most significant for Kerikeri's Algerian emigre timber worker, Mohamed Azzaoui. The cruiserweight defends three regional belts against American Galen Brown, and his trainer Anthony Warren said Azzaoui was now a maximum three fights from a mandatory world title challenge. Azzaoui said U.S. fighters were "making excuses because they don't want to fight me." The Mundine September undercard, said Warren, would be "the last stepping stone".

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May 22, 2007 -- Kerikeri-based Mohamed Azzaoui will fight American Galen `Bad Boy' Brown on June 8, as part of an action-packed night of boxing at the Sky City Casino in Auckland.

The 25-year-old American is expected to be a handful for Azzaoui. He has been fighting as a heavyweight but will drop down to cruiserweight for the bout with the Algerian-born Northlander.

"We don't know too much about him, we do know he's a very experienced fighter with a good record," said trainer Anthony Warren.

Galen has had 37 fights in his career, with 29 wins including 19 knockouts, with four losses and one draw.

The bout will attract a lot of national attention for Azzaoui, with former league star Monty Betham's first professional bout in New Zealand, headlining the night's card.

Azzaoui's stablemate and sparring partner Peter Kariuki will fight Charles Baou, the veteran New Caledonian-based Frenchman on the night and, although Baou is now in his 40s, he is considered anything but an easy-beat.

Another point of Northland interest will be Kaikohe boxer Daniella Smith, also due to fight on the Sky City card that evening after a spell away from boxing.

Another boxer who has confirmed his presence for the night, Philadelphia's Tyrone Brunson, will attract a lot of interest. If the big-hitter manages to knock out his opponent Jamie Waru, he could break the world record for consecutive first-round knockouts.

Azzaoui hasn't got far to go to prepare for the bout against Brown after he improved his professional record to 20 wins and two draws from his 22 bouts when he beat Bosnian Nermin Sabanovic by unanimous decision in Melbourne earlier this month.

"Mohamed was in control of the fight all the way through but Nermin was a tough fighter, dangerous enough to make Mohamed careful," Warren said.

Azzaoui took a break from training last week and this week will work on fitness before moving on to sparring next week in Auckland.

Warren said Azzaoui's camp wasn't certain where they'd be going after the Auckland bout but a recent Sunday newspaper article had linked him with a challenge for the WBA belt against champion Virgil Hill.

Although not denying the possibility, Warren said it is still early days yet.

"We've been in connection with a couple of top boxers in the United States and a world title fight could be close but it is really down to politics - it's not always about money, money doesn't always produce results in this game," he said.

Azzaoui to front up to tough American with good record

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Mohamed Azzaoui

June 8, 2007 -- Expect Ohaewai boxer Mohamed Azzaoui to be a little more careful than usual when he takes on American Derrek Whitley at Sky City Casino in Auckland.

Azzaoui's 12-round title bout has the top billing for tonight's televised "Dodge Fight Night", and his trainer Anthony Warren said the pair have good reason to take Whitley's challenge seriously.

But the American's reputation as a clever and determined boxer is all the Azzaoui's camp have to go on.

"We haven't been able to get hold of any tapes of this guy, which makes it hard, but we'll know how good he is after one round and we'll take it from there," Warren said.

Warren is usually very optimistic about Azzaoui's chances but said despite the American coming up a weight division to fight the former Algerian heavyweight, they were taking the encounter very seriously.

"We're a bit guarded this time, because he's known as a tough opponent so we'll have to wait and see how we play it."

Warren said he was happy with Azzaoui's preparation for the bout, despite a lack of sparring practice against suitable opponents.

"It's always hard for heavyweights to find good sparring partners and it has been made harder this week because (Whitley) is a left-hander," Warren said.

"You can never be too sure but we're confident we've prepared well, if that's not enough, what can you do?"

The Northland boxer's preparation was upset two weeks ago when American Galen Brown pulled out of the bout and Whitley was named as a late replacement.

Azzaoui arrived in Auckland yesterday and went through some light training ahead of tonight's fight.

Delayed coverage of the five-card "Dodge Fight Night" will screen on TV One from 10.30pm.

Warren said the television coverage was a good opportunity for Azzaoui to gain further support and recognition from the New Zealand public, for what the trainer hoped would be a breakthrough year for the boxer.

The most keenly anticipated fight on the card will be Monty Betham's first bout in front of a New Zealand audience.

Cruiserweight Peter Kariuku and Daniel Tai will also be on the card, as will American Tyrone Brunson, who will claim a world record if the big-hitter manages to knock out his opponent Jamie Waru.

Fighter expects serious contest